Troy

Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a hero did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures, for so were the counsels of Jove fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles, first fell out with one another.

-- Homer, The Iliad


The movie version of The Iliad (Troy) condensed the events and simplified the characterizations, while removing the supernatural. It was fine spectacle and the key characters were well played (Brian Cox chewed up the scenery as Agamemnon royally, and what is a Greek tragedy without an actor of Peter O'Toole's caliber in a supporting role?). The battle scenes were actually somewhat restrained in some respects, which was not totally a bad thing, and the movie also had time for some good character driven scenes. The treatment of it as straight history without gods and as a complete whole was fine, though things overall was carried out in a too predictable fashion (perhaps, changes in the story line helps here, though loyalists might be upset with some of them).

My main complaint was that it telescoped what was originally a ten year battle into a few weeks and battles. The original also dealt with a short period of time, but everyone knew that they occurred after a long (nine year) siege, and the characterizations were a tad bit more nuanced as well. The film therefore cheapens things, as if the Civil War was telescoped into a few weeks. The long haul was a key aspect of the story. Therefore, though the movie does a good job raising many of the themes found in the original while telling an enjoyable story, something was lost in translation.

The movie just cries out for a sequel (or two -- it directly opens the way for Aenied and there's obviously The Odyssey as well). Overall, still worthwhile, and hopefully it will inspired other classic adaptations. Many of the themes clearly are topical.