"The production is a true spectacle full of continuos battle sequences with a lot of blood and CGI. Eric Bana shines most from the diverse, but very talented work by the actors of the film. James Horner's effective score is also effectual ...." Joseph Tucker THE Z REVIEW "Such an exhilarating piece of epic filmmaking that it pulls you in, sweeps you up and works very much as its own thing." William Arnold SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER "Blustery acting, big battle sequences, and lots of 'sweeping epic' shots, and there you have it. Troy, a mainstream film depiction of The Iliad, at last." Jeffrey Chen REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "An action picture of stunning scope and stirring spectacle, with a love story between two callow nitwits that is its Achilles heel." Bruce Newman, SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS "A gripping, well-told adaptation of one of the oldest human dramas." Claudia Puig USA TODAY

"Eyes blazing, O'Toole's work is the highlight of the flawed but enjoyable Troy." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS "Awesome battles compensate for clunky dialogue." Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "Peter O'Toole brings a real thespian touch to King Priam, adding blueblood appeal to an otherwise working-class Troy. " Gerry Shamray SUN NEWSPAPERS OF CLEVELAND "This is hardly an Iliad adaptation for the ages. But if you're hankering for sand, sandals, and swordplay, this could be the movie for you." David Sterritt CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR "In a league with Hollywood's top historical epics, ancient or otherwise." Michael Wilmington CHICAGO TRIBUNE

At A Glance

"Troy is the best sword and sandal epic since Gladiator!" Staci Layne Wilson FANTASTICA DAILY

