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| Review: The Glory of 'Troy' |
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| POSTED Sunday , May 30, 2004 06:18:09 AM |
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THE GLORY OF 'TROY'
The The legendary account of the Trojan War has seized minds and imaginations for thousands of years. Spawned by a ravishing beauty and a foolhardy affair, this colossal battle served as the cornerstone from which the great and glorious Greeks trace their origins. Now, director Wolfgang Peterson revives this aged world of gods, goddesses, and mythic heroes in the new movie Troy. What he forges is a statuesque classic, satiated with an iron grit and worthy of theatrical immortality.
Unlike the movie Clash of the Titans, which relied on the heavy involvement of divinities in the films events, Troy offers a far more humanized version of its legend. It strips away most supernatural events connected to the story and presents almost no visual presentations of the Olympian deities. Instead, the clandestine world of the gods is accounted for through clever subtleties bred into the films dialog and the near superhuman feats of certain characters.
Those familiar with the ancient story may balk at the many divergences between Troys screenplay and the accepted mythology. However, viewed on its own, the film never fails to deliver all the poignancy and power of that cherished epic. Transcending what begins as an illicit love affair, the film evolves into a gripping tale of conquest, flanked by bloody confrontations, grievous tragedies, and rampaging lunges for vengeance. Interactions between characters are well-defined and brim with intensity, creating a fertile atmosphere from which the films torrid relationships and utter ironies spring.
As is to be expected, Troys combat sequences are grand and spectacular, but it is the films one-on-one duels that provide the most refreshing pleasure. These confrontations are simply stellar; amplify the utter intimidation of the weak against the mighty, and the steel bravery of those unafraid to confront even gods. Of particular note is Achilles, whose quirky maneuvers, silky quickness, and signature sword thrusts makes his matches lethal ballets of death, all the while quietly implying something of his divinity.
Troy is also affected by a romanticism that on occasion swells to some forcefully erotic crests. While Helen and her scandalous affair with Paris is a central theme, the film explores several other intriguing avenues of passion, including the penetrating love of Hector for his wife and the heated maiden-bedding of the gloriously sculpted Achilles.
What legitimizes Troy as an epic, however, is the potency of its performances. Brad Pitt (Achilles) and Eric Bana (Hector) turn in dominating character portrayals, with their bold personas calling forth inspired chills and their battlefield brutality underscoring a mutual tenacity for the victory. Both exude a consuming masculinity that pours from the big screen, heightening all the more a conflict of seismic proportions. Brian Cox (X2) is similarly exceptional, portraying Agamemnons madness through mighty bellows of anger and overt grunts of displeasure. Orlando Blooms portrayal of the love-struck Paris is ideal. His syrupy charm, with which he pleasures the radiant Helen (Diane Kruger), is intentionally sappy, setting up a bitter, but moving finale.
The film's cinematography is prime for silver screen display. Massive scale shots invade the film with a rhythmic regularity, widening the eye with sheer amazement . The Spartan naval fleet, the towering walls Troy, and the approach of massive armies are just a few of the film's many spectacles that will unavoidably brand themselves into your mind.
To this point, Troy is the year's best, rivaling the highly esteemed Gladiator, and on some levels, even surpassing it.
See more reviews at Ecritiques.com
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| REPLIED Monday , May 31, 2004 07:37:40 AM |
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