The Movie Alexander

[Devastatin Dave]

I had heard nothing but the negative about the movie. Many of the reviews came from folks on this website and not just from the Americans here. But I'll have to see it now. The wife bought me Troy the other day. I have more entertainment trimming my nostril hair.

She also bought me the Village, I loved it.

[econ21]

Dave, there was a thread on this in the Monastery forum where some Org members - e.g. Kraxi, IIRC - said it was pretty good from the point of view of those interested in the military history of the period.

[A.Saturnus]

Most positive thing: Gaugamela was probably the best ancient battle scene ever depicted in a movie.

Stone really tried to make a good historical movie not just some action fast food despite some historical inaccuracies. But I think the film suffers from a major problem: Alexander´s life was practically a constant war and you can´t show an entire war in a movie. There are so many narratives in it that you have the impression someone tells you the movie instead of really watching it.

[Byzantine Prince]

I have to disagree with some of you. I think the only shortcoming this movie had was that it was too short(along with alexander's hair, but I don't really mind). Alexander's life deserves a 4 or 5 hour movie. I know most ADD americans(and some europeans) will hate that but then again who asked those kinds of people to watch. This movie isn't Troy. It's not made in hollywood. For those that don't know this movie was financed by German and french banks including some british people. Sure there is only two battles but what do you expect, these are battles!!! They are long, you can't show every battle(there was like 50 of them). You'de go insane.

- There is a vast discrepancy between the Alexander described by the narrator and the Alexander the audience actually sees on screen. The picture the narrator paints is that of a truly grat man - what we see on screen is an Alexander torn apart by his feelings towards mother, father and lover and who permanently has difficulties convincing his companions of his plans and permanently faces treason.

Yes the narrator seens kin of full of it because of his enormous admiration for what alxander stood for, not how his feelings were. Overall I don't find this such a big problem.

- The relationship between Alexander and his mother and between Alexander and Hephaistion was overdone. It's good to see these relationships in the movie (something Troy was lacking) but they became the main focus of the movie and the main historical events almost degenerated into decoration compared to these relationships.

Overdone? Well they made the movie more enjoyble to me. It gave the characters a lot of depth as you said Troy was lacking completely. IT's a movie though, of course the relationships between people will be the main focus. This isn't the History chanell. The movie is more historically accurate then the history chanel's Alexander IMO(except for the hair of course).

IT's not a perfect movie, but It's probably the best historical movie I have ever seen. Spartacus coming close second.

I give is 9/10.

[Spino]

I can sum up Oliver Stone's "Alexander" in one word...

GARBAGE

And furthermore, I'd like to add the following...

DO NOT PAY FULL PRICE TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

See a matinee showing, get a discount, rent it or wait for it to come out on cable! Heed my words because you have been warned!

My opinion of Alexander dropped even more (if that's possible!) when I caught Lawrence of Arabia on cable a week or so after seeing it.

I want my $10 and those three hours of my life back!

[nokhor]

so Spino,

i don't understand, did you like the movie or not? your post seemed kinda unclear.

[Byzantine Prince]

Lol Nokhor, I guess Spino is a homophobe.

[Ser Clegane]

My opinion of Alexander dropped even more (if that's possible!) when I caught Lawrence of Arabia on cable a week or so after seeing it.

Funny that you mention "Lawrence of Arabia" in this context, Spino.

When my wife and I discussed the "Alexander" movie and its shortcomings (the ones I mentioned in my previous post) after we had seen it on Friday, "Lawrence of Arabia" was exactly the movie of which we thought that it would be a good "peer" that succeeded in areas where "Alexander" failed - combining the greatness and the torn character of the main protagonist in a believable way and allowing the audience to actually "connect" with the main characters, even if these characters were not the most likeable ones.

It's hard to describe what really made the difference, but we had the feeling that a combination of the historical accuracy of the Alexander movie and the ability to actually tell a story that can be seen in Lawrence would have made a truly great movie of the (IMO) already good and interesting Alexander movie.

[Spino]

Funny that you mention "Lawrence of Arabia" in this context, Spino.

When my wife and I discussed the "Alexander" movie and its shortcomings (the ones I mentioned in my previous post) after we had seen it on Friday, "Lawrence of Arabia" was exactly the movie of which we thought that it would be a good "peer" that succeeded in areas where "Alexander" failed - combining the greatness and the torn character of the main protagonist in a believable way and allowing the audience to actually "connect" with the main characters, even if these characters were not the most likeable ones.

It's hard to describe what really made the difference, but we had the feeling that a combination of the historical accuracy of the Alexander movie and the ability to actually tell a story that can be seen in Lawrence would have made a truly great movie of the (IMO) already good and interesting Alexander movie.

That's exactly why I mentioned it. Movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago & Bridge over the River Kwai (David Lean is THE epic filmmaker of all time) are perfect examples of how to make an epic. Lean mastered the art of telling a grand sweeping story without losing focus on the individuals. Furthermore all of Lean's movies were laden with top notch actors, especially Alex Guinness who got a major part in virtually all of his films. On the other hand Stones' last several films are clearly are lacking in the talent department.

[Orda Khan]

Most positive thing: Gaugamela was probably the best ancient battle scene ever depicted in a movie.

Stone really tried to make a good historical movie not just some action fast food despite some historical inaccuracies. But I think the film suffers from a major problem: Alexander´s life was practically a constant war and you can´t show an entire war in a movie. There are so many narratives in it that you have the impression someone tells you the movie instead of really watching it.

I think I would go along with this. Although I thought from the overhead views it was not clear enough how completely outnumbered they were at Gaugamela.
Too much of Alexander's skill as a commander was overshadowed by the constant homosexual overtones. Yes, he may well have been fond of the boys but I honestly do not think more than a few minutes elapsed without a meaningful look, hug etc. My family were like " OK we get the picture " more or less all the way through the film.
If Stone had put half as much effort into showing the military genious of Alexander as he did his sexual tendencies, it would have been a truly great movie

.....Orda

[Byzantine Prince]

You should assume that every look they give is out of sexual needs. Back then it was very common for men to love each other even there wasn't any sex involved. The sex was hugely secondary(if there was any). Even today if you go to those areas of Europe(Greece, Albania, Italy) fathers kiss their sons(and vice versa), men who are close friends kiss eachother and confes love for eachother. It's not like in America where fathers avoid hugging even!!!

So my point is don't assume every hug is sex. That's not fair. Those two(Alexander and Hephaestion) loved eachother at the deepest way, the sex is almost not even worth mentioning. They still both needed to be maried(many times in that). "And we're both gonna be married and our children will together like we used to" - Alexander.

[Byzantine Prince]

Well? No one else has opinion on this?

[Devastatin Dave]

Well? No one else has opinion on this?

Sorry, I was too busy getting my Dad's tongue out of my mouth to answer!!! He loves me!!!