Troy.

This is coolbert:

Movie review.

The movie being reviewed today is "Troy".

I feel "Troy" was well done, albeit a little long and drawn out.

Some aspects of the "epic" were not followed with regard to the story as told in the Iliad.

Hector, the champion of the Trojans, is shown as killing both Menelaus and Ajax.

In the case of Menelaus, I don't even think his death is even mentioned in the Iliad.

And certainly not for Ajax. According to the Iliad, Ajax is said to have gone insane, his death not described.

The general melee of the cast of "thousands" is shown without regard to machines of war, catapults, siege towers, etc. 

NO sapping or mining efforts is even attempted. This sort of thing would probably not appeal to the audience and the inclusion of same is not worthwhile.

It can be seen that during these general melees, only a very small portion of the thousands on either side would actually be involved in the fighting. ONLY those in the very front of their formations would be in contact with and engaged in battle with the enemy. Those behind the front ranks would have to wait for their "turn" to move forward and engage the enemy as battlefield casualties mounted.

It is important to remember that the fighters on either side in "heroic" warfare were warriors and NOT soldiers. The latter fight according to a plan, as a team, and accepting discipline. Warriors of the heroic age DID NOT follow such a philosophy. If the warrior wanted to challenge a foe to single one-on-one combat, this was totally acceptable. [besting an opponent in single one-on-one combat was the ideal for the "heroic" age warrior.]

Brad Pitt DOES an excellent job of portraying Achilles, the great demi-god hero of the Achaeans.

Achilles in the movie IS a warrior.

Achilles, landing on the beach and seizing same in advance of the rest of the Achaean fleet, disregarding the wishes of King Agamemnon, the Achaean commander.

Achilles storming ashore and sacking the temple of Apollo, in disregard for the consequences.

Achilles driving a chariot and challenging Hector to single one-on-one combat.

A very good job was also done of portraying combat as we best understand how it was done during the "heroic" age. The large shields of the combatants should not be thought to be merely defensive in nature. They also were used in an offensive manner, and quite effectively too.

Liberties were taken with the movie story as compared to the story as told in the Iliad, but then this is Hollywood, isn't it.

coolbert.