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alanhuff
Reviews
Troy (2004)
An epic like none seen in years.
I really liked this movie. I'm not a real Brad Pitt fan but his performance here is quite remarkable and he makes Achilles a living, believable, sympathetic character who bears many characteristics of Homer's original -- brooding, spoiled and petulant and with an innate nobility that cannot be denied. Eric Bana's Hector is finely drawn and also worthy of praise and sympathy. He loyally fights for his country and king, defends his amoral, cowardly brother and knows he's going to his death when he faces Achilles but honor demands it. Sean Bean's Odysseus is a gem, as he manipulates Achilles to do Agamemnon's dirty work, not really liking what he's doing but realizing that the future of Greece (not just Agamemnon or any other king)depends on destroying Troy. However, Peter O'Toole's performance as Priam is the best of any in the film. His confrontation with Achilles to recover Hector's body is the high point of the film and then watching it dawn on Achilles what a dishonorable and reprehensible act he has committed is worth the price of admission. The rest of the cast is competent -- Helen is beautiful and so is Paris (as a guy I can't see the attraction of Orlando Bloom though). Agamemnon, Ajax, Menelaus and the rest are portrayed with admirable gusto. The character of Briseis is well done especially when refusing to let Achilles fight over her. The final confrontation between Paris, Briseis and Achilles puts a really interesting twist on the Achilles' heel myth.
All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable epic the likes of which has not be seen in a long time. Why quibble that it isn't really the way Homer wrote it (after all, it's called Troy, not The Iliad). It actually presents some interesting interpretations of what may really have happened as opposed to what has survived from Homer after 3200 years. I certainly give it a hearty 9.
Open Water (2003)
letdown
Missed this in the theaters; saw it at a hotel. I figured at least one of them would survive; otherwise how would the story be known? Overall, much less satisfying than I had hoped for. I also can't believe that tour operators wouldn't count people as they left the boat. While I'm willing to believe that this is based on a true story(ies), the actually representation of what went on during the incident is just so much idle speculation. Without a live witness who can know what actually happened. They could just as easily drowned or been swallowed by a whale for that matter. As if I needed anything else to forgo scuba diving as a hobby, this movie just reinforces the decision.
What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
The Ring in Seven Minutes
Chuck Jones' brilliant condensation of all of Wagner into a 7-minute cartoon. A comic tour-de-force with Elmer as Siegfried (Kill the wabbit!!) and Bugs as Brunhilde. The background illustrations were absolute incredible, invoking a true Wagnerian atmosphere. If you only see one cartoon in your life, make it this one.
Gunga Din (1939)
One of the best
My favorite "Imperialism" movie and one of the best action-adventure flicks of all time. Grant, McLaglen and Fairbanks dominate the screen with daring-do and wise cracks to please all but the most "PC" of film goers. Memorable scenes abound -- the 3 sergeants and their 20 sepoys fighting off hundreds of Thugs; MacChesney & Cutter giving Bobby Coote the spiked punch ("save some for the elephant"); Cutter to MacChesney -- "I'm an expedition"; Din breaking Cutter out of jail, with a fork ("what do you think I'm trying to break out of? A bleedin' pudding?!) And the incredible temple scene with Cutter singing and then annoucing, bold as brass -- "All right, you're all under arrest!"
I could go on, but suffice it to say I try to catch this film whenever it is on. For armchair adventurers and generals, it's hard to imagine a better 2 hours.