Homer on screen

Rating: 7/10 (15 May 2004)

*Very very minor spoiler included, can hardly get around it*
Seeing as I am addicted to ancient history, I was watching this movie from a different perspective than any other thrill-seeking person would do. The historically correctness of the whole picture played a big part in my deciding whether this is a good picture or not.
I have to say that it's a spectacle to watch. An ancient story brought back to life, enjoyable for everyone now and not just the freaks. Sure, there are a lot of familiar faces in this picture (braveheart, anyone?), but it wasn't disturbing. It's very hard to give all these ancient heroes the credits they deserve - or supposedly have owned through story telling - and I'm surprised how they pulled it off. It's a risk you take that if you plan on shooting a movie on Troy, you take Achilles as the main character. There's dozens of other people that could have been chosen, Odysseus being one of them. However, Achilles didn't disappoint. He would be our modern superhero, just with less nifty gadgets and more of a stubborn nature. Brad Pitt does well.
Putting ten years in but a few hour's span is nearly impossible to do, but Troy pulled it off. Sometimes the war seems to last only for three weeks, but seeing as we're not focussing on the trials and tribulations of the soldiers, but more on Achilles and his dealing with the whole situation, it's not troublesome at all. So what that they took the whole of Troy's beach in what seems only to be moments. Or that the whole foundation of Rome is concluded in but a single one-liner in the heat of battle? But let us not worry about that: it's wonderfully done.
The soundtrack sounds familiar...the ones who have seen Gladiator will notice the melancholic singing of a woman who seems to be in agony, when the soldiers are dying on the screen. Despite it's familiarity, it does fit.
I had been looking out for this movie for a long time, and I wasn't really disappointed at all at the end. I left with a mixed feeling: wonderfully done, beautiful effects, great soundtrack etc. and on the other hand: what a shame that odysseus got so little credit for his actions, no sign of the gods, and orlando bloom with the bow again...that just reminded me too much of Legolas in The Lord of the Rings. He should have stuck to the sword.
Spectacular: 7/10.
P.S. It might have been nice to let the people know who Achilles really is...who is that strange woman in river anyway? ;)