Homer truly would be proud. “Troy,” Wolfgang Peterson’s (“The Perfect Storm,” “Air Force One,” “Outbreak”) 2004 rendition of Homer’s epic “Iliad,” brings a somewhat dry and winding story of battles and conquest to the big screen with a cast that leaves the audience stunned. Talk about reinventing the wheel, but this time, actually making it work.
Brad Pitt (“Oceans Eleven,” “Snatch,” “Fight Club”) takes the reigns as Achilles, a fearless warrior rumored to be a demi-god, alongside Orlando Bloom (“Lord of the Rings,” “Pirates of the Carribean”) as Paris and Eric Bana (“Hulk,” “Black Hawk Down”) as Hector, both Trojan princes. Joined by a slew of other Hollywood hopefuls, “Troy,” from the start, fully engages the audience and takes them for a trip through Homer’s ancient masterpiece.
Even for those who may not be experts on their ancient Greek history, “Troy” is an action-packed film comparable to the likes of 2000’s “Gladiator” and 1995’s “Braveheart.”
The epic tells the story of an ancient power struggle, the thirst for glory and honor, and of course, love. Beginning with a conspiracy of sorts, Paris (Bloom) falls in love and steals the King of Sparta, Menelaus’ (Brendan Gleeson) wife, Helen (Diane Kruger.)
With the loss of such a prized possession (Menelaus’ beautiful wife,) rage and bloodthirsty revenge take hold, adding to the movie’s intricate plot twists and combat scenes that put others to shame. Menelaus seeks the assistance of his brother Agamemnon (Brian Cox), king of the Greeks, and he is eager to take over the city of Sparta.
Throw in a conflict between Agamemnon and strong-willed, stubborn Achilles, who are essentially fighting on the same side, some love interests and a lifelong feud and a true epic is born.
Peterson introduces what would normally seem to be just an ordinary tale of revenge and war. Peterson makes the fight scenes stand out from other action movies of recent years.
Pitt’s character engages in aerial combat, adding a new dimension to the scene by combining basic techniques of any traditional war movie with more of a Matrix-flair. The film is gory, but accurate in its depiction of the brutal slaughters on both the Trojan and Greek sides.
Even though the film runs close to three hours, with a jam-packed plot courtesy of Homer, in the end it’s all about whether or not the director can bring such an epic to life. Peterson did just that, leaving a lasting impression in the world of cinematography, fight choreography and even polished acting.
“Troy” is now playing at Loews Boston Common, AMC Fenway and AMC Chestnut Hill, and is rated “R” for violence and some nudity.
