Rating of
3/4
Don't think....just enjoy!
MovieAddict - wrote on 09/09/12
Troy plays fast and loose with history and Greek Mythology, but it ends up being a pretty entertaining movie with Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom as a blatant ploy to get us chicks to watch but hey it worked.
Paris (Orlando Bloom), the second son of Priam (Peter O'Toole), King of Troy, falls in love with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta and steals his newfound love back to Troy. Her husband Menelaus, King of Sparta who has been looking for an excuse to raid Troy for some time then decides to wage war against Troy not because he loves Helen; he just wants her back because losing his wife to another man is a blow to his pride.
He calls upon his brother, Agamemnon, commander of all the armies of Greece, to stand beside him in this war. Seeing this as an opportunity to expand his power, in addition to defending his brother's honor, he agrees. Much bloodshed and crying ensues. Throw in a subplot with Achilles, whose disdain for Agamemnon's power-lust and lack of honor, and an honorable Hector (Eric Bana) trying to do the right thing, and you have the makings of Troy.
I know Achilles is supposed to be arrogant and bloodthirsty but Brad screaming "Hector" for like ten minutes was not necessary. Peter O'Toole plays King Priam of Troy with his usual great skill and talent and his scene with Achilles is wrenching. Brian Cox does an excellent job of playing the really mean and nasty King Agamemnon but really, Hector was the only character you could really feel for; there was so much sincerity in his acting you couldn't help but root for him. He portrayed the honorable warrior who loves his family and still does his duty just like many soldiers have to do today. Needless to say the way the Achaean army swoops down on the city at the end truly filled me with terror, horror, pity. Never mind, it's still fun to watch and there were enough male heartthrobs to keep me glued to the screen.
