“Even enemies can show respect” ... Wolfgang Petersen’s TROY

I didn’t go see Van Helsing two weeks ago. Let’s say I couldn’t find the time. I knew, however, that there was absolutely no way I would skip this one. The trailers looked promising to deliver on an epic scale, Brad Pitt looked positively digable in his shiny pseudo-Greek armor, and the price of a large popcorn, cut down not so long ago, looked perfectly reasonable. What’s even more important, I finally managed to get myself a free Friday night.


The people were crammed in like sardines. Geez... Not since “The Return of the King” I had been a part of it.




Messenger boy: They say you can’t be killed.
Achilles (Brad Pitt): Well, I wouldn’t be bothering with the shield then, would I?



Alright, I’ll start with what everyone seems to be commenting about the most. Brad Pitt is Achilles, your history textbook hero. I have by now many times heard and too many times read about how Pitt couldn’t handle the role. Let’s get this straight, then. What, or, rather, who would you have Achilles look like? The Achilles of Iliad wasn’t extremely intelligent in the first place. On the other hand, neither was he a person incapable of reason or devoid of heart. In fact the legendary Greek hero was just a guy born with a silver spoon in mouth, and he knew it. Coming to terms with the reality – that gods had made themselves a toy in the person of Achilles, an undefeatable war machine with a pretty face – made him arrogant. Enter Brad Pitt. Can you possibly think of anyone else around who becomes an arrogant character better?


Brad brings pieces of his characters from “Legends of the Fall” and “Fight Club” here. I guess that’s just the real him. If you dug on those characters, you will like his Achilles. If not... then you probably don’t understand Brad Pitt, really. I just want to say one thing: there’s more to Achilles than simply being a fortunate warrior, and Brad totally succeeds showing the tragedy of his character. But the funny thing is, in order to understand that, you really have to feel for him, perhaps even feel like him. This guy became one of my favorite actors after “Legends of the Fall”... and this viewer just couldn’t help seeing a shade of Tristan again in Achilles.


In other words, I could relate to him. You’ll love this movie if you will.



Briseis the maid: Why did you choose this life?
Achilles: What life?
Briseis: To be a great warrior.
Achilles: I chose nothing. I was born and this is what I am.



That wasn’t the sole reason why I loved Troy. Eric Bana was the other.



Hector the Prince of Troy: (addressing the Trojan army) All of my life I lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman and defend your country. Troy is mother to us all. Fight for her!



The movie is really built upon these two characters. If Achilles is that arrogant slayer who you either love or hate (no in between), Hector the elder prince of Troy you cannot help but respect. He loves his wife, honors his father, is ready to die for his country, will not abandon his jerk of a brother (the brilliantly jerkish Legolas.... errrr.... Orlando Bloom here!) – in other words, is the epitome of a Good Guy. He’s so goody two shoes, he could be boring. But he’s not, because Eric Bana (yes, the very Mr. Hulk, and his acting has improved greatly since) makes you care about his country, his family and inevitably, the real and only defender of it all, himself.


For those who don’t remember: the story is simple. Helen (Diane Kruger, and don’t tell anyone about her sweet German accent slipping in here and there) is the queen of Sparta and a wife of a really phat guy with a beard. That guy happens to be the brother of king Agamemnon, the ruler of Greece, who has long been craving to cross the Aegean and make the mighty (and rich as hell) Troy bow down to his greedy self. The secret weapon of Agamemnon is one certain hero... yes, the kid. With the “semigod” Achilles and his band of outlaws (or at least, they look like it) around, the Greeks are afraid of no one. Now the two Trojan princes, Hector and Paris are on a short-term visit in Sparta. Paris the Legolas gets affectionate with Helen. Of course she runs away with the prince. Guess where? Heh, you got it. To Troy.


Rather offended, the king of Sparta turns to his brother, asking Agamemnon to join forces and teach those 12 o’clock Trojans a lesson. The allies swiftly cross the Aegean and siege The City That Has Never Been Breached.


The battle sequences are spectacular. The cinematography is astounding, especially during combat scenes – no slow motion, no still frames – everything here happens fast, remains clearly visible, and at that looks real and thoroughly enjoyable. The fight sequence on the beach when Achilles takes on a bunch of Trojans on his own, is but one of many fabulous moments, allowing you to get a good glimpse of the kid’s fortune. And don’t get me started on his battle with Hector. Not since the Neo/Smith subway rumble (1st Matrix, 1999) had a movie fight sequence gotten such a grip on me.


However, the most amazing thing about Troy, lining it up with few Hollywood blockbusters that really cared about their characters (Spiderman, Batman Returns, True Lies), is that by the time the two cross swords you don’t want any of them to die. Moreover, it is remarkable how you don’t want the “little head” prince Paris to die, albeit he sparked a conflict that eventually cost thousands their lives. If anything, Troy is a movie about people – foolish and wise, greedy and generous, men of honor and lions that have none, people just the way they are – and I don’t want you to mistake me for a soap opera fan, but that’s how truly great movies be.


Check it out for yourself. You oughta. After all, with “The day after tomorrow” from the same guys who brought us “Independence Day” and “Godzilla” shooting for its piece of the box office this week, and the third Harry Potter hitting the screens only late in June, AND the second Spidey scheduled for... July, Troy is probably the best thing you really don’t want to miss in the first half of this movie summer.


Do yourself a favor. It’s a great movie. And don’t listen to the nay-sayers.


Lastly – my favorite quote:




Achilles: (getting an edge over Hector) Get up, Prince of Troy! I won’t let a stone rob me of my glory!