DVD
Alexander the Great
Modern Myth, Classic Legend

Castle Home Video
RRP: £2.99
CHVBB0001
Certificate: E
Available 24 January 2005


There are some characters buried deep in the pages of the history books that simply refuse to lie down quietly in the past - Alexander The Great is one of them. The mythology that surrounds the young King, who set out to conquer the world, is at times phenomenal and there are many versions of his unstoppable rise and catastrophic fall. As the story unfolds, you can decide for yourself whether he deserves to be reserved as a hero or a monster...

Unlike many legends of the ancient world there is evidence that Alexander did exist and this release attempts to piece together his advance through Greece and Ancient Persia to reach India. For some Alexander was a fearless leader who epitomised vision and charisma, but for others he was one of the early despots.

Sadly Alexander the Great: Modern Myth, Classic Legend fails to either inspire or entertain. From the very start this production seems to have been aimed at the lowest of the lowbrows - a sort of education for the thickies.

That would have been fine (if that was the intent) but the narrator is just not engaging in the slightest. You can almost hear the pages being turned as she reads from her script.

This is also packed to overflowing with clichés. My favourite being: "When Alexander was born in 366 B.C. ... the world, as you are about to discover, was a very different place indeed." - Really? So no Playstation then?

There are no extras on this DVD, but then at £2.99 what do you want? Blood?

This release is not going to stimulate the minds of the young and is too patronising for anyone over 12. It doesn't matter how cheap it is - this release misses, by miles, an opportunity to provide an entertaining and informative look into the myth of Alexander the Great.

Pete Boomer

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£3.99 (Amazon.co.uk)
   
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All prices correct at time of going to press.