Be wary of Greeks bringing gifts...and films of classical literature

Rating: 5/10 (16 May 2004)

This film is a good film, lets get this out of the way first, it is GOOD. The Illiad is brilliant. This film is NOT the Illiad; character's die who shouldn't, people live who should die, and not to mention the whole Trojan war is reduced to about two weeks long. The film itself is enjoyable, although it does feel a times that its trying to cash in on LOTR, particularly when you see Orlando Bloom with a bow in his hand, or Sean Bean with a sword. My over-riding feeling when I left this film is one that they tore a few pages from the Illiad, a few from the Aenied, a page or so from the Odyssey and then threw away the rest of the books. The film says its based on Homer's epic poem, perhaps Homer's estate has the right to sue.
If you haven't read the Illiad, go see this film, you'll love it, and then read the Illiad and appreciate how much better it good have been. If you have read the Illiad, go watch it anyway, it is a good film. The acting is (on the most part) good - I exclude Orlando Bloom from this who doesn't act until somebody puts a bow in his hand, typecast anyone? I only give it 5/10 because it shouldn't claim to be inspired by the Illiad, otherwise it would definitely be a 7 or an 8.