Butchering Homers work.

Rating: 5/10 (7 July 2005)

Let me start by mentioning the good things about Troy. 1. Great camera work. 2. Eric Bana's performance. 3. Costuming and setting creation.
Now, for the issues I have. 1. Complete lack of time reference. Did anyone realize this war took place over years of time and not just a weekend? 2. Ommision of some of Homers better characters including Aeneas and little Ajax. Not to mention other heroes being glossed over such as Oddyseus, very small part in the movie from an enormous part in the poem. 3. For the life of me I can't understand why every remake of this story has the writers wanting you to like Achilles. This guy is a megalomaniacal killing machine, not the warrior fighting for honor. His sole reasons for going to Troy at all is fame and ego. He wouldn't have fought at all (due to a dispute with Agamemnon) if Patroclus hadn't been killed. Patroclus who (in the poem) he sent out with his armor on to fool Agamamnon. Achilles is a bad guy and everyone tries to make him out to be noble and heroic. 4. The acting was marginal at best, Shatner-esquire. Overly melodramatic.
For gods sake people, go read the book.