To finish off the big movie weekend for Marcia and I, we finished watching “Troy” last night. This is the famous movie flop (from what I heard) based on Homer’s “The Iliad” about the fall of Troy.
I have never read the “The Iliad”, and I am sure I wouldn’t understand anyway. Though I am familiar with some of the story. Some of you may know it, too. But for the heck of it, I will go through it quickly.
In the year 1193 B.C., Trojan princes Hector and Paris treat with Menelaus, the king of Sparta. Sparta is one of the united kingdoms of Mycenae Greece. When they leave, Menelaus’ wife Helen, who has fallen for Paris, secretly leaves with the Trojans. Menelaus goes to his brother Agamemnon, the king of Greece, asking for an attack to get Helen back. Agamemnon agrees, though for his own greed to conquer Troy, so they launch an attack of 1000 ships. The great Greek warrior Achilles is talked into joining the attack by his king Odysseus, though he openly hates Agamemnon.
With actors like Brad Pitt (Achilles), Eric Bana (Hector), Orlando Bloom (Paris), Brian Cox (Agamemnon), Peter O’Toole (Priam, the king of Troy), and Sean Bean (Odysseus), this was to be a major movie epic. And in some ways is, though mostly because of it’s writer (Homer that is, not the scriptwriters). I think it lacked the drama it was supposed to, because we know the story. Not only do most know about Helen, but Achilles and the Trojan Horse.
But the movie wasn’t as bad as I have heard. Actually some of the actors I felt did a really good job. I really liked Cox as Agamemnon. And Sean Bean seems to always give a good performance. Bana and Pitt are pretty good, too. Though it takes some time in the movie to see the softer side of Achilles, so at first Pitt seems over the top macho.
One more interesting thing. It is appropriate that I saw this movie now. Today is the one year anniversary of me rupturing my Achilles tendon. It wasn’t hard to watch the scene where Achilles suffers the injury that gave the tendon it’s name. But I think he walked a little too well after. At least based on my experience.
June 27th, 2005 at 6:00 pm
I’ve got to say, I really loved Troy when I saw it, there were some historical innacuracies I believe, but who the hell cares. Just one more reason why I ignore know-it-all reviewers. I’ve noticed the growing trend of trashing films which are big budget and have huge stars in them. Unless it’s French with subtitles film critics usually gleefully take apart such Hollywood projects.
I still remember ‘Amalie’ getting fantastic reviews from the critics. Me and Paul watched it, and slept through half of the darn film. In my opinion the only reason it got rave reviews was the fact that it was a French film with subtitles, and actors nobody had ever heard of. Sheesh!!
I’d have preferred to watch ‘Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey’ TWICE, than that crap!
June 28th, 2005 at 9:27 pm
Review: Troy
Is the quote machine broken:…