I was just watching the movie "Troy", (with Brad Pitt as Achilles, LOL), and having some serious second thoughts.
Granted, it's a movie, movies are 90% BS, that's axiomatic, sure.
None the less, your opinions, please.
Helen. Runaway wife, or kidnap victim?
Yeah, I read Homer, but as I recall, he was a wee bit ambiguous on that point...and a whole bunch of other points, too!
Oh yes, and if you've seen this flick, were you a bit disappointed by the actress they cast as Helen? I mean, she's not homely or anything, but she's sure no big deal. Helen was supposed to be "the face that set sail a thousand ships", as in the great beauty of her age.
The Trojan War
Moderator: Slitherine Core
-
anguille
- 2nd Lieutenant - Panzer IVF/2
- Posts: 665
- Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 3:41 pm
- Location: Bern, Switzerland
In the poll, i would have posted the number 1 if it had another formulation...i don't think that you can blame someone who runs away from a brutal idiot... 
Frankly, i believe that Troy was destroyed because it was a rich city and some greeks were there just for the money...they invented some kind of excuse for the destruction of Troy in order to get away with it. I'd fight for Troy any day against those (at the time of the destruction of Troy) savages. Greece became glorious and civilized only centuries later imho.
Frankly, i believe that Troy was destroyed because it was a rich city and some greeks were there just for the money...they invented some kind of excuse for the destruction of Troy in order to get away with it. I'd fight for Troy any day against those (at the time of the destruction of Troy) savages. Greece became glorious and civilized only centuries later imho.
-
Redpossum
- Brigadier-General - 8.8 cm Pak 43/41
- Posts: 1814
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:09 am
- Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Contact:
Really? I thought Pitt made a very good Achilles. He is appropriately spoiled, vain, and narcissistic 
If anything, I'd say Achilles was played too nice, as too sympathetic a character. He should have been more of a prime asshole. But that's the director's responsibility, not any actor's.
Overall, I enjoyed Troy, warts and all. Yes, I had some serious historical objections, but please note that the ending says "inspired by Homer", not "based on Homer". I guess what really bothered me was that the years-long siege was compressed into what seemed like two weeks.
Also, the Trojan Horse was too small and crude. It had room inside for maybe 1/3 of the guys they showed crawling out of it.
Over and over while watching Troy, I kept thinking "It's all too small and too shabby!". Then I would remind myself that this was the bronze age, not the era of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Plataea.
Overall, I thought the casting was good.
I had my doubts about Ajax...
Helen, as I said above, was a big disappointment.
Hector's wife Andromache was the great beauty of the film.
I thought Eric Bana played Hector fairly well. He was certainly the most sympathetic character.
Agamemnon was beautifully cast and played.
It's worth noting that the women's roles in Troy were all "weeping roles".
If anything, I'd say Achilles was played too nice, as too sympathetic a character. He should have been more of a prime asshole. But that's the director's responsibility, not any actor's.Overall, I enjoyed Troy, warts and all. Yes, I had some serious historical objections, but please note that the ending says "inspired by Homer", not "based on Homer". I guess what really bothered me was that the years-long siege was compressed into what seemed like two weeks.
Also, the Trojan Horse was too small and crude. It had room inside for maybe 1/3 of the guys they showed crawling out of it.
Over and over while watching Troy, I kept thinking "It's all too small and too shabby!". Then I would remind myself that this was the bronze age, not the era of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Plataea.
Overall, I thought the casting was good.
I had my doubts about Ajax...
Helen, as I said above, was a big disappointment.
Hector's wife Andromache was the great beauty of the film.
I thought Eric Bana played Hector fairly well. He was certainly the most sympathetic character.
Agamemnon was beautifully cast and played.
It's worth noting that the women's roles in Troy were all "weeping roles".
-
dithyrambos
- Senior Corporal - Destroyer
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 5:01 am
- Location: Thermopylae, 480 B.C.
I definitely believe she ran away. When you look at how Ancient Greeks viewed and treated women, can you really blame her for running to a city and a man who will treat her like she should be treated?
"Troy" was a big disappointment for me. However, "Helen of Troy" was amazing, and is my favorite movie about the Trojan War. And Sienna Guillory was definately a better choice to play Helen than whoever it was that played Helen in "Troy". Infact, I can't think of a single actor or actress from "Troy" that I feel portrayed their character better than their counterpat in "Helen of Troy".
"Troy" was a big disappointment for me. However, "Helen of Troy" was amazing, and is my favorite movie about the Trojan War. And Sienna Guillory was definately a better choice to play Helen than whoever it was that played Helen in "Troy". Infact, I can't think of a single actor or actress from "Troy" that I feel portrayed their character better than their counterpat in "Helen of Troy".
"Now Dithyrambos, the Thespian captain... by trade an architect and by no means a professional soldier, had already distinguished himself with such magnificent courage throughout the day..." From Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire
-
Redpossum
- Brigadier-General - 8.8 cm Pak 43/41
- Posts: 1814
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:09 am
- Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Contact:
Well, SPQR, no living man can say how close it was or was not to reality.
We are, after all, talking about the events of roughly 31-32 centuries ago. We can compare it to Homer, but who can say how accurate Homer was or wasn't? After all, he was effing BLIND, obviously he couldn't be called an eye witness
We are, after all, talking about the events of roughly 31-32 centuries ago. We can compare it to Homer, but who can say how accurate Homer was or wasn't? After all, he was effing BLIND, obviously he couldn't be called an eye witness