Could have been better

Rating: 2/10 (16 May 2004)

You don't have to be an Iliad purist to feel that this could have been a much, much better adaptation, though one might think so. This movie doesn't simply deviate from the original in huge ways; it is a modern movie, a modern culture, with swords, bows and arrows, the institution of slavery, and weird hairstyles thrown in to make it look like it takes place in ancient times. It takes itself too seriously, and so do people. The Iliad is a difficult read, and people would rather watch this movie. Of course, many classicists can take solace in the idea that they can test their students in some pretty cool ways to see who actually read it. "Who kills Agamemnon?"
Watch this movie if you want to see some nice eye candy, but don't take it seriously at all. Not even Priam was close enough to his original character. "Sword of Troy" given to the wussiest son of all, my ass.