Review of Agora (2009) by Budy G — 23 May 2010

Agora is not a movie for everyone - I just want to make that clear. But it is an excellent film in it's own unique and intersting way. I would rate the content 5, but over all as a piece of work a 3 is all I can give it.

Weisz is of course amazing and plays Hypathia wonderfully - the supporting cast are a little weak which drags the story as they also play a major part in the telling. I was a bit confused about Minghellas story (Davus) he wasn't developed enough as a character and he didn't act it well enough to convey it fully. It seemed a little tacked on for some reason though apparently the main bulk of the tale.

Delicate and poetic in it's filming, it is rather beautiful to watch. It is dotted with fabulous space shots of Earth and the Moon that are humbling and capture the essence of the film.

The science and philosophy is very interesting and the onset of Christianity is like watching a car crash in slow motion. It handles the acts of the Jews, the Christians and the Pagans objectivly - spreading out the history for the viewers to form their own opinions. Despite today being aware of the movement of the cosmos I found Hypatias discovery of these movements interesting and poigniant. I loved the questions and issues Agora raised for me as I could strike comparisons even today.

I think Agora is a film that puts everything into perspective. We have lived this life and we continue to live it today - stagnating in beliefs and acts that have not evolved since the dawn of our civilisations. If we are ever to move on as a race we must remember that we are brothers, one and the same, and we must always question and seek answers.