worth watching once

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2004)

I just came back from watching the film. I would say that this movie is worth watching once (but maybe only once since it is almost 2hrs 45 mins long). Given the storyline, the director has tried to create a believable epic. But i would say that he has only tried but not completely succeeded. There are a lot of similarities to "Gladiator" including the music and the haunting, "wailing" woman singing in the background. "Gladiator"'s music was well set for a lot of reasons. Here the sound effects during the fight scenes esp the fight between Hector and Achilles is jarred by onerous music in the background. The music in such "tense" sequences, could be playing second fiddle to the sound effects instead of the other way around. There is some nudity in the film. But i think it is unnecessary and has been added purely for box-office reasons. Nudity could have been avoided by using subtle indications.
As for the performances, i would definitely give 10/10 to Peter O'Toole for playing the king of Troy so incredibly well. He is very convincing as the proud and confident king before the battle, as the scared father during the battle and as the father who lost his son after Hector's death. Eric Bana (I first noticed him in "Black Hawk Down") does justice to the role of Hector, the prince and heir of Troy and also the best Trojan warrior. His acting is just perfect, not underacting not overacting. Diane Kruger as Helen of Troy, makes us wonder how she could have been the "face which launched a thousand ships". She is definitely good-looking, but doesn't have that "out of the world" beauty that Helen was famed to have. Even Liz Taylor did justice to "Cleopatra" much better. And definitely she should learn more in the acting department. Orlando Bloom: Oh my god! What a waste of money! He could have been replaced by an unknown actor who could have gotten a chance to prove himself. He is not convincing at all as the "ladies man" when he steals Helen, as the cowardly warrior when he fights the husband of Helen, or as the warrior who has suddenly realized that honor is more important and fights back. He has a long way to go in learning what characters he might fit best.The person who stands out though is the actress playing the cousin of Hector. I don't know her name, but definitely she has played her part very convincingly and she also is a "looker".
Okay, okay! I know you have been waiting for my views on Brad Pitt. Actually, i have none except that he shoudnt have played the part of Achilles. He struggles throughout the movie to be convincing as Achilles. Waste of money, again! But i guess ladies will go to the movie to see him nude.
Neways, as a person who has read "The Illiad" by Homer, i can confidently say that if you have read the work or have come across parts of the work somewhere, definitely there might be some gaping holes in the movie. But this is a Hollywood movie and you can expect that from one since they are made to make money, not be true to a literary work of do justice to history. That is why, the studio has very clearly stated that this movie was made based loosely on "Illiad". But to the average moviegoer, "Helen abduction", "thousand ships", "Trojan Horse", "Achilles heel" etc might seem familiar and associated with the war between Greece and Troy. The makers of this movie have been sure that all these popular components have found their way into the movie. But definitely, who said that they stuck by the literary work!
The graphics in the movie are very convincing and to the naked eye, very "realistic". Locations are superb, photogrpahy is stunning and so also the special effects. Don't expect to have any emotions like you might have felt in the "Gladiator" because though the makers have tried to weave 2 love stories(Paris's and Achilles's), father-son sentiment, husband-wife sentiment etc, it doesn't jell well with the audience because of the jarring music and the "wailing" woman singing.
Go to this movie expecting to get your money's worth of entertainment, but nothing more. BTW if you hadnt noticed, i have not given the story away, since i want you to see for yourself to judge the movie.