World Famous Comics: Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, Adoni Maropis, Jacob Smith Directed By: Wolfgang Petersen Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 2 Region Code: 1 Release Date: January 04, 2005 Running Time: 162 minutes Theatrical Release Date: May 14, 2004
Amazon.com: No doubt about it, the 196-minute unrated director's cut of Troy represents a significant improvement over the film's original 162-minute theatrical release--and not just because it has more sex and violence. As director Wolfgang Petersen notes in his new "Troy Revisited" video introduction to this 2-disc special edition, he didn't have the time or directorial discretion (prior to Troy's release in 2004) to present a cut that more closely matched his vision for the film. Three years later, Petersen approached the film with a more relaxed perspective, and the result is a well-crafted expansion on a film that was previously underrated, with 30 minutes of previously unseen material. Character dynamics have been improved and intensified; the epic-scale narrative is now easier to follow, with greater emphasis on the inner turmoil of Achilles (well played by Brad Pitt) and his rivalry with Hector (Eric Bana); and viewers will feel a more satisfying escalation of tension and suspense from battle to battle. The film's enormous battle scenes (impressively enhanced with CGI) are bloodier and gorier, but they're also more effectively integrated into the political story, which goes beyond Homer's The Iliad and the death of Hector to incorporate elements of Virgil and a more revealing study of the differences between Trojan king Priam (Peter O'Toole) and his megalomanical Greek rival, king Agamemnon (Brian Cox), whose lust for revenge is now one of the film's most powerful ingredients. Some of Troy's original weaknesses remain (such as Orlando Bloom's wimpy performance as Paris), but overall, this director's cut easily justifies its existence, regardless of the film's overblown and historically inaccurate depiction of Troy as a gigantic city of massive columns and statuary. The good parts are better, and the not-so-good parts are more easily forgiven. And no matter how you cut it, Troy is a lavish feast for the eyes. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description: Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of bireme warships clashing armies the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.Running Time: 163 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085392841127 Manufacturer No: 28411
I knew this would happen. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Hollyweird gets a little taste of success with Gladiator and sure enough, now we have a slew of swords and sandals movies. The usual cheesy knock off movie, I knew going into it I wouldn't like it and sure enough I didn't. Is it just me or is Brad Pitt's acting just getting worse and worse. He started out great, he was awesome in True Romance and Interview With The Vampire. But ever since he got REALLY popular, his acting has gotten really lazy. He can't pull off this movie he's not a good enough of an actor. Crowe did fine in Gladiator, but like I said, Gladiator's success was an oddity. Troy is just poorly acted, poorly directed. The usual cardboard cookie cut out characters running around throwing spears and swinging swords. YAWN!!!!!!!!!! I watched it once, never again. If you're looking for a good movie with swords and sandals go with 300 or Gladiator. This movie is just a mess and should be avoided. Your eyes and ears with thank you. Pass.
Pitt Rules Pitt rules. He makes every movie his own. You can't deny his power, or his intimate relationship with the camera.
The battle scenes are tight and dramatic. The giant slain is my favorite scene. That, and when our hero is felled.
Petersen's majestic Troy I previously owned the HD DVD copy of this epic but traded it when I heard that there would be a Directors Cut which would be an improvement on the previous one as far as the video. If you're a fan of this film as I was, then I would recommend this epic whole-heartedly. Some of the dialogue is a little too contemporary for a film of this type and Diane Kruger seems somewhat wooded as Helen but a great beauty nevertheless but Pitt and Eric Bana do excel as the rivals in the war and they're supported by a fine cast of veteran actors such as Brian Cox & the great Peter O'Toole. This film doesn't quite fall in the classic status like "Gladiator" but nevertheless Wolfgang Petersen has delivered an enjoyable, entertaining epic with awesome battle scenes that DeMille would be proud of. Definitely a must if you have a HDTV that is 50" or more!!
GREAT MOVIE!! I believe this is one of Brad Pitt's best movies. I though Orlando Bloom was beautiful but a real wimp! Eric Bana was Great too! I know you will love this movie!
Brad Pitt as Terminator In my opinion this is the best movie yet produced on what is, arguably, the greatest story ever told. Granted, it is a Hollywood interpretation of the famous epic and is, therefore, inaccurate. The screenwriters, however, clearly love Homer's tale and try to do justice to it. They've just tried to tweak it a little.
We see remorseless Agammemnon sacrifice his only daughter so that favorable winds will blow for the Greek fleet. We see near-immortal Achilles playing with his women prior to deadly battle. Actually this scene doesn't accord with the Iliad. Achilles, who has been warned of his death at Troy, has dressed up like a woman and is hiding with them.
We see Paris and Helen too weak to subdue their fatal desire. We see Hector and old Priam--for reasons we never completely understand--refuse to discipline the wayward couple and return fair Helen to her husband. We see the mechanical Achilles slaughter ranks of his enemies.
Still, the story does diverge from the Iliad. There is a duel between Helen's husband, Menelaus, and Paris. Menelaus proves victorious but, when he goes to kill Paris, Hector intervenes and slays the cuckolded man. Not true. In the story Paris is whisked away to the arms of Helen by the Goddess Aphrodite. Menelaus lives to reclaim his wife after the fall of the doomed city.
The other, more fundamental change the scriptors made, was to minimize the supernatural component of the story. Most of the events have natural explanations whereas, in the Iliad, events are dictated by bickering Gods.
No matter. Hector, both in the movie and in the Iliad, is sympathetic as the doomed hero fighting for his city. He's a mighty warrior but he must fight against the Achilles demi-god. He almost prevails but, in the end, there is no escaping death at Achilles' hand. It is, after all, fate.
I love the story so I liked the movie. We are witness to events 3,200 years ago still we take sides and--even though we know what the outcome must be--we hope things will turn out differently. It's remarkable in its own way. Since the fall of Troy countless cities and civilizations have fallen but Homer's tragic tale makes us weep.
Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico.
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