I've never been much of a Bradd Pitt fan, and at the beginning of this movie I was wondering how they were going to pull off a man of his stature as being the best fighter around. This is a war movie with eye candy for everyone and artists will enjoy the play of colors in the movie. The settings and costumes were extraordinary. The cinematography and art direction were stunning. The use of the color blue in the movie at times knocked my socks off. The acting, while not stellar, was just right for a portrayal of the Greeks. The biggest weakness of the movie was in character development. Just why were some of the main characters doing the things they were doing? There were lame attempts to explain why Achilles and Odyseus were there fighting in this war against Troy for a king they disliked, but they didn't add up. Just WHY Helen defected to Troy, but they were superficial and unbelievable. My son, 8, is still trying to figure out why they brought that hideous horse into the beautiful city. It doesn't take a kid to see that it was roughly hewn, rustic and primitive, and certainly didn't belong in the shining city. I did miss the lore behind the hero that was only hinted at, and thought it would have been a great addition to mention that Achilles had been rumored to have been raised by a Centaur. It would have certainly given a little insight into his unusual tactics and the very way that he moved. That his mother, in attempt to make him immortal, dipped him in the river styx as a baby - leaving only the ankle dry and hence mortal. Of course there were only vague hints of these things. Still, if you are a lover of Ancient Greece, you will enjoy this movie. For me, it was just wonderful to see such ancient times brought to life. After the movie my mind was changed - no one, I thought to myself, could have possibly played Achilles like Brad Pitt did. He was perfect for that part. |