My Movie Review Online

[karen]

Thanks, Tim. Not a real audience, I see what you mean.No intended humour, in the entire movie? That's bad movie-making, as far as I'm concerned. Not getting the audience on your side, as you put it, is absolutely right; it seems in many viewers' cases, Stone didn't. Besides, it's not as if there was no humour in Alexander's life. There's no such thing as life with no humour, no matter how serious and violent it is. People laugh to stay sane!Heck, according to the histories he cracked a few jokes himself. I did see the wedding banquet clip where he says, "This is the man who wants to cross to Persia and he can't even make it from one couch to another," and the delivery was all wrong, he didn't even smile, and none even of Alexander's friends cracked up, which they should have, before they all wisely skipped the country.I guess Stone is a rather humourless director, isn't he? Maybe that's why a good antidote to _Platoon_ is _Good Morning Vietnam_.You're far from alone, as reviewers go, in lowering our expectations, but, umm, thanks... I think... ;-)Warmly,
Karen

[Linda]

Thank you, Tim. For all the review links on your site, as well as your review. I don't think I can stand it if they laugh at Hephaestion's death, but perhaps I will have to take the sense of humour the film lacks along with me...

[f9bob]

My point was not on what is definition for Macedonian nationalist,and I dont think that we can put all in the same bag.Mostly that is feed from explicit notes from Demosten-Philip II conversations that simple putted Macedonians are Barbarians for Hellenes.For most people that is enough to make decision for the past events.-the notion that the Ancient Macedonians were not Greek, didn't speak Greek-I didn't agree,use of termin Greek is of no importance for Ancient Macedonians.Not at all.Even that termin have not at all existed in time of Macedonian kingdom.It is Roman coinage used for Hellenic colonies,and accepted from Romanois to diferentiate from Latins in early Bisantine times.If you think for replacement with term Hellenes ,then we should consult Hellenic mitology for Ancient Macedonians,where is stated exact lineage for descendands of Hellena.Did they speak Hellenic?I dont know,and I think most of us dont know.But what we know is that where they have existed,up to helenisation of the court specialy in their burial ground they have not left at all writen monument.Otherwise we will know that burial ground and settlements in my example have been from Ancient Macedonians.It is tricky question how they have left so much gold without a word for the name of deceased.Or maybe they have never been literate and they have accepted Hellenic writting later what make posible to understand kripple writings on attic dialect from Ancient Macedonians of latter period.It is real question that they have been closer to Doric,or to Pelasgians-Brigians and Tracians.-they were the ancestors of the modern Macedonian people.-To answer for this ,I will use information developed of cooperation of Archeologist and Genetic specialist from EU,accepted from all sides.Genetic makeup of today Macedonians is :35% from Neolitic settlements 4000 bc marker EU4,9 and 10(Today Hellenes have + marker 11 total= 47.3),Gravetians 20% with marker EU7(Today Hellenes 7.9),EU 18 is represent with 10% Iberian influence(Today Hellenes27.6) and 35% Ukrain influence with marker EU 19(Today Hellenes11..Last two markers are from last glacial period.(Today Hellenes have 6.4%of markers 3,6,15,16 mostly from middle eastener pool.)It is knife with two edges to claim ancestry in Europe today.

[Jeanne]

I was told by an Albanian that her accent is very good, but it may well be a case of WHERE one is from, just as in Greece itself. A Cretan accent, a Cypriot accent, an Athenian accent and a Edessian accent don't sound alike.Jeanne

[ancientlibrary]

Well, that's good confirmation. I recall from
somewhere that there are two Albanian
dialects--I am avoiding Googling to find out their
names, because, after all, I know nothing about
Albanian dialects other than that, and giving the
dialects names wouldn't add to my knowledge.
-- something and Geg?.I've always wondered why Albanian web
nationalist weren't spending more time
"claiming" Alexander. After all, although
fractional, their claim is not so controversial. I've
got two explanations. .(1) Albania is not a society that looks well on
uppity women. Newly-married Albanian couples
until recently, and still some places, receive
wedding linnen with a bullet wrapped inside, so
the husband can shoot the wife if she disobeys
him. Nor is Olympias a very sympathetic
national hero, particularly when compared to the
other female Albanian you've heard ofGÇöMother
Teresa..(2) Albania is the poorest country in Europe;
neighboring Albanian areas of Serbia and
Macedonia, although richer, are still poor (not to
mention troubled), and there are fewer
Albanians in western countries with computers
than some other nationalities. They have yet tom
complete the cycle from not having computers,
to having computers, to using computers to call
your ethnic enemies names..Or, it may be they just have better things to do
with their lives. More power to them!

[neneh]

I thought your review made very interesting reading. Somehow your opinions of the movie seem to be pretty much the same as my expectations of it. :-)Having read a few reviews of it on the net (plus skimming through a billion tedious posts concerning sexuality and nationality), I'm trying really hard not to get my hopes up about it. But still. Can't help but being a little bit excited. Teenage-girl-at-Westlife-concert-excited. I just can't help it.All the best,Neneh

[ruthaki]

Thanks Tim. I hesitated reading the review as I'm going to the opening here on Wed. and want to form my own opinion. However your review, I thought, seemed fair and was a good over-view of the film.
In conjunction with the opening of the film here in Vancouver this week, today one of the big local dailies is running my article "Searching for Alexander" (with photos) -- a trip around Northern Greece in Alexander's footsteps.(one I've made many times during my research trips).

[jan]

I read the review from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on your website, and that interested me since it is so near my hometown in Ohio. Another review is from Hollywood Reporter which is on Jason O'Brien's website for Oliver Stone. It does probably give the best information to determine if one would want to see this movie or not. I did win a free ticket, but will keep it only for a souvenir, and pay the $5.00 to see it sometime this week.The Discovery Channel's hour spent on the Making of Alexander was good and hopeful. I liked it a lot.I have read your review, and have already posted my response to it on A-M. I spect your father is correct.