Rate Troy

[Dimwhit]

Loved this movie! As was recommended, I checked my love of the Iliad at the door, and I'm glad. I thought that, as a movie, it was spactacular. I don't really have anything bad to say about it (with the caviat that, as mentioned, I didn't look to compare it to the original myth).

I hated Paris, though. I just plain found it impossible to like the prissy little fop. If he were a character in Braveheart, he would have been thrown out the castle window by Longshanks. The fact that he realized "Hey, I'm Legolas!" towards the end of the movie and picked up a bow still didn't make me like him any more.

In all fairness, Paris isn't supposed to be a likeable character.

 

[Dark Jezter]

In all fairness, Paris isn't supposed to be a likeable character.

I don't know, it seemed to me that the movie tried to portray him in a somewhat sympathetic light. Almost like "yeah, he's weak, cowardly, and he set into motion a chain of events that led to the destruction of his city, but he did it all for love so it's kinda okay".

Although in the original tale, Paris actually kidnapped Helen rather than just persuading her to come with him, which made it a lot easier to dislike him.

On a related note, I'd love to see an Odyssey movie (or trilogy of movies, since the Odyssey was pretty long) with Sean Bean reprising his role as Odysseus. Although, since the movie tried to make the Trojan War seem like a historical event rather than Greek mythology, a story containing things like witches and sirens probably wouldn't fit as a sequel.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

You know, I'd love to see an Odyssey movie (or trilogy of movies, since the Odyssey was pretty long) with Sean Bean reprising his role as Odysseus. Although, since the movie tried to make the Trojan War seem like a historical event rather than Greek mythology, a story containing things like witches and sirens probably wouldn't fit as a sequel.

I was thinking that, too. And maybe they COULD put more of the Gods into an Odyssey. Sean Bean was great as Odysseus, and I'd love to see him take on the role again.

 

[jasamcarl]

I'm usually not squeemish on giving my oponion about anything, but with this movie I can't really seperate any criticism I have on the merits from its departures with the Iliad. I'll just make a few broad points:

This is more or less a standard modern epic, which means that it is the pretty much exactly like the 'Swords and Sandals' movies of Hollywood's heyday with a bigger budged, longer battles, and more 'witty' one liners. Included in this is the contrived inclusion of a female love interest; I have my theories for why this is the case that go deeper than demo pandering, but i digress.

It was on the whole very well directed, though the battle scenes were pretty damn impersonal. My attention drifted often. Everything was a bit too rational and 'neat'.

I'm not going to bother to rate it for the reason stated above, but if I had to characterize it 'bland' comes to mind. Like all 'period' pieces (including the Iliad itself) it reflected our time more than it did that of the than that of the source material ; the post-9/11 analogues were difficult to miss. The one point of comparison I will make between the Iliad and Troy is that, as an objective preference, I preferred the more subtle character development of Homer over the 'whiny', outwardly articulated self discovery of 'Troy'; I was never immersed in either another world or other characters. It wore its Hollywood revisionism to easily i suppose.

 

[TracerBullet42]

Unfortunately, unlike LotR and Braveheart, Troy had a script that I wouldn't use for toilet-paper.

So you would use the scripts from LotR and Braveheart as toilet paper then? For shame, I say. For shame.

I don't know why I bothered to chime in just to say that, but it struck as odd when I read it.

I suppose that as long as I am here, I might as well give my take on Troy as well. I guess I enjoyed the movie. I do not regret seeing it. The battle sequences were pretty cool, capped with the Achilles/Hector fight that was pretty awesome. Like someone before mentioned (sorry, forgot who original writer was...), there was something about the way Pitt moved about the battle. Not sure why, but it just worked in an unusual way. And the flaming spheres of death (trademark pending) rolling through the fire arrows were WAY cool. I was confused at first at the random firing of the fire arrows...but then the payoff came. And was way cool.

Catch a matinee...it's worth the discounted price, but I wouldn't recommend much more than that.

