An Epic Achievement

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2005)

Speaking from the viewpoint of a reader of the Trojan War myth and a movie goer, this movie is great. In terms of story (and tradition of telling the Trojan War story), characters, special effects, it's a great piece of work. Even it's historical accuracy is good.
I was able to compare this to The Illiad and other narratives, and this movie makes a view significant changes.(Menelaus's death, Paris's survival, Patroclus being a nephew of Achilles, and the war didn't seem to go long) But that didn't bother me in the slightest because the story of the Trojan War has been altered over time since it's inception. Homer was not the first to tell it but merely the first to write it down. Altering the story has been apart of Trojan War tradition, and this movie has kept to it. I think this story is catering to modern tastes, but Homer was catering to the tastes of his time as well. And I don't think he would have a problem with this at all. Like I say, the movie is keeping with tradition.
The basic narrative however remains the same with the elopement of Helen and Paris, the reluctance of Achilles to go, his closeness to Patroclus, the initial Greek victory, the quarrel over Briseis, Paris being a poor fighter, the Trojans repelling of the Greeks, death of Patroclus, Hector's and Achilles dual, Trojan Horse, and Fall of Troy. For that I like it. In the end Trojan war adaptations should just be a good story, and that's what this is. A damn good story. A story that, in this case, is well written, flows well, isn't not boring, quite engaging, and scripting thats solid.
When reading The Illiad I was supportive of the Trojans, and this movie agrees with me, with the Greeks portrayed as warmongering, womanising, bullies. Homer had put a regal spin on the Grreks, but this movie had them as total jerks. Agamemnon, Menelaus the epitome of the attitude. I did not like Ajax in the book, and I was glad to see him die in the movie. Achilles, Patroclus, and Odysseus I didn't mind however. I felt really sorry for Hector having bad luck thrown on him repeatedly, Priam just wanted his city protected and genuinely believed the gods would help him, Andromache wanted her husband to be safe, Paris was pitiful but not unsympathetic, and the Trojans were just protecting their land. sympathetic characters are essential to me, for a good story and this movie delivers.
The special effects were also good. For the armies and battles they were necessary, and complemented an already good story. It was quite a spectacle. The architecture and statues seemed consistent with 1200 BC. The military uniforms were consistent Greeks had their typical regalia, and the Trojans had west Asian suits rather than Greek uniforms in whixh they've been depicted in past efforts. The choreography is good too as seen in the battles.
What's also good is the versatile cast. Eric Bana and Rose Byrne from Autralia, Diane Krueger from Germany (who is also VERY nice looking)Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean from England, Brian Cox from Scotland, Peter O'Toole from Ireland, Brendan Gleeson from Northern Ireland, and Brad Pitt from America. It's good to see the talent the rest of the world has to offer rather than confining it to the Hollywood big names.
My only problem is that they gave little attention to Hecuba (Paris and Hector's mother) as well as Thetis. But otherwise it's damn good.
Interms of story, characters, visuals, and historical accuracy, and (in my case) closeness to the written version, and keeping with Trojan War tradition this movie delivers. It's an epic achievement because the money spent on this has resulted in the above being converted to the big screen, in a visual and audial treat. An 8/10, Wolfgang Petersen, Homer would be pleased, and so am I.