The Movie

[Nax]

blech! No character development anywhere or anywho, the Big A and Roxann snarling like puddy cats at each other, Hephaestions death scene deserved laughing at and the script Oh brother what a load of nothing dialog Hollywood c**p This was the best Stone and Fox could offer?!?! I've been sitting around stunned at how bad it was for a coupla hours and I don't think seeing it again is gonna make a dif to me. I expect the fan types will argue but I dont care- it sucked big time

[beausefaless]

Are you obtuse? If not you could fooled me! Conservative viewers like yourself, will always love to hate *this* movie.Angelina Jolie was magnificent, she played Olympias to perfection. Val Kilmer as Philip was seasoned, he had a lot of experience from "The Doors" (being tanked-up all the time) great job! Jared Leto was a perfect as Hephaistion. And Colin Farrell did one hell of a job as Alexander, he had to turn himself into a method actor in six weeks let a lone learn how to ride a horse bare-back within the same period of time.When I entered the theater I made myself neutral, I blocked out everything I knew about Alexander, this was only fair. I left the theater with a big smile saying thank you Oliver it's about time someone put out a unique movie on Alexander. How can you or anyone else produce a complete historical movie on Alexander in two hours and fifty five minutes, "it's impossible." Was the movie true to the sources, not all of it, but what movie ever is, none!I'm going to save the rest of my ammo for the rest of my foes, for I'm sure there will be plenty and you know me, I always attack. The best of luck to you and all the rest, your going to need it.

[marcus]

Thanks for that, Andrew - it's given me a bit more faith in the film.I was reading some of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes this morning, and a piece in the paper too. I have to say that, on the whole, the criticisms are about the turgidness of the script and the messy editing rather than anything else ... but of course I don't know whether they're being hyper-critical until I've seen it myself.All the bestMarcus

[amyntoros]

Andrew, you'll get no disagreement from me! Having been unable to avoid the plethera of negative reviews, I was aware of the many specific complaints, but I wasn't expecting to see a history lesson, only Oliver Stone's vision of Alexander, so I sat back and let the film carry me where it may. Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it - if time had allowed, I could have sat through it again immediately. I was "in the moment" and found myself not caring at all about the liberties taken with Alexanders history, or the accents, the colored frames, the camera work, the dialogue - in other words, everything that has been touted as a problem with this film. I'm beginning to get a sense that most reviewers *looked* for aspects that they could complain about to underline the real reason why they didn't like this movie, i.e., that Stone's Alexander isn't the modern-day macho man they were hoping to see. No doubt I'll also be writing more later, but Thanksgiving Day preparations are calling right now. :-)All the best,Linda Ann

[iskander_32]

Hail Linda Hail AndrewThanks for the feedback with the movie as Marcus says were getting a lot of negative feedback here.I couldnt give a squirels nuts what critics say lets face it they make a living taking things to bits,, Also if i went to see some of the movies these critics did endorse I would be borred stiff.Piano player, Titanic, and there are plenty other movies that got piled with oscars and were for the acquired taste and very borring.Linda I thought your reply spot on I neither care agout Accents wigs etc Im also going open minded and am sure will enjoy what I see,,, I think it healthy that we can come away from the text and judge Stone for the parts he has done.RegardsKenny

[birdlover]

Hi Everyone,I too liked the movie. As far as accuracy goes I think Stone hit it out of the park. I had some quibbles with the way the story was told, but overall it was a good film. Colin was good as ATG. I still think he was a good choice. I don't think he was effective in every scene, but he did do a good job.I thought the film could have been tied together a bit more. I think Stone used a different way to tell the story, so it seemed a bit like a "patchwork quilt" to me. I think it tied itself together at the end, quite well.Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer and even Jared Leto were just terrific. I have a soft spot for Hephaistion, so I think Leto did a great job. He was one of the highlights in the film, for me.Okay, time to go cook and clean. Have a great holiday. I'll probably have more later on. I will be seeing it again probably next week.Thanks for your reviews. I enjoyed reading them.Dara

[Linda]

Well, it is very encouraging to see these reports.
thank you everyone.
Why do we have to wait, when Sweden gets it next week?

