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Troy

Review by: Bruce Bluett

BruceBluett@TheCinemaSource.com

It's hard to go wrong when you retell the greatest epic story our species has ever known. With that in mind, there is still room enough to disappoint if the source material is disrespected. Wolfgang Petersen's conglomeration of legends from Homer's Illiad and other Greek mythos in Troy is the first attempt in recent American cinema to dramatize the tale. The result is one of the most layered, complex, and intriguing films of our time. Troy may shy away from bringing the Greek god's into play, but that is replaced by a more heightened character development and endearing human quality.

The lands of Troy and Sparta have been warring for ages. In a stroke of honor and compassion, King Menelaus (Brenden Gleeson) of Sparta and Princes Hector (Eric Bana) and Paris (Orlando Bloom) of Troy make a peace between the two war ravaged nations. However, at a feast to celebrate the truce, Paris of Troy finds his way into the bed of King Menelaus' wife"¦Helen (Diane Kruger). As she stows away with her new love, King Menelaus breaks the peace in order to reclaim his wife and redeem his honor. Sparta cannot take on Troy alone so King Menelaus must call upon his brother, King Agamemnon (Brian Cox) of Greece, to launch the greatest war the world has ever seen. The power hungry Agamemnon needs the finest warrior alive on his side if he is to claim the mighty land of Troy for his kingdom"¦he needs Achilles (Brad Pitt). Achilles is loyal to no one, he only fight because knows that this war will make his name remembered throughout the ages, he will be immortal.

While the above is a general plot description, if you are not familiar with Greek mythology, be prepared to delve into a deep storyline where all of the characters are intertwined by fate. Many other characters round out the ensemble cast, most notably are the legendary Peter O'Toole (King Priam of Troy) and Sean Bean (Odysseus, King of Ithaca). Their performances refine a somewhat melodramatic script into very human and tangible story. The scene between King Priam (O'Toole) and Achilles (Pitt) is one of the most outstanding five minutes of drama this generation will ever see. One cannot comment on the humanity of the story without giving the highest compliments to Brad Pitt and Eric Bana for their multi-faceted and torn portrayals of the world greatest but reluctant warriors.

While Wolfgang Petersen could not incorporate all interpretations and aspects of the Trojan War and its participants, such as the Greek gods and the fact that Patroclus (Garrett Hedlund) is often thought to be

Achilles' lover, not friendly cousin, Peterson did a phenomenal job of maintaining the scale of the war and balancing it with the weight put on the individuals. Visually, the film is an astounding and high budget accomplishment for the record books. The beaches alone are a magnificent backdrop, but add replica Greek ships and an elaborate city of Troy along with hundreds of soldiers in ornate armor; the result is a spectacle that can't be appreciated in one viewing.

My initial reaction was that the film was too melodramatic for its own good. Deliveries of lines often felt like soap opera's, with long stares and dramatic pauses. Later I realized that the acting was appropriate for the kind of story being told, after all this was a war fought for love and honor. One could even argue that the cast mimicked Greek theatre styles where monologues are delivered with great intensity while a chorus spells out the significance of the events.

Troy is undoubtedly a film that deserves numerous viewings just to take in it's sheer scale. It may also spark an interest in Homer's stories that none of us were able to identify with without seeing the story in motion. The film will have you by the end, and when you leave, it will be hard to stop thinking about it. There are no winners or loses, no one is purely evil or good, this is what makes the story lasting and immortal.

Movie Grade: A

Synopsis:

Prince Paris of Troy (Bloom) steals Helen (Kruger) away from her Spartan king husband, setting the two nations at war. The entire Greek armada lays siege to Troy; the Greek forces, led by massive warrior Achilles (Pitt), and the Trojan forces, led by prince Hector (Bana), fight a bloody battle that takes over a decade to complete.