DVD
Troy
(Region 1 Edition)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom
Warner Bros
RRP: $29.95
28411
Certificate: R - Restricted
Available 04 January 2005


Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles, and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of gigantic warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse...

What is it with Hollwood and trying to recreate the success of Gladiator by mimicking it? In Troy's opening scene, Brad Pitt speaks through gritted teeth and attempts to impersonate Russell Crowe - something which he continues to do for the film's duration.

And sadly the Gladiator similarity doesn't end with the acting. James Horner's soundtrack borrows stylistically from Hans Zimmer's superior work. He even lifts a large chunk of music from David Arnold's theme for Stargate. In fact, I'd even stick my neck out, being a huge fan of Horner's previous work, and say this is the worst soundtrack of his that I've heard. And what happened to the sound effects engineer? Whether we have swords clashing with sword, helmet or shield, we get the same sound without any variation. After a while this becomes really noticeable and distracting.

The younger actors never seem comfortable in their roles - especially Eric Bana. There is some pretty questionable acting in places and even the usually solid Sean Bean seems out of place with his very noticeable Sheffield accent. It's also interesting to note how many different ways the name Agamemnon can be pronounced.

Stylistically there is little to fault. The movie looks fantastic and thunders along at a breakneck pace. And the older members of the cast, no doubt thanks to their years of experience in the theatre, seem settled in their roles. Brain Cox stands out as a believable Agamemnon, but this movie puts it's trust in too many actors - not all of whom deliver the goods. Brad Pitt, for the most part, is believable - which is a blessing. John Shrapnel, as Nestor, also puts in a great performance - mind you, he is another Gladiator link, having played Gaius. And Peter O'Toole is great as Priam.

This collection is also only available as a 2-disc edition which, to be honest I thought was a bit of a rip-off. There are no commentaries, which in itself is a crime, and no extras on the first disc. And don't be expecting disc two to be crammed full of great extras either. These would easily have squeezed onto the first disc.

Extras are In the Thick of the Battle a 17 minute look at the battle sequences; From Ruins to Reality a 14 minute examination of the set design; Troy: An Effects Odyssey an 11 minute exploration of the visual and sound effects (see my moan earlier), a trailer, photo gallery and a very bizarre 1 minute Easter Egg.

Troy is far from awful - as a large special effects laden thrill-fest it does what it's supposed to and nothing more. It's just that with a little more polish this could have been so much better.

Nick Smithson

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$19.47 (Amazon.com)
Full Screen - Region 1 Edition
   
$19.47 (Amazon.com)
Widescreen - Region 1 Edition
   
£14.99 (Amazon.co.uk)
2 Disc Region 2 Edition

All prices correct at time of going to press.