[marcus]

Linda,Surely you could hop over on a ferry to Stockholm quite easily? Marcus

[justme]

I liked it a lot too. Colin was much better than I'd expected. Jared Leto was wonderful, but they did put a bit too much mascara on him as one critic said. (Picky, picky.) And as everyone has said, Jolie and Kilmer were wonderful. It certainly showed a lot more character development of AlexanderGÇÖs friends than the 1956 Richard Burton version. (And the talk about bad hair - does anyone remember the bad blond wig on Burton?)With all the voiceovers and long explanations by old Ptolomy, I can see why people who don't know anything about ATG would think it's boring - looking for more of the gore than the man.I guess I'd read about the accents so much that I was expecting it and it didn't bother me a bit. It didn't take me out of the movie as some critics have said. Yet I can understand where it might put some off.Some critics have been saying that the story is all over the place. But considering the contradictions in the sources it's almost impossible to find out who Alexander was within a 3 hour timeframe. Even his friends (with the possible exception of Hephaestion) didnGÇÖt seems to be able to agree about him so how could we now? Stone shows this through Ptolomy vacillating between theories of what/who Alexander was. I agree that it was tied up well at the end.I'd heard it mentioned as completely humorless. There was a bit of intended humor, I thought. Just a tiny bit, but there was at least a little lightheartedness. No one in the theater I saw the film at laughed at inappropriate places and they did when I saw Troy. I thought it was beautifully shot. I enjoyed the characterizations. Basically I love what Stone did with his version of the story. Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing it again and very soon! Lois

[ruthaki]

I've already posted an early commentary on the film on another thread here, but I wanted to add mine here too. I'm pleased that so many of you felt the same as me...in spite of some faults it was a basically excellent film. The images are still resonanting in my mind: especially that look of freal, insane look on Alexander's face in battle. Wow! The accents did bother me a bit but as the Macedonians spoke a highland cant I can see why casting decided on this. Some of the Companions were cast differently than I'd have thought they might be but in all, not bad. Jolie was magnificent as Olympias and Philip looked just like the reconstruction they've done (in wax) from that skeleton that was allegedly his body. Did you notice how the young Alexander actually resembled Colin Farrell?? And I paid particular attention to all the costumes and was happy to see some of the Macs wearing those straw sun-hats. Quite authentic.
By the way, the 'mascara' on Hephaestion may have been intended to be a touch of Persia as the men there wore henna around their eyes, and in particular in hot sunny climates they wore it to keep the glare off. That Persian boy was a delight to behold and I'm only sorry they cut out some of his scenes!I went to see it without reading the critiques and I'm glad I did as the local papers are panning it. And I intend to see it several more times. I found it very inspiring.

[ruthaki]

Oops, I meant to type "the feral" look on Alexander's face (like a charging lion) and instead of 'henna' around the eyes I mean "kohl". It was commonly used in Asia by both men and women.

[luisfc1972]

i liked the movie but he went overboard with the whole bisexuality issue. cut 10 minutes of that stuff and and he could have included the gordion knot. it just felt like he kept reminding us over and over that he was bisexual. overkill in my opinion. i mean if youre going to make a movie about one of the greatest military commanders of all time with over 150 mil budget maybe he could have included issus perhaps? tyre? i dont know. i just thought he made him seem a little bit too whiny. a man who can lead men from europe to asia should have been portrayed a bit "stronger". anyhow i will watch it again tomorrow to let everything really sink in.

[beausefaless]

Greetings Lois,"I'd heard it mentioned as completely humorless. There was a bit of intended humor, I thought. Just a tiny bit, but there was at least a little lightheartedness. No one in the theater I saw the film at laughed at inappropriate places and they did when I saw Troy."I had a good quiet laugh and *cheer* along with the Macedonians when Alexander, in front of everyone, gave the Persian boy a very long smacker (kiss) on the lips while they were all celebrating, what a great scene that was. My audience was the same, we were all glued to the screen, no-one got up for popcorn or went to the rest rooms even at the end nobody left early!All the best,Andrew

[beausefaless]

Dear Ruth,That's the first thing I thought of *kohl* (Asia and Egypt) when I looked into Hephaistions eyes. You're so right about the sun glair and many athletes use the same method today. (shoe polish) Regards, Andrew

[beausefaless]

I couldn't disagree with you more! I thought Stone was correct to exploit the close friendship between Alexander & Hephaistion. When Philip died was it not Hephaistion who lifted Alexanders' hand and arm to the sky yelling "the king lives!" As the crowd went wild with praise for the new king.
In front of the kings tent when Alexander and Hephaistion was exchanging personal thoughts and then after hugging each other it appeared to me that Hephaistion was willing but Alexander made it crystal clear, in a polite way, that he was not.
Alexander had plenty of *moxie* when needed. Remember he was also a statesman.
Regards, Andrew