Troy Film Review Essay

Throughout time, men have waged war, some for power, some for glory, some for honor and some for love. In ancient Greece, the passion of two of history’s most legendary lovers Paris, Prince of Troy and Helen, Queen of Sparta, ignites a war that will devastate a civilization. When Paris steals Helen away from her husband, King of Menelaus, it is an insult that cannot be suffered. Familial pride dictates that an affront to Menelaus is an affront to his brother.

Agamemnon, the powerful King of the Mycenaean’s, who soon unites all the massive tribes of Greece to steal Helen back from Troy in defense of his brother’s honor. This action packed movie is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat up until the end credits roll. Homers sprawling tale of love and war in ancient Greece comes to the screen in all its grandeur in this epic scale adventure. In 1193 B.C., Paris, Prince of Troy (Orlando Bloom), has fallen in love; however, the beautiful woman who has charmed him is Helen, Queen of Sparta (Diane Kruger), who is wed to King Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson).

While Helen is hardly immune to Paris’ charms, this doesn’t blunt Menelaus’ fury when Paris steals her away from him. Menelaus’ brother Agamemnon (Brian Cox), the power-hungry king of the Mycenaean’s, is eager to expand his empire through Troy to the lands of the Aegean Sea, and he uses Paris’ romantic slight against Menelaus as an excuse to wage an all-out war against the great walled city. Priam, King of Troy (Peter O’Toole), summons his armies, led by Prince Hector (Eric Bana), to meet the onslaught of Agamemnon’s forces. While the great city has yet to yield in a battle, Agamemnon has a formidable ally Achilles (Brad Pitt), a mighty and seemingly unstoppable warrior whose presence could tip the scales in Agamemnon’s favor.

Peter Rainer of the New York Times says, “The actors are forever striking classical poses, trying to memorialize the drama. But you can’t force this kind of thing—either you’re mythic or you’re not.” Rex Reed from the New Yorker states, “Troy” is ultimately the prime example of how such an immense concept ripe with possibilities and potential can be so botched in the wrong hands. While an achievement in visuals, “Tory” fails in every other aspect including its writing and storytelling.

Peterson excels at creating a half hour too long epic with just no point in sight. The film has much going for it, but quickly blows it as we drudge on and on for three hours without any real substance nor do we take anything away from this demanding experience. As they say, if a film is great, three hours can fly by, but with a poor film, three hours can drag on, and this did indeed drag on with melodrama, romantic sub-plots and everything that drags this down. I love the legend of Helen of Troy and the face that launched a thousand ships, but this is not what I was hoping for, and it doesn’t pay homage to its true storyteller.”

The element of the essay that I feel impacted me the most was the plot. The plot in my opinion was well written and acted. The Three different fights that took place during the movie: the one for family, the second for revenge, and the third to be known forever. The one for family impacted me because it showed that no matter what family is there for you even no matter how big you screw up. Next for the revenge, to me I felt that waging a war between the Greeks and Trojans was selfish and uncalled for just for one woman and a man’s pride. Lastly wanting to be known forever, This showed honor and devotion to me because his life and to have a family was set aside just so he can be known forever This movie would have been awful without this well written and acted movie.

The quote “You want me to look upon your army and tremble? Well I see them. I see 50,000 men brought here to fight for one man’s greed.” This quote from Prince Hector surely shows the turning point in the movie. After Paris, Prince of Troy steals Helen, Queen of Sparta from Menelaus; it ignites a full scale war that will devastate a civilization. If you like action packed movies that well build you up with action and then give you butterflies from love and death scenes, then this movie is for you.

Work Cited.

“Troy (2004).” Troy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/troy/>.

Rainer, Peter. “New York Magazine.” Troy. New York Times, 17 May 2004. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/n_10359/>.

Reed, Rex. New York Observer. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 12. <http://www.nyobserver.com/pages/story.asp?ID=9036>.