Spectacular "Gladiator" blood spiller

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2004)

The big screen version of the Illiad does not follow the epic novel for page to page. In fact you could say that Peterson revamped it to make it much more realistic and Hollywood. The Trojans (led by Eric Bana) battle the Spartans (led by Brian Cox and Brad Pitt) in a fight over the stealing of King Menelaus's (Brendan Gleeson, looking like Amish again) wife Helen (some model with limited acting skills). Orlando Bloom plays Paris, the brother of Hector (Bana) and the stealer of Helen. War breaks out til few of the main characters are left and then the infamous horse is born. Some may find the flick long, but I feel it was just the right amount. Pitt is the man of the movie, and is solid at best in a role that needed more. His acting skills are limited. Bloom doesn't get much to work with but you do get to see him fire a few arrows. Bana is the standout as the honorable Hector, along with Cox playing the super evil Agamemnon. Well worth it, go see it. 8/10