Everything about "Troy" is big. The CGI are big! The cast is big! The battle is big! The romance is big! The Trojan Horse is big! And the comparison's with other epics rages big amongst both critics and cinema-goers. But while comparison's will be made, they are useless. How can one even start to compare "Troy" with such timeless classics as "Ben Hur", "Cleopatra" or a modern day epic such as "Gladiator". Leave that for the mugs and just enjoy the spectacle, for that is what drives "Troy". It is spectacular. Much of that can be attributed to the huge amount of Computer Generated Images [CGI as they are most often refered to as] which provide an impressive depth and size to many of the scenes such as the sight of 1000 ships sailing to Troy, the confrontation between the two armies and even the city of Troy itself. Even the Trojan Horse is impressive. And all this is "inspired by 'The Iliad', the epic work attributed to the ancient poet Homer." Homer's tale comes to the big screen thanks to the talents of screenwriter David Benioff whose most recently seen work was "25th Hour". Helmed by Spike Lee the film [for which Benioff adapted a screenplay from his novel, "25th Hour"] received huge critical acclaim. "Troy" is another fine example of Benioff's work. Producer Diana Rathbun says, "When I read this script I fell in love with it, the insightful portrayal of the characters makes them immediately recognizable to an audience. It's very hard sometimes to relate to classic literature as it feels distant, of a different time, a different world, but there's something about this story that is so easy to connect with, it's about emotions, whether they were experienced thousands of years ago, or today." Acclaimed director Wolfgang Petersen says it's all down to the characters. "This story is very complex," Petersen stresses. "There are so many different characters who are all interwoven with each other. They're all part of an incredible human landscape. This is an ensemble piece, with important characters, and you cannot just pull two or three out, because then the whole thing will fall apart like a house of cards. So to cast these roles was fascinating, and I think the cast is what I'm the most proud of. The actors we have are just unbelievable." Amen to that Mr Petersen. Never was a truer word spoken, for this is a big cast and a beauty. The key to the success of "Troy" lays with three characters. Achilles, Hector and Agamemnon. They are the flagship for "Troy". But please, don't go thinking I'm putting down any of the other major contributors, far from it. The whole cast is delightful to watch but it is Achilles, Hector and Agamemnon and the actors who play them, that make this film believable and enjoyable. There are many faces to each character but none more so than the legendary Achilles. "Homer does an amazing job revealing his character very subtly, particularly since The Iliad isn't told in a linear fashion," says Pitt. "Little by little, Achilles' personality unfolds", Pitt explained. "One moment you think he's this cold-hearted killer and then Homer goes back in time to show another facet of Achilles, and you find out that in the past he's actually operated from a place of great humanity and grace. And so it's this conflict and these contradictions that Homer keeps exposing to the reader to form this transcendent human being." Achilles opposite number is Prince Hector played incomparably by Australia's Eric Bana. It's another career moment, and a solid one at that for Bana, who shot to fame after appearing as the notorious Chopper Read in the film "Chopper". "Hector appealed to me straight away," Bana recalls. "Hector's very noble and very brave, qualities that are classically appealing in both a cinematic sense and in a personable sense. Hector has a wife and a child, but I really get the sense that for him, his family is the city of Troy. Even though it's such an epic movie, I find it to be quite an intimate story in that essentially it boils down to the ramifications of very intimate relationships, and from those very small relationships spawns this huge action and drama." While there is much about "Troy" to praise, many accolades must fall on the veteran actor [and one of my favourites] Brian Cox who appears as the sinister, egotistical Agamemnon. The consumate journeyman, who recently completed filming on the Farrelly Brothers "Ringer" and who is reputed to be "the most proficlic Scottish actor of his generation", was, in 2003 the recipient of a CBE from HRH Queen Elizabeth. Cox, has over the years produced many memorable performances, the most recent of which was as the father of Monty Brogan in "25th Hour", says that in Agamemnon's mind Troy is a place "where everybody's living an isolated life, separate from the real world, and separate from the way the world is progressing, and he wants to make them part of the real world in quite a horrific way. Agamemnon is drunk with his own position, and there's a suicidal aspect to his pursuit of Troy, the great power machine finally overstepping itself for that one little thing. It's the old cliché: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." But part of the catalyst for Agamemnon's attack on Troy is to restore pride for his brother Menelaus Played by another solid performer, Brendan Gleeson, last seen down under in the Nicole Kidman film "Cold Mountain" [ a film which I will readily admit, left me cold]. "Menelaus is a Spartan who has gone slightly soft," says Gleeson. "The Spartans were famous for being warlike and terribly hard, but his warfaring days are coming to an end. I came to quite like Menelaus, although he's not a particularly attractive character. He's a middle-aged man with a beautiful younger wife, and he's visited by such a middle aged man's greatest fear which is that a younger man will come and take her away. Everything seems to disappear from him. But essentially he's an honorable man, and the reason he goes to Troy is for his wife, and to retain his honor." Not that he would take Helen back! Of course, the truth is that Troy is a story no different to thousands of stories being played out as I write. Unhappy wife meets attentive, persausive, handsome young man and flees a marriage that is going nowhere. Sound familiar? Your right, it is. And it's a timeless situation. Helen is played by the ravishing German actress Diane Kruger who some will recognise from "The Piano Player". Kruger was destined for a ballet career until an injury cut short her ambitions. Turning to modelling ensured Kruger's face became well known in Paris where she studied acting. She has done extremely well in a short career which has seen her nominated for a Caesar Award, receive the Classe Libre Award for best actress and the Chopard Trophy of Revelation at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival for best newcomer. One cannot deny she makes a beautiful Helen. Kruge admits that changes were made to Helens characteristics saying that in the Illiad, Homer portrays her as vain and self absorbed. "The Troy script makes Helen more human, showing how lonely she must have been living in a golden cage and forced into a marriage with a man twice her age," Kruger explains. "Her unhappiness is allowed to come through." And the catalyst for leaving Menelaus? "When Paris and Helen meet, she suddenly has hope for the love she's never experienced. The hope of freedom, even for awhile. I'd like to believe Paris must have been attracted to her not only for her beauty, but for her vulnerability and her aura of sadness." It's an interesting concept and one question we will probably never know the answer to. One thing I can put an answer to is this. "How does it compare with other epics?" Truthfully, I don't care and neither should you. The vast majority of younger cinema-goers in the audience wouldn't have been born when the Hollywood epics "Ben Hur" & "Cleoptra" were screened. And as for comparing "Troy" with "Gladiator"? Well that would be as silly as comparing "Gone With The Wind" to "The Passion Of The Christ". "Troy" is big enough and grand enough to stand on its own and only time and the box office receipts will tell that tale. Cast & Crew Bytes "Troy" was directed by Wolfgang Petersen ["Shattered", "Air Force One", "Outbreak", "Das Boot", "In The Line Of Fire" and "The Perfect Storm"], produced by Wolfgang Petersen, Diana Rathbun ["Maverick", "City Of Angels", "Conspiracy Theory" and "The Perfect Storm"] and Colin Wilson [Terminator III", "Lara Croft Tomb Raider", "Amistad" and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park"], from the screenplay by David Benioff ["25th Hour" and "Stay"], Cinematography by Roger Pratt B.S.C ["End Of The Affair", "Chocolat" and "Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets"], edited by "L.A Confidential" BAFTA Award Winner Peter Honess ["Highlander", "The Russia House", "The Fast and The Furious" and "Six Degrees of Seperation"] with original soundtrack score by 2 times Academy Award Winner, 2 times Golden Globe Winner and 6 times Grammy Winner James Horner ["Titanic", "A Beautiful Mind, "The Missing" and "The House Of Sand & Fog"].
"Troy" stars Brian Cox C.B.E ["The Long Kiss Goodnight", "25th Hour", "Braveheart" and "Rob Roy"], Eric Bana ["Chopper", "The Hulk" and "Black Hawk Down"], Brad Pitt ["Ocean's Eleven", "The Mexican", "Fight Club" and "Thelma & Louise"], Brendan Gleeson ["Cold Mountain", "the Butcher Boy", "The General" and "The Village"], Orlando Bloom [Lord Of The Rings I, II & III", Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Wilde"], Rose Byrne ["Star Wars Episode II", "I Capture The Castle", "The Rage In Placid Lake" and "Two Hands"], Saffron Burrows ["Circle Of Friends", "Enigma", "Deep Blue Sea" and "Frida"], Sean Bean ["Patriot Games", "Ronin", "Don't Say A Word" and "Goldeneye"] with Peter O'Toole ["The Lion In Winter", "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Last Emperor" and "Masada"] as Priam; and 2003 Chopard Trophy of Revelation Winner at the Cannes Film Festival Diane Kruger ["The Piano Player", "Mon Idol", "Michel Vallant" and "Wicker Park"] as Helen of Troy. The Story

