Brilliant.

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2004)

Perhaps I went and saw a different movie? I really enjoyed it. It was an epic in every sense of the word, an epic tale of Greek Tragedy - in its original sense. A story of a great man who is destine for greatness and the price that it carried -- loneliness, betrayal, isolation, paranoia, and ultimately, death and destruction of a dream that only he could have carried forward.
I was especially impressed with the historical accuracy of the portrayal of Alexander and his deeds. The story pulled no punches about the fact of his bisexuality and perhaps I think this is partially why so many people, expecting to see super-macho alpha male persona like Mel Gibson's Bravheart, are disquieted with this truthful depiction of hellenistic view with regard to sexuality. The story did stay true to the "history" as passed down from Callisthenes and Ptolemy I - as truthful of an adaptation as I have seen in recent Hollywood films anyway. None of the Patroclus was Achilles' cousin or battle of Stirling Bridge without a bridge in sight business :)
It was an epic made for serious viewers, which may have required a college course in the hellenistic world to truly appreciate.
One minor gripe. I thought the movie would have been better if it was told in a purely linear fashion. But who am I to argue with Oliver Stone