Bipolar film

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2004)

A movie of polar contrasts: Eric Bana was terrific as Hector. The indefatigable Peter O'Toole spectacular as King Priam. Orlando Bloom unconvincing as Paris. Brad Pitt overweening as Achilles.
I don't think Bloom had the range to portray Paris well. He struggled with the role and he never conveyed emotions in a convincing manner.
And ah, Brad Pitt. I know Achilles is supposed to be arrogant, but I'd say that when Pitt dug down deep to portray the character's hubris that he drew from the wrong well -- the one that is filled with the superciliousness that comes with being the hunk Brad Pitt rather than from being the nearly invincible Achilles. In other words, I think he acted like the same hot shot we've seen him be in other films and in interviews. He clearly thinks he's the cat's meow.
As for the movie as a whole, the special effects at times were good, at other times bad and easily discerned. The battle scenes were good but nothing we haven't seen since Braveheart. Certainly not a bad film, but not one of the best epic films ever made, either.