 

[LightPhoenix]

So you would use the scripts from LotR and Braveheart as toilet paper then? For shame, I say. For shame.

I don't know why I bothered to chime in just to say that, but it struck as odd when I read it.

Hahaha...

Er... didn't quite come out how I meant it. But then, I'm really picky about what I use in the bathroom, so...

 

[Agemegos]

Unfortunately, unlike LotR and Braveheart, Troy had a script that I wouldn't use for toilet-paper.

Interesting observation. Lord of the Rings had a script that I would uses as toilet-paper.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Hahaha...

Er... didn't quite come out how I meant it. But then, I'm really picky about what I use in the bathroom, so...

Same here, I only use Charmin Quilted Braveheart.

 

[Chain Lightning]

Just saw it.

I can totally see the division in the audience. Some laughed at moments, some took it seriously. I think it depends on taste really, not whether or not the makers messed up or not.

I liked the movie. There are a few nit picky areas I could....well, that I could nit pick. But I won't. They're very minor. I had fun watching this movie. It was enjoyable. And yes, the Hector vs. Achilles fight was worth price of admission alone. IMHO.

It goes into my list of top ten movie sword fights (or melee weapon fights..whatever).

Dark Jezter wrote:

I hated Paris, though. I just plain found it impossible to like the prissy little fop. If he were a character in Braveheart, he would have been thrown out the castle window by Longshanks.

Yeah I agree that this is NOT a negative on the movie. Saying you hate Paris doesn't mean the movie is flawed. If you hate these types of characters, its there for you to hate. Do you have a need to "love" every character? Every character has to be a big macho skilled man of war for it to be cool? Yeah....I've seen this so often. Distain for a character simply because he's a pretty boy, slight, etc, etc.

If that's what the character is suppose to be, that's what he's suppose to be. If you like the more kick-butt action types. There's plenty in the movie. Hector, Achilles, Ajax, etc, etc. The movie would've really 'made it' for you if they re-wrote Paris to kick butt and be more macho in the way like your leading men?

I liked Paris because of the drama his naive actions bring to the dynamic of his family. And of Troy. A big contrast to Hector. That's what he's there to do. You're suppose to feel that way about him. Yeah yeah, you suspect that the makers of the film wanted you to like him in a more leading protagonist "Hollywood" way....but I think they hit the spot on what they wanted. He is what he is. It is actually Helen herself that trys to disuade the notions the audience has for him to make him seem more a worthy man. Not because he's a great hero....but perfect for what Helen looks for in a man. Obviously not the same things we look for in a hero.But that's the point of her speech to him right?

Okay, so I said this movie is cool. What if anything do I not like about it? Well, if I had to name some things, it would be just one really. And that's the music score. James Horner....yet again proves he shouldn't be hired anymore until he can come up with new music.

Music does not compliment the visuals that well at all. Plus, Horner is going on with his usual rifts. If you really want to have the full effect of realizing how lame Horner is, do the following: listen to the "Willow" soundtrack, then the "Enemy at the Gates" soundtrack, and then....go see "Troy".

You notice how he keeps using that same "Da Na-na-NA!" music sting? ( heh heh, like I can describe it in words over the internet ) But if any of you are soundtrack buffs out there reading this, you know what I mean don't ya?

Regardless, still a fun movie to watch. Soundtrack may not help it, but it doesn't totally ruin it. C'mon guys, we're D&D players....of course we'll see Troy and walk away with at least some stuff to inspire us in our games right?

 

[Thanee]

The cool thing about Achilles and especially the fight between Achilles and Hector was, that he seemed so extremely superior to everyone else (even Hector, who was basically superior to everyone else, tho he had some trouble with Ajax ). He just was completely ahead in terms of fighting prowess (Achilles would have beaten Ajax without dropping a sweat, much like the guy in the beginning). Very cool.

Also the difference between Hector and Paris... both had to face their respective enemy in a swordfight, but those were so drastically different.

Hector was just so LG.

Bye
Thanee