Comment by Purple Tigress

Wed, 26 May 2004 22:31:47 EDT

As a movie, I thought it was disjointed. It lacked good character development, mainly because it simplified the characters and went for a good guy versus bad guy. There was a clear lack of cohesion in the human relationships. As I pointed out, Meneleus and Agammenon weren't just brothers, they were also brothers-in-law. In so many, cases the writers decided he didn't want us to see these warriors as real men with families. In Greek tragedies about the Trojan War, it is the fate of the women that mostly concerns the playwrights. Plays about Iphegenia, Electra, and Clytemnestra and Hecuba. Movies can do that. Actually, Katherine Hepburn played Hecuba in the movie version of Euripides' "The Trojan Women." Of course, I also found the TV series "Hercules" disturbing because it portrayed him as a patient and wise hero and not the complex faulty man of Greek mythology. I'm not such a purest, but if you're going to take away the gods then at least give us real people. In war movies like Troy the women are overlooked. Ironic, don't you think when you consider that this was a war supposedly fought over a woman? So as a woman, I am deeply troubled that women can be so blithely overlooked in modern versions of old war sagas. One things this allows us to do is to forget what the true nature of war has been throughout human history. I thought this was more important to point out because I have read many reviews about the movie, but none seemed to bring out these points about women and war. I also know that one particular critic didn't have a clue about Greek mythology and it showed in his review. You can say, he inspired me to write. Otherwise, very good cinematography and CGI. Lovely scenery, including Brad Pitt. Unfortunately, the story had none of the pathos of a great work, including the great work that inspired it.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Wed, 26 May 2004 08:38:53 EDT

Thanks PT, very thoughtful review. While you make it clear that the movie is unfaithful to ALL its sources, I don't get much sense of what you thought of it as a movie.

Comment by Chris Kent

Wed, 26 May 2004 07:00:34 EDT

I have not seen Troy yet though found your review to be interesting and thought provoking. When I look at the previews, I see "more of the same" when it comes to recent Hollywood epics. Brad Pitt usually chooses interesting projects for himself and that is part of my interest in seeing this film. I also respect film director Wolfgang Peterson's work. He loves to make action/adventure films with a bit of thought and character - Das Boot, Enemy Mine, Outbreak, In the Line of Fire, Air Force One - a kind of James Cameron clone if you will. My expectation would be a glossy product, with a nod towards respectability.....

Blogcritics: Comments on Troy Eschews both Greek Myth and Tragedy

Comment by Purple Tigress

Comment by Eric Olsen

Comment by Chris Kent