Not bad but it ain't Homer

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2004)

Brad Pitt is an amazing actor. He brings an intensity to the character of Achilles that lends itself well to the Hero's hero. Eric Bana's Hector is likewise heroic, albeit much more stoic in his heroism. Brian Cox is wonderfully sleazy as Aggamemnon and Brandon Gleeson is a likewise villainous Menelaus. Sean Bean is wonderful as Odysseus as is Peter O'Toole as Priam...but the story... Hmmm.
Depends what you want. If you like Hollywood costume drama in a love cum tragedy setting with flashing swords, whizzing arrows, spears through the heads,with flashing moments of well-formed naked bodies writhing in the sack like snakes, then, hey. This is your film. If, on the other hand, you're a classicist who knows the myths backwards and forwards, you might want to check out some of the classics. But, they all fudge the myth. We know Aggamemnon was killed by his wife Clymnestra, who was Helen's older sister, BTW, Menelaus wasn't killed by Hector and... well, you know.

So, movie fans. It's worth the price of admission and does have some good moments. It ain't true to Homer but, so what? None of the great epics are true to the originals and when they are, they're usually a bust.