Somewhat lacking

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2004)

Possible Spoilers.
Troy is certainly not a bad movie. It is an interesting subject, and the special effects are excellent. However, it lacks the weight that an epic should have. The characters are superficial due to the number of them present, and the story fails to engage.
The film tells the story of the attack on Troy by the Greeks after Helen, the wife of Menelaus is taken from Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy. Those who have read the Iliad will notice differences between the it and the film. Most noticeable among the variations is that while the Trojan War is said to have lasted for 10 years, the battles depicted seem to last only a few weeks. Also, the ending for the Trojans is far more uplifting, with Hector's family, Helen, and Paris all escaping. While the alterations will disturb those tightly in love with the Iliad, they are necessary to bring this story to the screen at a running length less than 4 hrs.
Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, is the official star. Everyone comes second to him, but Pitt's rendering of the great hero makes you wonder why. Yes, Achilles is known for his self-importance and arrogance, but he should also seem dangerous enough to be respected, and this just isn't the case. Two dimensional as Achilles is, the other characters aren't much more memorable. The actors play their parts appropriately, but not with distinction. Peter O'Toole as Priam leaves the only real lasting impact.
As mentioned previously, the special effects of the battle scenes are superb. The costuming is also wonderful. However these are not enough to save Troy from mediocrity. The film is decent, but not what a great legend should be.