Pitt overrated. Simplistic story doesn't deserve a 7/10

Rating: Null/10 (1 November 2005)

I was disappointed in the story which I found rather simplistic. A junior high school student could have done better than this. No twists. No turns. Just straight on fill in the blanks between fight sequences (which were really good by the way).
The acting was uneven. I thought Eric Bana's performance was riveting. You could see the internal conflict in his eyes as he anticipates a war which he feels is needless. Peter O'Toole was also excellent - making the character an extension of himself and also displaying his screen presence. On the opposite spectrum was Achilles (Brad Pitt). Pitt played him like a whiny, self-absorbed, conceited a$$hole. I don't think he was written that way. There are many scenes where Pitt is disinterested and it shows. His monotone delivery of his lines got tiresome early on.
The fight scenes were well staged and exciting. The cinematography was very good - but not Lord of the Rings good.
I give it a passing grade but not by much: 5/10