What has Ciao done? I don't like the new layout at all!
What has Ciao done? I don't like the new layout at all!
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Review of “Troy” 2 Disc Special Edition DVD
The DVD
I am reviewing the 2 disc special edition of the DVD. The movie was produced in 2004 by Warner Bros. Pictures. The movie received mediocre praise from the critics for the retelling of Homer's “The Iliad”. The storyline is fairly loosely based on The Iliad, and Hollywood has used it's artist license to add to the tale.
The Special Edition consists of the 2 discs, one being the actual movie and the other a very interesting mixture of special effect techniques used in the production, an analysis of the battle scenes, a 3D animated guide to Greek myths and a look at the design of the sets used and the comparisons between Greek temples and ruins of the time.
ASIN: B0002TR7OG The DVD has a runtime of 156 minutes, has subtitles in Danish, English, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, is a region 2 DVD and carries a 15 classification.
Cast and Director
Achilles, Brad Pitt
Paris,
Prince of Troy, Orlando Bloom
Hector, Prince of Troy, Eric Bana
King Priam of Troy, Peter O'Toole
Odysseus, Sean Bean
Menelaus, Brendan Gleeson
Agamemnon, Brian Cox
Helen, Queen of Sparta, later Helen of Troy Diane Kruger
The movie opens to a scene of battle being arranged between Greek warrior Achilles and a giant of a man named Boagrius. The Greek King, Agamemnon has agreed the fight with the King of Thessalonia, Triopas, the deal is that if Achilles wins Greece will take over Triopas' lands, if Achilles loses, the Greeks will leave Thessalonia in peace.
Achilles cannot be found when first summoned as he is still in bed with an un-named female. He deigns to ride out to the battle field and with one swing of his sword Achilles kills Boagrius, allowing Agamemnon to take control of Triopas's land and soldiers.
The story then moves on to the Spartan King's residence. Trojan Princes Hector and Paris are guests of the Spartan court. Their mission is to seek peace between their nations and they are acting as envoys of their father, King Priam. During their visit, the younger brother, Paris, falls in love with Helen, Queen of Sparta and he encourages her to stow away on his boat when he returns to Troy.
Helen concurs and Paris reveals her to his brother Hector during the return voyage to Troy. Hector is furious knowing how her husband will be and insists that the Queen returns to Sparta. Paris is a weak individual who pleads for his love and eventually the Queen is taken to Troy where she is welcomed by King Priam.
Predictably, Helen's husband declares revenge and launches a thousand ships (hence the quotation "the face that launched a thousand ships") to declare war on Troy. The battle for Troy that ensues bears virtually no resemblance to The Iliad, but this is of course a Hollywood production!
Achilles and Odysseus are among the invading soldiers. Achilles troop of fighters are answerable only to him and at first Achilles refuses to fight. He then appears to change his mind and leads his men into battle only to be killed by Hector. When the armour is removed from Achilles' body, we discover that it is not Achilles who led the men, but his young cousin, Patroclus. Patroclus had acted without Achilles knowledge and Achilles sets out to revenge his cousin's death.
The plot proceeds to a blood thirsty and violent conclusion, which includes the traditional story of the Trojan horse, the flight of the Trojans and the fall of the city. More I will not reveal as I do not wish to spoil the storyline for future viewers.
Availability and cost
The DVD is available from around £2 from www.amazon.co.uk. My copy actually came from Woolworth when they were closing down earlier this year and cost me the princely sum of 59p!
My Thoughts and Conclusion
Purists will slate this movie as it does not adhere slavishly to “The Iliad”. As a Hollywood action adventure epic, I felt that it was a very good movie, with excellent special effects, a good musical score and a gripping plot.
The characters were on the whole well rounded, although I felt that one or two were weak, possibly miss-cast. In particular, the part of Paris was not developed to the fullest potential by Mr Bloom, I considered his appearance and the nature of the character altogether too child-like and innocent to be believable.
The special effects and the battle scenes are somewhat gory and therefore I feel the film warrants it's 15 classification.
The movie was in my opinion a Brad Pitt showcase vehicle, giving Mr Pitt a large role in a classic movie. In all fairness, Brad Pitt played Achilles with a broody, moody arrogance which seemed to fit the character's profile very well.
In conclusion, I would recommend this DVD to others, I enjoyed the movie for what it was, an action adventure with a good plot.
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek ... more
warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana port...
For honour... In 1193B.C. the dandy Trojan prince Paris (Bloom) irresponsibly spirits ... more
away the unhappy wife of Menelaus (Gleeson) the Spartan king. Demanding the return of Helen the Greeks launch a thousand ships and lay siege to Troy. Under the com...
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![Troy (1-Disc Edition) [DVD] [2004]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78484567.jpg "Troy (1-Disc Edition) [DVD] [2004]")
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