Review of Troy (2004) by John Eric D — 02 Jun 2015

A historical epic movie which contains more style yet it lacked of substance. A movie that tells the era of the Trojan war, which is based on Homer's Iliad. The story behind Helen of Troy. And here comes the new adaptation offered by Wolfgang Petersen.

Never saw those other Trojan War films but this might be the most prestigious and very well budgeted film compared to others. A movie which I thought, this could be a lot better than expected. Although I'm not really a fan of the whole story nor I red the books about it, I just don't know all the hype.

Every school universities tackles this historical subject which is really dumb IMO. And watching this film makes sense even more. A story about pride and courage, both sides between the Trojans and the Greeks.

Battling with each other while carrying their pride just to claim whatever they want. And just because of Helen, it triggers the fierce of the war's rage even more. Paris is fighting for his love, while King Menelaus wants to reclaim it.

The other King (Agamemnon) wants to claim Troy and rule its people. Achilles is this boastful, brave and proud young man who thinks he can take a whole bunch of armies by himself. He is a skillful warrior actually.

As much as I want to like the characters in this film and its story, but its just a NO to me this time around. I thought the story is just plain stupid and dumb. The performances are pretty legit, but the acting is like I'm watching a bad theatrical play or some "TV-ish" type like a Mexican drama series.

David Benioff as the screenwriter, I mean he could do better than that. At least he should be realistic to it. It's just not good for me at all sad to say. It has it moments actually, the fight scene between Achilles and Hector for instances, and the last dramatic parts of the film.

Besides, even with this un-interesting story line, I found the whole film easily watchable. You can follow the story line very much easily as much as each other's roles. In terms of production value.

The cinematography in this film is fantastic. It has very huge scale in terms of manpower (soldiers, plenty of them) and production design. The fight scenes are realistic, bone crunching fight scenes but the gory part where the blood splatters and the beheading in just one a slash is too over the top for me.

I seen some unnecessary parts especially on the last scenes, there is a war going on, and raping happen. I mean, should it be necessarily be in that part. Understandably, it's all in the text book however, I'm not amused on all of it.

Still a watchable historical epic just don't try to be a critique about it. 3/5.