Cast:-
Brad Pitt, Eric Bana,
Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Brian Cox, Peter O'Toole,
Brendan Gleeson, Saffron Burrows, Rose Byrne, Julie Christie
Synopsis:-
In the year 1193 B.C., Paris, a prince of
Troy stole Helen, Queen of Sparta, away from her husband, Menelaus,
setting the kingdoms of Mycenaean Greece at war with Troy. The
Greeks began a bloody siege at Troy that lasted over ten years.
Achilles was the greatest hero among the Greeks, while Hector,
the eldest son of Priam, King of Troy, embodied the hopes of
the people of his city.
Plot:-
Inspired by Homer's "The Iliad".
Throughout time, men have waged war. Some for power, some for
glory, some for honor - and some for love. In ancient Greece,
the passion of two of history's most legendary lovers, Paris,
Prince of Troy (Orlando Bloom) and Helen (Diane Kruger), Queen
of Sparta, ignites a war that will devastate a civilization.
When Paris steals Helen away from her husband, King Menelaus
(Gleeson), it is an insult that cannot be suffered. Familial
pride dictates that an affront to Menelaus is an affront to
his brother Agamemnon (Cox), powerful King of the Myceneans,
who soon unites all the massive tribes of Greece to steal Helen
back from Troy in defense of his brother's honor. In truth,
Agamemnon's pursuit of honor is corrupted by his overwhelming
greed - he needs control of Troy to ensure the supremacy of
his already vast empire. The walled city, under the leadership
of King Prium (Peter O'Toole) and defended by mighty Prince
Hector (Eric Bana), is a citadel that no army has been able
to breach. One man alone stands as the key to victory or defeat
over Troy - Achilles (Brad Pitt), believed to be the greatest
warrior alive. Arrogant, rebellious and seemingly invincible,
Achilles has no allegiance to anyone or anything, save his own
glory. It is his insatiable hunger for eternal renown that leads
him to attack the gates of Troy under Agamemnon's banner - but
it will be love that ultimately decides his fate. Two worlds
will go to war for honor and power. Thousands will fall in pursuit
of glory. And for love, a nation will burn to the ground
What the critics say:-
In Troy, director Wolfgang Petersen and screenwriter
David Benioff honor the warrior, the courage of one-on-one,
man-to-man combat where you looked your enemy in the eye knowing
either you would kill him or he would kill you.
The movie, loosely based on Homer's Iliad, tells the familiar
story of how a massive army comprised of all the Greek city-states
laid siege to the city of Troy after Helen, young wife of the
Spartan king Menelaus, ran off with Paris,
a prince of Troy and son of that city's king, Priam.
Troy's sword-and-sandal spectacle is tempered
by the human drama of men who fight to protect their homes or
for their honor or to gain immortality and glory through deeds.
Such a person is Achilles (Brad Pitt), the
greatest of the Greek warriors. Owing allegiance to no king,
he is wooed to join the Greeks under the leadership of Agamemnon
as a means of making a name for himself that will live
through eternity.
Achilles' main foe is Hector (Eric Bana), prince of Troy and
eldest son of Priam. He leads and inspires the Trojan army against
the Greek onslaught.
The Iliad was not only a story about men, but about the gods.
They played a large part in the story, manipulating events and
even taking part in battles. It has been more than 35 years
since I read The Iliad, but if I remember it correctly, the
gods betrayed Achilles.
And while religion serves as a subtext in
Troy, the gods sit atop Mount Olympus and are neither seen nor
heard.
Petersen and Benioff have fashioned a story about men who do
not need the gods
to bring out their foibles and weaknesses: Greed, hubris, vanity
are all on display by protagonists on both sides.
With the exception of the grasping and manipulative
Agamemnon — a wonderful turn by the always delightful Brian
Cox — the script does not really offer any
true heroes or villains.
Achilles is a great fighter, but he does
not give a fig about a Greek nation.
He cares only for personal glory.
Hector seeks to defend his city and family,
yet when he had a chance to prevent a war by returning Helen
before the Trojans reached home, he faltered because he put
family — saving his younger brother Paris — before
duty and honor.
Paris (Orlando Bloom) is youthful, naive and dependent on Hector,
but when the
time comes, he, too, finds the courage and determination to
act decisively.
The battle scenes are striking; it's difficult to distinguish
between the extras in armor and their CGI counterparts.
Strong acting moves the story along, starting
with Pitt. He struts and wears Achilles' arrogance as a second
coat of armor. He also is a fatalist, a warrior
seeking peace, yet who needs battle like a junkie craves heroin.
Knowing his fate if he ventures to Troy, he defies destiny because
he would rather die young and be remembered than live a long
life and be forgotten.
Bana's Hector is Achilles' mirror. Their
only difference is attitude. Hector would rather be with his
wife and son than in the midst of battle, but once engaged,
he is nearly unstoppable.
Bloom is impulsive and devilishly handsome
as the headstrong Paris.
Lovely Diane Kruger is radiant as Helen.
She does have a face that could launch a thousand ships.
Peter O'Toole is regal and wise as Priam,
while Rose Byrne is fiery as Briseis, the Trojan acolyte who
captures Achilles heart.
With a running time of about two hours and
40 minutes, Troy does lag in spots,
but overall it is slam-bang entertainment.
Troy is no stag night outing. The female filmgoers may enjoy
a couple shots of
Pitt in the buff or the pouty Bloom's Paris level those puppy
dog eyes at his Helen. Or, they just may like seeing guys run
other guys through with swords or
spears.
Either way, Troy will meet your expectations.
