Did they actually have to go diggin in the archives of movie history to find a camera with a zoom function? Maybe a team of archeologists, while trying to research the history behind the real city of Troy unearthed this ancient artifact with supposed, "Zoom" capabilities. Amazing. I don't think Indiana Jones could have found a camera like that so easily.
The zooming shot of the movie, does however add to the feel that this movie was made like an old Hollywood or Yore film. Like Spartacus, or Cleopatra. This thing simply reeks of old movie. Which is great! Hardly do we ever get to see a movie like this made. I'm sure there was CGI abounds in this movie. But the effects were so underplayed, that I hardly even noticed it. Now THAT'S how you use CGI.
Troy, of course, is based on the Iliad by Homer. And to this day, is debated whether or not the story of Troy is fact or mythology. And as one would assume, the movie takes many, many liberties with the story. Mostly moving around how people meet their fate, and completly ignoring the strong influence the gods have in the original story. Taking out completley the god interference throughout the story and treating it more like a history lesson.
First, we come to know Brad Pitt as Achilles. A man who in his past, his mother A goddess, dipped him in the River Styx, holding him by his ankle. Thus submerged he was pretty much invincible. It would have been a miracle if he had a scratch on his person after an attack. But his ankle which was not dipped would soon prove to be his downfall. He was a man meant for destruction. And he knew it, and he loved it. He was pretty much, the first mega celebrity.
Brad Pitt did an admirable job at this sort of character. I mean, it's not like he knows what it's like to be a megacelebrity right? What comes off kind of weird is that he is supposed to be this character who enjoys war, and facing enemies so as to have his name echo across the ages, but when asked to join the biggest war of all time he has to stop and ponder it. He has to think about whether or not he will partake. Bringing death to his character!! It's not until he rides up to the gates of Troy shouting to confront the Trojan Prince Hector that he finally becomes interesting again. The bad part is, that's not for another hour and a half from the point where I lose interest in him.
I am convinced, that no matter what movie he's in, no matter what character he's doing, Orlando Bloom will be firing a bow and arrow. In a year or two he'll be playing a rookie police cop who'se new to the New York City beat. He'll be helping his partner go deep undercover. And when the heat gets turned up, he'll whip out his Bow and Arrow. Plugging the perp with 5 arrows.
I enjoyed Bloom as Paris. He brought that innocent kid who'se never seen war but fantasizes about being in it, and then really doesn't want to be involved after all. The only downside, (well for me at least, I don't speak for the female community that is) is that we come dangerously close to seeing the package he's carrying. And if there's something on this Earth I really don't want to see is Orlando Bloom's little Legolas.
Brian Cox is the King of Greece, Agamemnon. And if you thought he was villanous in X2, whooooo boy, you ain't seen nothing yet. Where as he was after the mutants in order to ensure the survival of the human race, Agamemnon goes to war with Troy not just to avenge his brother, but take complete and utter control of Troy. With no care or regard for any of his men or those that follow him. His dream is the complete control over all men! Mwa-hahahahahahahaha!!! Evvvvvilll.
None of course can steal a scene like Peter O'Toole though. He plays King Priam of Troy. And he's as every bit a graceful, gentlemanly, and brilliant as he has been in pretty much everything he's done in the past.
The one who stole the show for me though, the one who really made this movie and who I felt was really the sar was Eric Bana as Prince Hector. A man who is devestated that the peace between Troy and Greece has ended so quickly, and really wants no part in this war, but will lead in it all the same. Eric Bana is really brilliant in this movie. But what I really miss is the part in the Iliad where he and Achilles are facing off at the front of the gates of Troy, and Hector gets so mad at the battle that his skin grows green, his pants rip, and he becomes the most unstoppable force the world has ever seen. THE HULK!!!
But what. . .WHAT made this movie a feat for the ages. A marvel of the times. The film that every movie relased hence will have to compare itself to, is the fact that Sean Bean actually lives from the beginning of the movie, to the end of the movie. Something I don't think he's been able to accomplish since 007 Goldeneye. Think about it? Goldeneye, died. Lord of the Rings, died. Equilibrium, died. Troy, LIVED!! WAY TO GO SEAN BEAN!!
Sean Bean of course plays Odysseus. A role to this point has been owned by Armand Assante. The man who we follow in the follow up to Troy, the Odyssey. Where as in Lord of the Rings where he played brash and head-strong Boromir, here he plays a calm , cooled and collected leader of men who is pretty much Achilles conscious. I really, really hope that they continue with the Iliad film series and we do get to see Sean Bean as Odysseus in the next film. I think that he could carry that complicated yet fascinating story very well. Although in my eyes, he'll still always be Boromir.
Still even more amazing is that most of this cast can be connected to Ian McKellen. Brian Cox (Agamemnon) X2. Tyler Mane (Ajax) X-Men. Orlando Bloom (Prince Paris) Lord of the Rings. Sean Bean (Odysseus) Lord of the Rings. The only thing that would have made this movie better? IAN MCKELLEN!!!
FINAL ANALYSIS!
This movie was a great way to really get the summer movie season going. After the disaster that was Van Helsing, it began to look like this summer might be a dissmal one. But thankfully, this movie picked up the pieces that Van Helsing dropped.
The battle scenes were intense, but nothing we haven't seen before. The only real hold up this movie had was getting itself going. The opening was not big at all by all means, which really set itself apart from most blockbusters. Keeping itself contained. Which is fine, but you also don't want to fall into the trap of keeping yourself too contained.
The change ups they've done to the original story are obviously creative ones. Treating this movie as a history event rather than a mythology one. The removal of the gods I can was an inspired move, but still, I would love to see them hopefully put into the next reincarnation of this story.
Tinskin also goes so far to point out, that this translation of the story is decidedly smarter than the other tellings, because of a wise desicion they made on the Trojan Horse. Where as other version have four giant wheels put onto their horse, how could Troy POSSIBLY not think this was a trap? "Duuur, gosh, an offering to the gods, but there's wheels on it just in case we do decide to wheel it into our city. Duurrrrr, Doyyyy."
This translation made the wise choice to keep the horse completley devoid of wheels. Smart move.
Back to the 3rd Annual Summer Film Follies Fest.
PARTNERS IN CRIME.