"It's basically a long-ish, well-crafted epic, thanks to a timeless story that even Tinseltown can't find a way to mess up." ..... E! ONLINE

Hector and his younger brother Paris are guests in the court of King Menelaus of Sparta celebrating the end to many years of war between the Trojans and the Greeks . Hector, the defender of Troy, is there to represent his aging father King Priam of Troy. What Hector and Menelaus do not know is that Paris has seduced Helen, the beautiful young wife of Menelaus. Hector is aware that his handsome young brother has a way with women but he never entertained the tought that Paris would be so stupid as to smuggle Helen on board their ship and take her home to Troy. Hector realizes the folly and the danger Paris has placed everyone in but he knows in his heart it would be pointless to return Helen to Menelaus. The only course is to return home and await a response from Menelaus. While King Priam and the people of Troy are celebrating the return of Hector and Paris, Menelaus has gained the support of his brother Agamemnon who then summons all the Greek leaders to war against Troy. A fleet of 1000 warships pursues Hector and Paris to the Trojan shores. Amongst those who will battle the Trojan's is Achilles the legendary warrior many believe is immortal. And so starts a bloody battle from which there only be one winner will emerge. The Verdict "This is a story of love, betrayal, power, death and glory. An epic tale that translates well on the big screen. Awe inspiring special effects and computer generated images make "Troy" a fascinating watch. A timeless tale that is made all the more enjoyable thanks to a memorable cast and a bold soundtrack. Remarkably well done and appearing so realistic. An amazing interpretation." The Cast

Brian Cox Brad Pitt Brendan Gleeson Eric Bana Orlando Bloom Diane Kruger Rose Byrne Peter O'Toole Saffron Burrows Julian Glover Nathan Jones Adoni Maropis Jacob Smith John Shrapnel Siri Svegler Lucie Barat Ken Bones Manuel Cauchi Mark Lewis Jones Garrett Hedlund Sean Bean Julie Christie James Cosmo Nigel Terry Trevor Eve Owain Yeoman Luke Tal Matthew Tal

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Agamemnon Achilles Menelaus Hector Paris Helen Briseis Priam Andromache Triopas Boagrius Agamemnon's Officer Messenger Boy Nestor Polydora Helen's Handmaiden Hippasus Old Spartan Fisherman Tecton Patroclus Odysseus Thetis Glaucus Archeptolemus Velior Lysander Scamandrius Scamandrius

The Crew Directed by Wolfgang Petersen Adapted from Homer's "The Illiad" Screenplay by David Benioff Produced by Wolfgang Petersen/Diana Rathbun/Colin Wilson Original Music by James Horner Cinematography by Roger Pratt Film Editing by Peter Honess Casting by Edward Mercieca & Lucinda Syson Production Design by Nigel Phelps Set Decoration by Anna Pinnock & Peter Young Costume Design by Bob Ringwood Director Of Aerial Photography John Marzano Unit Still Photographer Frank Masi Unit Production Manager Steve Harding Special Effects Supervisor Joss Williams Technical Director Elie Jamaa Rated M15+ [AUST] Run Time 162 minutes Copyright ©2004 - Warner Bros Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved