My Big Fat Greek War Epic

Rating: Null/10 (12 May 2004)

TROY (2004) ***1/2 Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O' Toole, Saffron Burrows, Sean Bean, Julian Glover, Julie Christie, Tyler Mane. Director Wolfgang Petersen's epic adaptation of Homer's 'The Iliad' showcases grand spectacle in the form of ancient Greece set at war over Helen of Sparta (beguiling newcomer Kruger) who is taken away from her husband Menalaus (Gleeson) by Trojan prince Paris (a callow Bloom) that sets a bloody trek to war between the two nations with much to lose in the process. David Benioff's solid screenplay rudders the action into motion with some wonderful set pieces of amazing battle sequences and one humdinger grudge match between super warrior Achilles (a buff and excellent Pitt, all audacious arrogance masking some inner demons) and royale Hector (Bana imbuing vulpine fortitude) expertly choreographed. Skillfully mixed computer generated images on location locales in Mexico, Malta and London among other places. Great to see O'Toole on screen again in all his solemnly melancholic regality.