An Excellent Film

Rating: 10/10 (25 May 2004)

There are films with heart and there are films that are epic. Troy folds in both those categories and much much more. Because of bad criticism I was not looking forward to it as much as I was before. It's fascinating to know what we expect from an epic like Troy. Look at the list of epics we have been gifted with over the last five decades. Ben Hur, El Cid, Spartacus, Cleopatra, Braveheart, Gladiator and now Troy. They are pretty much the same in the way of size, as they all contain huge battles scenes with lot's of heroics and sad endings. Troy doesn't change that and it brings something a little extra to the table to make it all the more glorious. Gladiator fans will love this and I think it's fair to say that Troy is a lot better than Gladiator. As soon as the opening credits pop up the whole movie starts off straight away without a moment to rest and this is how it is till the very end.
I have never had the pleasure to read Homer's masterwork Iliad so I wasn't comparing the movie to the book which I prefer because then for me nothing is taken away but straight away after the film finished I wanted to get my hands on the book and see what was in the film and what was taken out as it is just one of the most fascinating movies I have seen for a long time. I never go home disappointed from the Epic's and continue to do so with Troy. Orlando Bloom is obviously falling into the same trap as Leonard Di Caprio did with titanic because everyone just seems to hate the guy but, is he the worst actor in the world that he is made out to be? I'll admit he is not the best actor but surely he must be praised for the brave performance he gives as Paris. Some parts did make me feel a bit uneasy with some cheesy dialogue but there were others where he was just fantastic. Take the scene where he decides to fight Menaleus to win the heart of Helen. I won't go on any further but it brings to the character of Paris and who he really is. The scene is so well acted by all concerned especially Orlando Bloom who is more than just Legolas in Lord of the Rings. Brad Pitt is a big surprise as Achillies, Eric Bana as always is on top form and has a rising rising career ahead of him. Brian Cox and Brendan Gleeson are on top form but I don't see what the fuss is about with Peter O Toole. No one could ever take away his performance as TE Lawrence but I was lead to believe that he was the strongest actor in the film. As far as history goes he is but I have seen him in better films than Troy. Oliver Reed will always get a vote ahead of O Toole's performance. In some scenes it was like Wolfgang Petersen shouted `Ok Peter, can you make that face now' and after making it's done it's like he shouts `Ok Pete, that's it' because his expressions during some of the battle scenes and others just don't seem convincing and very put on. The single scene with Pitt and O Toole is very well done and extremely important but the rest is very questionable. Deborah Unger was quite a waste of time but that's the script writer's fault for not giving her the time she so well deserved but I still expected to see more of her towards the end. The battle scenes hit you in all the right places and has plenty of emotion to back it up and bring you to tears in some parts.

I look upon Troy with a lot to say about it but can't describe the words I am wanting to say. It's more epic than you could have ever imagined. The acting is first class, the music and photography are very well conceived and has quite an old fashioned feel to it.
Wolfgang Petersen has never made a bad film. Das Boot is the prime example of that and along with Air Force One and The Perfect Storm that are good add on's to his collection of movies Troy will open the eyes to people who have never heard of the man and know that he is up there with the best. Ignore what they are saying, people just can't get over the fact that this is what Hollywood do to famous scriptures and will do for many years to come. I would feel the same if it was something that I had loved and admired for years and years but I would appreciate that someone is trying to make a film out of it the best way possible and I know there are parts in the film which don't add up to the story but we should be grateful that this does what it's supposed to do and that's wow us and keep the faith. It deserves that much.