A hollywood reinterpretation of classical greek legend.

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 2004)

A Hollywood re-interpretation (let's be honest and say MIS INTERPRETATION), of a classical Greek legend.

If you are hung up on the original legend as told by Homer, then you will feel uncomfortable about this film. The opening credits should have had a warning "Based on characters and events as told by Homer, and any resemblance to the Illiad is purely accidental"
OK, I Still enjoyed the film, at over 2 hours, I didn't feel the time go by, but I kept noticing faults, both historical and geographical (see below)
Brad Pitt has some awesome swordfighting moves (which you see from the first fight he has), and the fight between him and Hector (Eric Bana) is terrific.
The landing at the beach at Troy is an ancient version of the D-Day landing in "Saving Private Ryan", but nevertheless well done.
Peter O'Toole looks old (well, he *IS*), and his eyes, which used to be the most amazing eyes after Paul Newman, look tired. Nice part though.
OK, what's so bad about it:"

People die who didn't die in the original story, people live who died in the original, and Paris is a more sympathetic character than he was entitled to be. But heck, all the Greeks are presented as baddies, and the poor Trojans are the only sympathetic characters. It's more told from a Trojan point of view.
They even CHANGED THE ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!
If I was a Greek, I'd make sure the Americans get the worst accomodation at the coming Olympics. I bet the Greeks get upset about this interpretation.
OK, Note to Hollywood: History and Geography Lesson: History: The war lasted 10 years, not 2 1/2 weeks!!!
Geography: Look at a freaking map!!! Turkey (Troy) is EAST OF GREECE, so when you are on the beach, the SUN SETS IN THE WEST, as does the moon. Every time you see the sunrise (more than once in the film), it's rising from the sea, a ohysical and astronomical impossibility.
SCORE: 5 out of 10. Mostly for the action scenes, and some OK acting.