Troy

Timing, as they say, is everything. If this had come out 4 years earlier it may have had a shot at Oscar gold. Instead that ship sailed with Gladiator and took all the gold to be had for such period films with it. It is rare for me to buy a new DVD the day it comes out at that "new DVD price" sight unseen. This film was an easy exception for me. All I had to do was very simple math. Brad Pitt+Eric Bana+Orlando "I Love Shooting Arrows in Movies" Bloom+Rose Byrne+Peter O'Toole+Brian Cox+Diane Kruger+Sean Bean = How could it be bad? I also love the stories I had heard in minimal fashion turned into an epic 3 hour long brilliantly visual film. The story goes, Hector (Bana) son of King Priam and heir to the throne of Troy takes his brother, Paris (Bloom) to sign a peace treaty with the King of Sparta. All is well until Paris smuggles the Kings wife, Helen (Kruger) on their ship of her own accord. She is running away with him back to Troy, which single handedly launched 1000 ships, as I'm sure you've heard. Though the Spartan Army is vast, they still would be advantageous to have the great warrior Achilles (Pitt) fighting with them. After he denies them, but his much younger not as well trained cousin Patrocles (Tron's Garrett Hedlund) accepts, he must go along to look out for him in battle. Early on we our shown how much Achilles thrives as a warrior. He understands battle and survival. He knows how to kill a man quickly and he relishes in the victories. Later we see how tormented he is. Achilles and Hector have a great one on one sword fight in the middle of the film. Paris shows his true colors as a lover, not a fighter, and we really get to feel a Kings sorrow for his sons. We all know the story of The Trojan Horse and I feel it was executed perfectly for the big screen. Achilles is ruthless, but selfish. He considers himself an independent contractor of sorts. He does not take orders and he takes what he wants. By the time his feelings are reciprocated, it may be too late. We all know what the fall of Achilles was, and how this was portrayed was a little lacking for me. The whole movie is strewn with characters. Almost too many to keep track of. The long run time is not without purpose. Some times long films can be dissected by the viewer. We always want things to be to the point. I don't recall any scenes I thought should have been cut. It was all completely necessary and very well directed. It must be good as I have watched it 3 times now. It is enjoyable, with good action and battle scenes, along with the best Hollywood has to offer.


NBM rates Troy - Awesonomenal