The 'Not The Choir Boys Show'.

Rating: 8/10 (30 May 2004)

If there is anything the poster was going to scream at you, it was that this is going to be one of the biggest movies of the year. In the cast department, we have Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Brian Cox, Eric Bana and Peter O'Toole. When quality actors are brought together on the same production, you know that it has to be something special. Then there is of course the director, Wolfgang Peterson who is synonymous with movies that display his penchant for realistic craftsmanship. This is no more admirably displayed than in 'The Boat'. The team list and epic sequences brings comparisons between it and 'Ben Hur'. In my opinion, it will not surpass 'Ben Hur', but you will find no better way to be spellbound at the movies this year.
One cardinal rule in the art of movie-making is that you must capture your audience within the first ten minutes. Enter a stand  off between two great forces led by determined powerful Kings. A dispute settling challenge is agreed upon and out steps a snarling Herculean warrior waiting for full blooded action. The Kings calls for our hero and he is eventually tracked down sleeping off a good night with the women. He snaps up the challenge and nonchalantly makes his way to the battlefield. A malevolent grin cracks across the giants face as he eyes out his diminutive opponent. It begins and Achilles dodges the spears and leaping into the air buries his blade deep into the colossus's shoulder who falls to the dust. Oh, and by the way this is for a kingdom. Interested yet?
A movie of such grandeur necessitates CGI in order to field a great attacking army. This is delivered supremely and we are aghast at the magnitude of the force. The explosive impact of the massive battles that take place explode across the big screen as we witness a titanic struggle between an army thought to be invincible and a gargantuan drove of soldiers at the service of a power hungry king. Although some of the CGI is noticeable to the practiced eye, it did not dilute the realistic effect.
The individual battles were well coordinated and it is obvious that a great deal of planning and preparation had gone into these scenes. They indicated the supreme skills of Achilles and the brute strength and courage of his followers. The only evident fault here was when the Greeks landed on the beaches of Troy; it was noticeable that these scenes were slightly speeded up in order to capture the ferocious pace of the battle. While understanding the purpose here and it is essentially a good idea, the speed reduced the realism effect. Fortunately, this effect was used sparingly throughout the forthcoming skirmishes.
The scene between Prince Hector and Achilles' cousin was another well prepared scene and it showed the lack of battle time that the cousin had. His inability to keep his balance and poise led to his death at the hands of a revered opponent. This would prove to be the turning point in fortunes for the Greeks as Achilles was now going to put the rift between him and the King to one side as he sets to avenge his cousin.
The story was an encapsulating one. We have the hero on the side of a grossly ambitious King who wants all the credit in history for the conquering battles that are undertaken. They are against a King who is virtuous, albeit naïve, and leads his people with respect and honor. Prince Hector is the way Achilles should be. Although not as great a warrior as Achilles, he is a noble one who fights for his own survival and that of his people rather than for notoriety. This is a classic character situation where the opposing forces are opposite in nature and their interaction will influence their outlook. It is Achilles the hero, who learns from his journey. The characters turning point was witnessing the risk that the King took in trying to give his son a decent burial. Achilles realizes that his lust for immortality within the annals of Mans history books is at the cost of his own humanity and the love of a Princess.
His revelation motivates him to sends his soldiers home as his battle was now a personal one for love and not the glory of the battlefield. During the invasion of Troy, he searches only for the Princess and when he finds her, his passion for war is lost and in its place was his passion for her. Her cousin attacks him and although processing the skill to kill him, he does not. He was no longer the self  serving bloodthirsty warrior, but a man who had saved the woman he loved and had now achieved the honor that a great warrior should have. This tragic ending was indeed a fitting conclusion to the story and it made its impact on the audience.
The performances were all good with the ensemble cast delivering the goods. No  one stood out, but this is indicative of the fact that the actors were all of a high standard rather than someone not putting in an outstanding performance. Brad Pitt was ideal for the role of the hero as the audience could see the good in this warrior and the lessons learned did not seem out of character, but rather as inevitable. Pitt's nature was thus exuded. Brian Cox was a natural for the role of a power hungry King and his affinity for the role is plainly evident. The audience can sense the pleasure that he takes in playing an evil, powerful character as he revels in being somebody outside the norms of his regular life. Who can forget him as the original Lector in 'Manhunter'? Many a critic thought that he was better and for me that is no surprise. It was good to see Peter O'Toole and although age has softened his eyes thus making him amenable to playing the role of a compassionate king, he still has an obvious air of authority. Indeed the movie had a cast worthy of it.
Wolfgang Peterson has yet again delivered a story that virtually all can see. Despite the lavishing of violence and romance, the movie appealed to both genders, something very necessary for blockbusters. His craft is showcased once again as his skill at delivering realistic scenes and sets is graced upon the audience.
Watching an epic movie is a great way to spend some of your spare time. The strong emotions that they evoke as well as the spellbinding visuals will keep you entertained from the introductory narration until the rolling of the credits. Producers know that people like to escape to another time, another place and engage themselves in a story of a hero that they would wish to aspire to. Unquestionably, grand historic periods are formidable settings for this to happen and tales of valiant warriors have spellbound people down the ages. No movie as big as this would have been appropriate without a message. It would not have done justice to the scale of the project and ultimately all truly great stories must teach as well as entertain. We see that personal glory at the cost of humanity is unfulfilling and does not attain true honor in the writings of Man. Like Achilles, if we all listen, we can learn.