Date Posted:20:03:11 05/18/04 Tue Author:Dog of War Subject: Homer must be spinning in his grave...
I've read the Iliad. I'm wondering if the makers of Troy can say the same.
When making a movie based on either a literary work or historical event, a fine line must be walked between staying true to the source material, and making compromises in the name of cinematic clarity. I understand this. But really, this was ridiculous.
In the Iliad, the siege of Troy lasts over a decade. It's a story of an immovable object (the walled city of Troy, considered at the time unconquerable) against the irresistible force (50,000 Greek warriors, the most massive force ever assembled at the time). It's a story that is still spoken of over a thousand years later.
In the movie, the whole thing lasts less than three weeks. And amazingly, this isn't even the most significant change. Characters who died live, characters who lived die, major characters are omitted altogether. Most of the changes seemed to be done to soften the personalities of some of the characters, especially Brad Pitt as Achilles. In the Iliad, Achilles is pretty much a psychotic war machine; here's he's considerably softened,and even given a romantic interest.
As a film, I have to say this is obviously a high quality production. The acting is generally good, and occasionally great (Peter O'Toole as Priam is...well, he's Peter O'Toole, which should speak for itself). The one exception is Brad Pitt, who really seems to try to be a good actor, but fails to be deliver any real emotional punch. Too often he seems to be going for intense, but the result is just Brad Pitt staring off camera and looking pretty.
I think for people going into this film with no previous knowledge of the Iliad or the history of the Trojan War, this will certainly entertain. It is not, by any means, a bad movie, in fact it's quite good if taken as summer blockbuster fare. But the Iliad, it ain't.
