Good evocation of the bronze age

Rating: 8/10 (16 November 2004)

I liked this movie. One reason being that it seemed to make a very good attempt to evoke the bronze age psyche. If I could go back in time to that era I would expect to see men and women looking pretty much as they do now (maybe not QUITE as well shaven as in the movie!)but having a very different worldview and mindset. This is what they seemed to have. Life was cheap, for example, and war was always worthwhile if it had the potential of expanding empire. Rank and status meant a lot - well brought out in Menelaus's scandalised reaction to Paris's cowardly backing away in their fight.
The music of James Horner, much maligned on this site, did a great job of evoking the period, I thought.
Brad Pitt had the sulky, petulant, egomaniac Achilles to a tee. And Mr Bana was perfect as Hector. Full marks too to Peter O'Toole.
I was amused by the reactions of the "I've read Homer in the original" snobs who wanted the film to be an exact replay of the book. I particularly liked the suggestion of the bright spark who felt the movie should end with a funeral! And were those who decried Orlando Bloom's performance reacting to his character instead? But I'd like to echo the response of Tina Johansson: when will they make "Odyssey" starring Sean Bean? Can't be soon enough for me, especially with this caliber of special effects, cinematography and music!