Troy triumphs as expected.

Rating: 7/10 (15 May 2004)

I must say that despite the negative reviews I've read about this movie before I saw it, I was actually impressed by it. Ever since I saw the first trailer to this movie, back when "The Matrix Revolutions" was released, I was anticipating the release. This movie, plus "The Passion of the Christ" were two of the biggest movies I've anticipated watching for the 2004 movie season, and just like "Passion," I was satisfied with "Troy."

Brad Pitt, who is Achilles, starts the movie off with his swordplay, as well as his arrogance. But that was the man Achilles was. Pitt puts Achilles in a good perspective as to the man he was in the Greek ages. Pitt also keeps the movie going into its climaxes and other points.
But Pitt isn't quite the heart of the movie, Hector, played by Eric Bana, is. He is a good man who loves his city of Troy, in which he holds the crown of the Prince of Troy. He devotes his honor for Troy and his father Priam, played by the great Peter O'Toole. Hector knew that there will be a time in which Troy would need his protection and honor, but it wouldn't have come so soon if it hadn't been for his brother Paris, played by Orlando Bloom.
I must say that Bloom is a good actor, but I, along with many others who have seen this movie, don't like his character. I understand that Paris was very naive and cowardly, but then again, I thought Orlando Bloom was right in playing a role in which he wasn't the brave man he portrayed in "The Lord of the Rings" saga, and in "Pirates of the Caribbean." But he isn't the main flaw of this movie.
I have learned about Ancient Greek mythology way before seeing this movie, and I will only complain that most things in this film were completely inaccurate. I'm not going to spoil things for everyone, but I will only say that if Homer were still alive, he would complain on how his poem, "The Iliad," would have only been half the inspiration for this film. Because that's about how much "Troy" had presented itself from the poem.
But the inaccuracy isn't enough to label "Troy" a bad movie, because it's not. I still recommend this film to everybody. If you have loved "Gladiator," this movie will be loved by you too. As for Bana, I believe he should get an Oscar nomination for his performance as Hector. Good job, Bana!
Troy: 8/10