Description Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular 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 bireme warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.
Amazon.com No doubt about it, the 196-minute unrated director's cut of Troy represents a significant improvement over the film's original 162-minute theatrical release--and not just because it has more sex and violence. As director Wolfgang Petersen notes in his new "Troy Revisited" video introduction to this 2-disc special edition, he didn't have the time or directorial discretion (prior to Troy's release in 2004) to present a cut that more closely matched his vision for the film. Three years later, Petersen approached the film with a more relaxed perspective, and the result is a well-crafted expansion on a film that was previously underrated, with 30 minutes of previously unseen material. Character dynamics have been improved and intensified; the epic-scale narrative is now easier to follow, with greater emphasis on the inner turmoil of Achilles (well played by Brad Pitt) and his rivalry with Hector (Eric Bana); and viewers will feel a more satisfying escalation of tension and suspense from battle to battle. The film's enormous battle scenes (impressively enhanced with CGI) are bloodier and gorier, but they're also more effectively integrated into the political story, which goes beyond Homer's The Iliad and the death of Hector to incorporate elements of Virgil and a more revealing study of the differences between Trojan king Priam (Peter O'Toole) and his megalomanical Greek rival, king Agamemnon (Brian Cox), whose lust for revenge is now one of the film's most powerful ingredients. Some of Troy's original weaknesses remain (such as Orlando Bloom's wimpy performance as Paris), but overall, this director's cut easily justifies its existence, regardless of the film's overblown and historically inaccurate depiction of Troy as a gigantic city of massive columns and statuary. The good parts are better, and the not-so-good parts are more easily forgiven. And no matter how you cut it, Troy is a lavish feast for the eyes. --Jeff Shannon
Director's Cut: It looks, sounds, and IS better
The extra footage gives this movie room to breathe and improves the pacing. The many changes in the soundtrack are a GREAT improvement: the "wailing woman" is kept to a minimum and is therefore more appropriate when it does appear. Watching this DC of the movie made me wish, yet again, that studios would release the cut the director wanted to start with. The movie also looks a lot better - brighter, clearer and without the "antiquing" tint.
This is a better version of "Troy" than the theatrical release, but it is still the same movie. It has not been totally transformed, like the DC of "Kingdom of Heaven", which elevated it to masterpiece status, IMHO, but it is better and more enjoyable. I would say that Odysseus benefits the most from the extra scenes.
Troy
Very good movie . Picture outstanding. Must buy for a blu ray fans. I'm amazed with this director cuts version. Almost 3 and a half hour. Unbelieveable.
A Flawed But Worthy "Troy"
Judging from the initial reactions of purists, this writer included, many viewers were generally offended by Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 interpretation of the epic tale of Achilles, Hector, and Helen of Troy. Clearly, it is not Homer, well, not exactly. But then the various intertwining stories that introduced me to this wonderful tale as told by my Greek grandfather were not pure Homer either. Petersen took great dramatic license and mixed Homer (not without a good deal of exclusion...the gods and goddesses, numerous characters such as Hecuba and Cassandra) with Virgil and a good deal of Hollywood for his film version of "Troy." Having just viewed the "Director's Cut," I must admit that Homeric purity set aside, it works pretty well as a retelling of the tale, despite some alterations in story that simply warrant a shake of the head. And yes, this cut is better than the theatrical version, certainly more graphic in every sense. Brad Pitt's Achilles is really remarkable, Eric Bana as Hector is fine, Sean Bean's Odysseus "the sacker of cities" is first rate, Diane Kruger's Helen worked for me, Peter O'Toole is a heart-rending Priam, and most of the rest of the cast is certainly serviceable. The production is grand, and even James Horner's last minute replacement score (underrated) works well. Despite the complaints, Petersen gets some of the scenes just right, especially the "fleet footed" Achilles both in battle and particularly later in his touching scene with Priam. And some of his touches from non-Homeric works such as Virgil are quite clever at times. It all ends with an ironic touch, not the funeral pyre of Hector "tamer of horses," but that of Achilles which actually accentuates the point that this is still primarily the story of Achilles, not of Helen of Troy, and this Petersen gets right. I don't know if "The Iliad," "The Odyssey," or even "The Aeneid" can ever be produced adequately on the screen, but this is a worthy effort in hindsight, even if it is not quite a Homeric one.
A Good Movie Made Great!!
I was fan of Troy when it was first released a few years ago but it seemed a bit rushed and lacking any depth. Wait no more!! This directors cut is great and really takes the movie to another level. Improved Score, Improved Pacing and not to mention the extended gory fight scenes!!! I loved the way they cleaned up the special effects and fleshed out characters so much more!! 5 outa 5!!
Some thoughts:
I picked up TROY on a whim. I was in the grocery store; it was cheap, so what the heck, I added the DVD to my bread and milk. And I guess Charlton Heston's recent demise made me want to see an old fashioned, 'Hollywood' take of an epic subject.
What a surprise TROY is. I remember it only garned so-so official reviews, with lots of semi-snide comments about Brad Pitt's pecs and his newly refined accent, etc. Even though this version isn't the 196 minute director's cut, which is supposed to supply more narrative flow, I'm impressed enough with this version to recommend it. Any of the various battle scenes, certainly, are worth the price. It's been ages since I read The Illiad, and that was for college lit class (so "ages" is the appropriate word) but I didn't have any trouble following the narrative. And I don't look to a Hollywood film for historical accuracy, just a damn good story well told.
If Brad Pitt isn't quite the greatest actor here (and I hope the director's cut might change that impression), the performances of Brian Cox; Eric Bana; Peter O'Toole and Sean Bean more than make up for Pitt's occasional flatness. I didn't feel much chemistry in his scenes with Rose Byrne. I think Pitt's best scenes were during his meeting with Hector's father, and what happens afterward. Also his scenes with Brian Cox as the contemptable King Agamemmnon.
Oddly, the brief scenes displaying the relationship between Eric Bana (Hector) and the actress who plays his wife are more sensual and emotionally affecting than anything between Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger, and/or Brad Pitt and Rose Byrne. I think it's the fact that Hector is happily married, and just wants to live to enjoy his wife and son; that does it... at least for me. Sure, illicit love has its moments, but married and happy, at least the way Bana plays it, is very sexy too. (Think GLADIATOR, when all Maximus really wanted was to return home to his wife and son. A woman likes to see that kind of thing!)
So in all, I was pleasantly impressed and surprised by TROY. Now I'd like to see the director's cut.