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"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields at Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."

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Gender: Male
Location: Bucharest, Romania

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Gender: Female
Location: USA

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Made by Cinemaddiction

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I remember reading The Iliad when I was in sixth grade. It wasn't actually required reading; we just had to read so many books of our choice and the total number of pages had to be over 800 (if I remember right) to get an A. I figured I'd take the easy way out and read an 800 page book. I did have a slight interest in the subject; I knew the basic story and all of that. But when I read the book, I could only think of one thing. "Did Homer actually believe these people hung around with gods?" Obviously Wolfgang Petersen doesn't believe it. Hence the reason the aforementioned gods are left out of his movie, Troy.

Personally, I think it's a good thing. We've all see Clash of the Titans. I don't think anyone wanted a rehashing of that. More importantly, this is a movie about the Trojan War and how it might have really happened... if your religious beliefs support the idea of polytheism and you also believe the said gods in fact, did consort with people in Ancient Greece, then that's entirely up to you. I won't argue that it isn't possible. Yet you also have to consider the possibility that no such thing happened at all.

I loved the film. I thought the acting was great and the story, while merely inspired by The Iliad, was a wonderful tribute to Homer's epic poem. I loved the nod to the Aneid and to Apollo's plague and even to the Odyssey. I also liked how the gods were still a very big part of the film although not physically there. It was little things like that showed me Petersen really did respect the text although he was trying to convey a different message and really make a statement about our society today and the trials we are facing. It was a very poignant film--especially in light of the recent developments about prisoner abuse (the Priam and Achilles scene, Hector's body being dragged and displayed).

Bana was brilliant. I really felt for Hector...honorable and just. Ahhhhh if only they'd (Priam and his council of advisors) listen to reason and logic!!!! *sigh* A really standout scene IMO was where he stops Helen from fleeing. The way he holds her and tells her she's a daughter of Troy now was wonderful. He knows what's coming--the doom that will befall the city--and yet he accepts her and doesn't judge her and he does his best to waylay her fears. Great stuff and a wonderful piece of acting on his part. I also loved how he looked as at ease holding a sword as he did holding his son--it was subtle things like that which made me say 'wow.'

Pitt really impressed me too. I think he's a fine actor, but the physicality of this role must have been torture--he pulled it off beautifully. I liked the changes Petersen made to the character--a bit more conflicted and easier to sympathize with.

Wish there would have been more Sean Bean. Odysseus is such a great character wish we could have seen more of him, but what was there was great.

O'Toole was wonderful as well. The consumate actor. Priam was awesome--a just, but superstitious man, well past his prime. The scene with him and Pitt is some of the best on film...ever. The way Pitt was holding back tears...amazing!!

Cox and Geeson...always top-notch...were superb as well. Damn they really did look like brothers! I loved the intensity Gleeson gave to Menelaus and thought Cox was just deliciously evil and over-the-top enough to make Agamemnon one of those villians you love to hate.

Bloom was a good Paris--I think of everyone I was most worried about him being able to pull off his role. He did it well.

Kruger was a convincing Helen too. Definitely had the beauty thing going on, but I think her standout moment was the scene with Bana.

Briseis was a wonderful change form the poem I thought. She encapsulated so much and Rose Byrne was so great in the role. A real standout performance IMO. She was feisty and didn't take crap off anybody.

I also thought Vincent Regan did a standout job as Eudorus.

OH!!! and it was really personally gratifying to see Hulk vs. Sabretooth

The action in the film was wonderful as well. We've been so desensitized by films like LOTR that we think we've seen it all. Well Petersen showed me I hadn't. I will never look at flaming arrows the same again!!! I loved how he got you right in the middle of the action--I really felt like I was in the battle rather than watching it. He doesn't quite have the overall visual panache of a Ridley Scott, but he does shoot great action sequences. It was also really great to see some visceral, bloody, rated R bood and guts violence w/o blood geyesers. The sets were amazing and I had a hard time deciphering what was real and what was cg.

And oh...HECTOR VS ACHILLES = one of the greatest 1-on-1 duels ever filmed imo.

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Last edited by shadowy_blue on May 30th, 2004 at 07:45 PM

Gender: Male
Location: Scotland

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"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields at Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."

Gender: Female
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You like Andromache!!! She's cool.

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Geting Sig...

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"Girls flirt with the dangerous guy, Logan, they don't take him home. They marry the good guy."

*****Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains exite me. So throw me down and tie me up, and show how much you like me*****

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Gender: Female
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Hector tamer of horses? interesting, can't remember that bit, but you're probably right....
Thanks

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"Girls flirt with the dangerous guy, Logan, they don't take him home. They marry the good guy."

*****Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains exite me. So throw me down and tie me up, and show how much you like me*****

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Gender: Female
Location: United States(I wish I was somewher

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" Weddings, I love weddings, Drinks all around." -Captain Jack Sparrow

Gil sila na lu govaded

Ú i vethed nâ i onnad. Si boe ú-dhanna. Ae ú-esteli, esteliach nad.
Estelio han, estelio han, estelio, estelio han, estelio veleth.

Ú i vethed nâ i onnad. Nâ boe ú i. [Es]teliach nad, estelio han.

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I regreat only having 1 life time to waste on games.

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Gender: Female
Location: Lisbon, Portugal

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I regreat only having 1 life time to waste on games.

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"I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy."

"Put him in a straightjacket, the man's sick!"