Troy falls
05.14.2004The movie falls very short of any expectations I had. Sure, some of the acting was good (Brad Pitt perhaps the only fully believable character). But. Why strip the story of any semblance of plot to make it a long action flick w/ 21st century sensibilities thrown in? Homer's version has survived three millennium, proof that it still stands.
Where was Cassandra? She's the half-mad daughter of Troy's King Priam. No one ever believes her prophesies, then curse her when they come true.
Where was Clytemnestra? Agamemnon's wife (also Helen's sister) becomes furiously mad after Agamemnon sacrifices their daughter, Iphigenia, to appease Artemis & allow the winds to change so the Greek army can sail against Troy. It's Clytemnestra who kills Agamemnon.
There were also errors in the story. Ajax survives Achilles (who dies long before the sacking of Troy) & actually brings his body back to camp. Also, no mention of Paris' final end. Though he, too, dies long before Troy's sacked. But he's no coward, he's rescued from Menelaus by Aphrodite, who whisks him back to the city. Also, Menelaus doesn't die in the war; he enters Troy in the wooden horse & gets Helen back.
And why is there no intervention of the gods? It's a major part of Homer's tale; it explains why some characters are so important. Helen is the daughter of Zeus. It's Aphrodite who sets Paris on the path towards Helen. Achilles is the son of a sea nymph (a demi-goddess), making him immortal — unless struck in his heel. Also, the fact that the fickle Greek gods kept changing sides, or just using the Greeks & Trojans as pawns in their petty feuds.
Then there's the issue of Achilles & Patroclus. Who were more than friends, if you get my meaning. You'd figure it'd be OK in 2004 to admit the Greeks indulged in homosexuality.
In the end, the movie falls flat. There's no motivation for the characters beyond petty glory or greed or lust. Homer's classic is full of motivation & and plot (that oh-so-important element in story-telling). I did appreciate the not-so-subtle nod to Virgil's Aneid (the Roman myth that they're descendants from the only Trojan survivors). But it really had no place here, and just muddled the story.
Certainly a far cry from the graphic novel faithfully retelling Homer's version: Age of Bronze. Or even the made-for-TV version that came out last year, Helen of Troy (which kept many of the more complicated, mythological elements). Check out either of these before you see the WB fiasco. Better yet, go read the original: Homer's The Iliad.
Posted by Miguel at 05:51 PM
Comments
yeah, the movie reviews I've read so far have criticised the movie. But it's okay, since I'll be paying more attention to beautiful beefy men in 8-inch long skirts.
Posted by: Stephanie at May 14, 2004 06:23 PM
I read reviews like yours too. We had to read Iliad as highschool freshmen and I liked it so much, that's why it makes me angry the movie is so hollywoodized. I am more incline toward Alexander the Great that comes out in November. Hm.
Posted by: Nenad at May 14, 2004 07:34 PM
What really bugs me about Hollywood is that they dumb down anything worth putting on film. Like the consuming audience really only cares about pretty people doing cliche things.
Perhaps they do?
Posted by: tom at May 14, 2004 11:02 PM
Nenad, I'm sure Alexander will suffer from revision and exclusion as well, as it's widely known that Alexander had male lovers...still not kosher for Hollywood blockbusters, apparently.
--s
Posted by: J.Scott Barnard at May 15, 2004 01:18 PM
Allegedly they will include that part of the story. They are allegedly gonna make Alexander's bisexuality a part of the story (his friend and lover is played by Jared Leto). But actually I was not talking about that, lol. N.
Posted by: Nenad at May 16, 2004 07:41 AM
Thanks for the review, enough said, I won't pay to see it! (I didn't even like the trailer).
I had a very busy week, I've been working more than 14 Hs. a day all week, it seems it'll be the same until wednesday, I'll try to call or email me for poker night (is it thursday?).
Posted by: Daniel at May 17, 2004 09:33 AM