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From Homer's Iliad, sort of.
The story of the end of the siege of Troy, wooden horse and all. OK, this one is interesting...because despite our expectations, Mr. Otter and I both liked it VERY MUCH. Even though everyone in the movie kept pronouncing Helen's husband's name as MEN-a-louse instead of as it is generally pronounced, men-a-LAY-us. We figure it's because the director is German...but who knows? Now, you will note that this movie received a 'no brainer' icon*...not for history (although they played fast and loose with armor and weapons, according to Historian-On-A-Stick) but because this movie bears practically no relation to the Iliad, on which it is loosely based. This has about as much to do with the Iliad as O Brother Where Art Thou? has to do with the Odyssey...and a 10 year seige is condensed down to 12 days... and yet, it's a really good movie. Firstly, the cast is stellar: Brad Pitt, Sean Bean, Eric Bana...and let's certainly not forget Serious Honey Peter O'Toole, looking darn good (DAMN, his eyes are blue!!! um...what was I saying?) and doing a wonderful job as Priam, king of Troy. Oh, and teen heartthrob Orlando Bloom, excellent choice for Paris. We were surprised that Brad Pitt was so good as Achilles...but he was. He was perfect for the driven warrior, to whom nothing is more important than glory...although they moved his fight with Hector to the walls of Troy with nobody from the Greek side watching or cheering...a little hard to believe, since single combat was such a spectator sport back then. But he was very very good. My other fav in this was Sean Bean (who may end up being a honey) playing Odysseus...he was perfect. Handsome and EXTREMELY charming, just a bit quirky, more a spectator than a participant, very nice. Hope they make the Odyssey, with him in it...mmmm. Nice thought. The women were more problematical...I mean, there basically are no women characters in the Iliad: Briseis, who causes the final rift between Agamemnon and Achilles, is just a pawn, and even Helen is pushed from one place to another, never actually has a voice. This movie makes Briseis a serious love object for Achilles (hm, I'm not entirely ok with that) in much the same way Peter Jackson made Arwen a major character in the Lord of the Rings movies, when she barely appeared in the books. The battles and fighting was also excellent, although there was a lot of cool-looking but anachronistic martial-arts sort of stuff going on...and I have to say, this is the only time I can remember a recent movie being LESS violent than the book it was based on...folks, I read the Iliad about three years ago, and it appalled me. What a truly horrifying bloodbath, oh my god! (and you know I'm an otter that doesn't mind blood and body parts flying about on screen, so be warned: the book is not for the faint of heart.) Of course the ending is a total rewrite...yes, they take Troy, of course, but a whole lot of people who were supposed to be killed in the seige just weren't. Ah well. Remember, we removed that part of our brains*, so it's ok. And then there's the scenery. Lots and lots of really good looking buffed out guys with their shirts off. Lots. And Lots. Really REALLY buffed out. No shirts. Lots. Oops, I'm drooling, sorry...and the oceans and light and mountains and stuff, that was nice too. Otter gives this one two thumbs up for a good try and excellent visuals, and says go see it without any expectations, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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