Troy Review

Epic war film that roots Homer's fanciful propositions in credible realism, pitting the overweeningly proud Greeks against the quixotically pious and noble Trojans.

The principals are legendary in stature and prone to contention, generating critical friction within their own ranks. The dialogues are grandiloquently stilted and often profound, befitting the culture that founded and prized the study of logic and philosophy. In this revision Divine Intervention is redundant, since Agamemnon uses Helen's flight as a pretext to expand his empire. He is dependent on the vaunted Achiles's charisma to galvanize his army although the fractious champion despises his megalomania and greed.

Achiles is driven by a spiritual quest for immortality, seeking to be remembered for all time for his part in the war. Opposing him is the reluctant hero Hector, a noble prince in the truest sense, cursed like Cassandra to see his dire predictions be verified as a result of the hidebound Trojan leaderships hubris. The other sympathetic figure is Perseus, a lambent embodiment of grace and pacifistic strength drawn in spite of her better judgement to the sardonic Achilles.

Achilles forsakes her love by slaying the noble Hector in a duel, thereby silencing the sole voice of reason in the Trojan ruling body, and ensuring that Odyseus's famous wooden horse gambit will doom them. However, Achilles euphemistic heel proves to be Perseus, when he sacrifices his life saving her from his bloodthirsty countrymen during the invasion.

This film is very adult oriented with nudity and sex scenes. The main hero Achilles is not very sympathetic since he kills for the sake of his own ego, indeed he kills Hector, the most sympathetic character in the movie. Also Achilles is on the bad guys side, as Agamemnon is a powerhungry warmonger and egomaniac. The romance between Paris and Helen is far from idealized, as it shows what a childish fool he is for endangering his people for the sake of an infatuation. His naivety comes back to bite him when he impetuously challenges Menelaus for Hellens hand and needs to be saved by Hector. Overall a fine drama and action that shows there were heroes on both sides and the folly of youthful love and excessive religiosity.

Rating: 7/10