Troy.... Errrr What?

[twmac]

I've always liked reading up on greek mythology, the way in which every hero and villain is far from perfect/imperfect has always appealed to me.

Decided to watch Troy as a way to go to sleep and found myself utterly perplexed. In fact, to the films credit, I really had a lot of trouble trying to figure out if the film was sticking to the mythology or if the source material I'd originally read had been debunked. Then I went and read up on it again after the atrocious bit where Achilles comes out of the Trojan horse and runs around Troy.

I understand that it is mythology and that it is likely that none of it happened, especially as Gods are often credited for all kinds of events... But I mean really, some of that which was depicted in the film was a rubbish retelling of the original story.

[brkl]

Well, it was a rubbish movie. That might explain it.

[DanJW]

Hollywood has enough trouble being faithful to actual documented historical events. How do you expect them to fair with mythology and ancient plays?

In a similar vein; I know it is for kids, but there is something about Dinsey's Hercules that I find horribly offensive.

[Wrestlevania]

I've always liked reading up on greek mythology, the way in which every hero and villain is far from perfect/imperfect has always appealed to me.

Decided to watch Troy as a way to go to sleep and found myself utterly perplexed.

Greek and Norse mythology were my bedtime bread and butter as a kid, once I was old enough to read stories for myself.

You're not alone in your confusion about this pointless puff piece Hollywood farted out. No word of a lie: I felt physically sick as the names of those responsible started to crawl up the screen.

[twmac]

Good, so not just me then who walked away a little confused.

I think that Greek mythology makes some of the best reads ever, especially for kids as the fables are fantastical but at the same time rooted in quite a lot of humanity. The heroes are often prone to pettiness, pride and making bad judgements. The Gods are essentially a bunch of people with super powers, but by that I don't mean they are Super heroes they are just as likely to screw someone over as they are to help them.

As kid I liked it as it made me feel like it was easier to swallow as a religion than Christianity.

I don't think that Troy was a terrible film. It is shot really well, the acting is either very good (Eric Bana, Brian Cox, Peter O'Toole), fairly good considering what was given them (Saffron Burrows, Sean Bean) or not rubbish enough to ruin it (Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom) and the score is appropriate if not original.

I suppose they couldn't have Ajax killing himself (or being covered in clay) and they couldn't have had Agamemnon return to Greece to be murdered by his wife as this would have been difficult to explain and/or wouldn't have please the target audience but some of the additions were out and out pointless and would have been better spent fleshing out some of the other characters.