Monday, May 17, 2004
Movie Review: Troy
Critics don't like Troy. A lot of them don't, anyway. That's because they don't see it for what it is.
The whole saga of the Trojan War plays out like a storyline from the WWF (er, WWE now). There are few real good guys or bad guys, just a collection of flawed characters that you cheer for because of their flaws.
Take Achilles, for instance, a "hero" in the mold of a current-day "Stone Cold" Steve Austin or The Rock (forgive the pro wrestling references, for those of you who didn't spend college in front of the TV on Monday nights), a me-first warrior that fights for himself, concerned only with his personal legacy.
Then you have Agamemnon, the Vince McMahon of the ancient world. A never-ceasing thirst for power fuels his every decision, and his biggest star, Achilles, also serves as his chief rival for the adoration of the populace.
Throw in a double cross (i.e., rival Prince Paris kidnaps Spartan Queen Helen, Agamemnon's sister-in-law), an epic battle, cowardly pandering (Paris again, pulling a classic Ric Flair run-for-cover in his battle with Menelaus) and a conclusion based on deception (like a manager on the ring apron, the Trojan Horse distracted Troy's forces just long enough for the Greeks to hit them over the head with a steel chair) and you have a timeless piece of literature that could sell for $29.95 of pay-per-view.
Instead, you get it for $8 at the local multiplex, and instead of The Rock battling Austin, you get Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. You get a lot of good action, a healthy dose of schmaltz, and in the end, an entertaining interpretation of Homer's epic.
Sure, Troy has its less-than-perfect moments. The dialogue is flat-out bad in some places, and some of the casting choices raise questions (Pitt, despite a good performance, just doesn't jump out to me as Achilles). The movie also doesn't follow The Iliad as closely as most literary purists might like, but then again, it's called Troy, not The Iliad. If you want Homer, read the book.
But all of that aside, Peterson still captures the essence of the Trojan War. A story such as this has the potential to fail miserably in a film translation, and it doesn't. It's not just an all-action, no-substance popcorn flick. Peterson develops distinct characters that rise and fall, confronting their fate and redeeming themselves when necessary.
I would have liked to see more of Odysseus, and a little less "woe is me" pathos from Hector, but I'll get over it, because of what I did see. That's nearly three hours of classic mythology played out on the big screen.
8/10
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The whole saga of the Trojan War plays out like a storyline from the WWF (er, WWE now). There are few real good guys or bad guys, just a collection of flawed characters that you cheer for because of their flaws.
Take Achilles, for instance, a "hero" in the mold of a current-day "Stone Cold" Steve Austin or The Rock (forgive the pro wrestling references, for those of you who didn't spend college in front of the TV on Monday nights), a me-first warrior that fights for himself, concerned only with his personal legacy.
Then you have Agamemnon, the Vince McMahon of the ancient world. A never-ceasing thirst for power fuels his every decision, and his biggest star, Achilles, also serves as his chief rival for the adoration of the populace.
Throw in a double cross (i.e., rival Prince Paris kidnaps Spartan Queen Helen, Agamemnon's sister-in-law), an epic battle, cowardly pandering (Paris again, pulling a classic Ric Flair run-for-cover in his battle with Menelaus) and a conclusion based on deception (like a manager on the ring apron, the Trojan Horse distracted Troy's forces just long enough for the Greeks to hit them over the head with a steel chair) and you have a timeless piece of literature that could sell for $29.95 of pay-per-view.
Instead, you get it for $8 at the local multiplex, and instead of The Rock battling Austin, you get Brad Pitt and Eric Bana. You get a lot of good action, a healthy dose of schmaltz, and in the end, an entertaining interpretation of Homer's epic.
Sure, Troy has its less-than-perfect moments. The dialogue is flat-out bad in some places, and some of the casting choices raise questions (Pitt, despite a good performance, just doesn't jump out to me as Achilles). The movie also doesn't follow The Iliad as closely as most literary purists might like, but then again, it's called Troy, not The Iliad. If you want Homer, read the book.
But all of that aside, Peterson still captures the essence of the Trojan War. A story such as this has the potential to fail miserably in a film translation, and it doesn't. It's not just an all-action, no-substance popcorn flick. Peterson develops distinct characters that rise and fall, confronting their fate and redeeming themselves when necessary.
I would have liked to see more of Odysseus, and a little less "woe is me" pathos from Hector, but I'll get over it, because of what I did see. That's nearly three hours of classic mythology played out on the big screen.
8/10
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