Many changes from the work of Homer, still a good epic

Rating: 8/10 (25 April 2004)

Okay- Never written a review before, but then again I have never been to a movie screening in such advance before. I don't think there are too many spoilers in this review. Again- I based my review on the movie alone, not the actual story of Troy or any of Homer's writings.
Just saw Troy in a screening. I didn't know for sure if it was going to be Troy becuase it was not announced until just before it started, but I had a feeling. I was planning to see this movie when it came out anyways so I was glad to see it early. There were still some color problems on film that they said they had yet to fix, but it sounded like it had a complete soundtrack (that I have to admit was kind of overbearing at sometimes)

I can't really comment on the accuracy of the film to Homer's the Illiad because I'm not that well versed in the story, but this movie is definitely striving for epic. To me there was no defined "main character", becuase in the beginning, characters, including Brad Pitt's Achilles come and go off screen for up to 15 minutes or so. The beginning was a bit slow, and there were some elements in the very beginning that I heard others around me commenting on being unecessary as well.
Some Minor Spoilers Below-

Diane Kruger (Helen) is very beautiful, and I read on some other post that there is a full frontal shot of her naked, sorry to disappoint the males, but that scene was gone from this version. There was a lot of leg from the male cast... which I, being a 21 year old female have to say that I enjoyed a lot. It was nice to see gratutious male skin instead naked girls for once.

The battle scenes were alright (and I do have to say that I have seen my fair share of battle/war movies) but none of the choreography was that exciting or new.
Orlando Bloom, god bless him, is hot, and you get a nice shot of him from about the hips on up naked. But halfway through the movie they give him a bow and arrow, and I could not help but think of him as Legolas. He makes the same facial expressions over and over. I have seen him in Pirates Of the Carribean also, but I had not seen the LOTR movies yet, so I cannot say whether I will always just picture him as an elf or not.

For me, Eric Bana and Sean Bean gave the best performances.

I have never been a huge Brad Pitt hater or lover and I don't think he did a bad job by any means in the movie, I just don't think he had enough redeeming qualities by the end of the movie. He didn't really seem like a likeable enough hero to me. I could be way off on this, perhaps thats exactly how Homer wrote it, but Achilles "Hero's journey" was just not complete enough for me.
There is definitely enough blood and shots of Brad Pitt's rear for the movie to be rated R. I can't see it as PG-13 unless they trim down a lot of the battles. The movie ran just about 2 hours and 40 minutes without end credits.

I would still recommend this to friends, it was a good escapist movie and a good way to spend a few hours. I wasn't at all disappointed in it on the whole, it could have been better, I would like to see what changes they make if any, for the theatrical release. I think it well do very well in the box offices, but as for Oscars? well.......I guess we'll just have to see how the rest of the movies pan out to be in 2004.