An epic like none seen in years.

Rating: 9/10 (3 April 2005)

I really liked this movie. I'm not a real Brad Pitt fan but his performance here is quite remarkable and he makes Achilles a living, believable, sympathetic character who bears many characteristics of Homer's original -- brooding, spoiled and petulant and with an innate nobility that cannot be denied. Eric Bana's Hector is finely drawn and also worthy of praise and sympathy. He loyally fights for his country and king, defends his amoral, cowardly brother and knows he's going to his death when he faces Achilles but honor demands it. Sean Bean's Odysseus is a gem, as he manipulates Achilles to do Agamemnon's dirty work, not really liking what he's doing but realizing that the future of Greece (not just Agamemnon or any other king)depends on destroying Troy. However, Peter O'Toole's performance as Priam is the best of any in the film. His confrontation with Achilles to recover Hector's body is the high point of the film and then watching it dawn on Achilles what a dishonorable and reprehensible act he has committed is worth the price of admission. The rest of the cast is competent -- Helen is beautiful and so is Paris (as a guy I can't see the attraction of Orlando Bloom though). Agamemnon, Ajax, Menelaus and the rest are portrayed with admirable gusto. The character of Briseis is well done especially when refusing to let Achilles fight over her. The final confrontation between Paris, Briseis and Achilles puts a really interesting twist on the Achilles' heel myth.
All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable epic the likes of which has not be seen in a long time. Why quibble that it isn't really the way Homer wrote it (after all, it's called Troy, not The Iliad). It actually presents some interesting interpretations of what may really have happened as opposed to what has survived from Homer after 3200 years. I certainly give it a hearty 9.