Anyone seen TROY yet? Opinions?

[andyinstal]

Maybe you can save me some money this weekend...and about three hours.

[Jimbo]

Troy was this week's selection for "Jimbo's Saturday Night at the Movies." Very good movie. Epic movie-making that looks great on the screen. A bit overlong at nearly 3 hours, but it doesn't really drag. Brad Pitt plays Achilles as a supremely confident, yet brooding and occasionally petulant mercenary. Orlando Bloom's Paris is such a snivelling weasel that he provoked snickers from the audience. It's hard to tell which side you're supposed to root for, although I sided with the Trojans, who were defending their own land. Great to see Peter O'Toole back on the screen as Priam, king of Troy. He's wonderful in anything, but the script calls for him to do a lot of glowering into the camera. Unlike the stories I've always heard, this Helen goes willingly to Troy, rather than being kidnapped. Does the fabled "Achilles heel" pop up in the movie?--what to you think? The battle scenes are well-staged and not too bloody. Ya gotta wonder just how the Trojans could've fallen for that horse trick, though.

I expect to read a lot of op-ed pieces comparing the movie to current events.

[Uncle Al]

I saw this movie last night, and the problems started before entering the theater.

Viewers were given a questionnaire asking them to rate the movie. Hmmmm... bad sign - maybe they're thinking of a re-edit sometime AFTER it's premier?

The dialog was the most cliche-ridden cornball drivel about honor and glory and fighting to go down is history. The dialog between any of the various lovers on the screen would have soap opera writers wondering if they could get away with being so corny. Brad Pitts seduction of a virgin priestess was so bad that the audience went from chuckles to guffaws. After all, here was a captured Troy woman, who has sworn herself to virginity for her gods - falling naked into bed with Brad Pitt in the same scene that she unleashes her contempt for him.

Quite frankly - there was a lot of laughter where there wasn't supposed to be. The fight scenes are dramatic - the cinematography spectacular - but they cannot make up for the drivel that comes out of the actors mouths. If you are looking for the next great epic flick, this ain't it.

I should have saved that survey, but I didn't feel like wasting anymore time last night on thinking about that movie.

[HGN2001]

Oh. You mean that "Troy" ISN'T about the betazoid from The Next Generation?...

Well then never mind.

:)

[grx8]

I haven´t seen it..yet, but I think that "Troy" is "Gladiator" with a different name.

[RDK]

If you didn't like the plot, you have to blame Homer. (Well, mostly.) For a 2 hour, 45 minute flick, it moves pretty well. I was never really bored, but neither did I ever connect with the movie either. Part of the problem is that you're never sure who to root for (the Trojans or the Greeks) as both are fighting for arguably silly reasons. And though Pitt (as Achilles) is positioned as the lead, he doesn't have any loyalties either. Thus there's no emotional hook to hang onto. The dialogue didn't bother me, though it was over-the-top on more than a few occassions. We are dealing with an historical epic, after all. The oddest thing, for me, was realizing just how "cliched" the whole thing seemed. This is an unfair criticism, truly, because so many of our standards of drama stem from The Iliad, but nevertheless the character arcs, dramatic beats, etc. have become so iconic over the centuries that they now seem overly familiar and predictable. When the Horse comes out - and anyone who thinks *that's* a spoiler really needs to see the movie or read the book ;) - I couldn't help but think, "Oh no, they're resorting to *that* old chestnut again."

Not great, but it wasn't the worst movie I've seen this week...

[RDK]

I haven´t seen it..yet, but I think that "Troy" is "Gladiator" with a different name.

No, not really. One deals with Greeks, the other with Romans. Or do you simply pigeonhole all BC historical epics together...?

[dcooper]

Sucked. Big time. Waste of 3 hours. Brad Pitt has jumped the shark.

[grx8]

No, not really. One deals with Greeks, the other with Romans. Or do you simply pigeonhole all BC historical epics together...?


Of course not. You didn´t understand me. I said that Troy is like Gladiator because is a mega film about a famous time in history, huge battles, famous actor and all that marketing stuff.

[Steve Hoffman]

I don't understand. Brad Pitt plays Troy Donahue in a three hour long movie?

[Gary]

Yes.

Son of Phil.

:D

[peterC]

It's amazing how the kids rush out to see these "blockbusters" in their first week of release and then rave about them afterwards.

Somehow I don't think I'll be seeing it.

Well, I guess I shouldn't be so cynical. I was a kid once and probably rushed out to see lots of hyped movies!

[Jimbo]

I don't understand. Brad Pitt plays Troy Donahue in a three hour long movie?

Exactly! And if he doesn't win the Oscar, there's no justice! :D

[Jimbo]

It's amazing how the kids rush out to see these "blockbusters" in their first week of release and then rave about them afterwards.


You just described my whole summer! (Well, except for the "raving" part.) Last week, Van Helsing. This week, Troy. This coming weekend, Shrek 2. Then, The Day After Tomorrow, followed by Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Riddick, The Stepford Wives, I Robot, Spiderman 2, etc. etc. Plus, still find time to squeeze in the "small" movies, like Coffee and Cigarettes. And then before ya know it, it's Oscar season again. Oy! :rolleyes:

[peterC]

You just described my whole summer! (Well, except for the "raving" part.)

......and the "kid" part! :D

[Mick Jones]

I haven't seen the movie, big money blockbusters are not my cup of meat, but there was a nice pithy review of Troy in one of the UK papers the other day.
I quote:-
"Wooden acting,
wooden horse,
wouldn't bother".
Now that's what I call a review.

[JohnG]

I see this Summer has already started with 2 major disappointments.

Will Shrek 2 be the next flop? I can't see it beating the very funny original.

[RDK]

Shrek 2 should do well this week if only because it's a family film.

Day After Tomorrow has a lot of buzz so it should make bank too (though it will likely suck)

Big film to beat this summer is Spider-Man 2, which looks great, has good buzz, and so far gets thumbs up from those I know who have seen it.

[JohnG]

yep, it looks like a Spidey summer.

both Van Helsing and Troy have had very disappointing opening numbers for very expensive movies ( i understand that fannies in the seats is off this season...maybe its the nice weather?).

Spidey 2 will get those fannies in the seats.

[Metralla]

Shrek II will have more staying power than "Troy" or "Van Helsing". We will see very solid numbers for a month or so.

[Claus]

I have enjoyed the movie...

[d.r.cook]

Let me rave about Shrek2 for awhile. My wife and I saw it last night--brilliant. We see a lot of movies, and this one's definitely going to be a "monster" (pardon the pun). I'll stick by this: It's the rare sequel that's better than the original. Really.

I don't even like Antonio Banderas, but he (the character he voices--a kat named Puss In Boots) very nearly steals the movie.

This is not a kid movie. Obviously, the animation (better than ever) makes it kid-friendly, much of the humor and interplay is built for a very broad audience--and built to last. The people that put this shootin' match together deserve serious Best Movie consideration, though being a comedy and animated, there's barely a chance in Helena. Heck, even the music/soundtrack is good.

I'm much more inclined to favor things like Mystic River and indie stuff that's definitely not blockbuster, but this is one b-buster that's worthy of the budget.

Go see this movie!

Eisner will rue the day he ever let PIXAR slip through his fingers.

doug

[JohnG]

doug,

this is good news, i'm sure my whole family will enjoy seeing Shrek 2 very soon.

[RDK]

Wouldn't be surprised if Shrek 2 hits $80 million in its first five days. Heck, that might be conservative...