Not even Homer lite

Rating: 6/10 (13 March 2005)

The Iliad was not all about Achilles. But this movie is all about Brad Pitt. I am a big fan of Mr. Pitt for many reasons. However, I am a much more avid fan of Homer, whose Iliad has been massacred by this 1950s epic with 21st Century special effects. The sacking of Troy cannot compare to the devastation wrought on Homer's epic poem by this production. "Lord of the Rings" received far better treatment on all levels. Brian Cox plays Agamemnon with Vaudevillian villainy. Brendon Gleeson takes a better stab at Menelaus, but it is not his finest hour. Orlando Bloom's Paris is prettier than Helen of Troy. And bless the memory of Peter O'Toole, who, despite age and infirmity, gave this movie its only dose of class. In fairness, I should also credit Sean Bean with a somewhat respectable Odysseus. The staged beefcake shots were calendar worthy, I suppose, but even the passion seemed canned and stale. My vote of 6 goes to all the crew and post production folks who did a great job on the look of the film, with the exception of the really bad hair extensions. Why can't someone have the guts and vision to do the Classics with intelligence and respect for both the original brilliance of the stories and the intelligence of an audience? The Iliad could have been done much better with less flash.