Not so bad, not so good.

Rating: 5/10 (18 May 2004)

I'm not sure about the wisdom of casting pretty boy Pitt as Achilles. Though Pitt is extraordinarily talented, as in Snatch, Legends of the Fall, he was not formidable enough to be a legendary Greek warrior. The scene in which Achilles is training his cousin with wood practice swords look so much like the neighbor kids playing around.
I was disappointed with the scene where supposedly Achilles and Hector face off in a battle and everyone stands around to watch as if it was an after school fight in the apple orchard.
I was impressed with Eric Bana's Hector and enjoyed his moments on the screen.
However Orlando Bloom is another pretty boy who was not convincing. I will always fondly remember him as Legolas.
One enjoyable part for me was that I found myself cheering for both Hector and Achilles and was torn by their climatic finale.
Summer eye candy, popcorn munching, sword and sandal epic that, though not great, is light years better then Van Helsing.