Kevin's Watch

Thoughts? Comments? Hot, pokey sticks in eyes to make the pain go away?

I actually liked Alexander a good bit... except, inevitably, for the dead horses. Definitely a darker film, with themes not suitable for the happy-movie-goer type. I'm glad somebody was able to push some of these themes at a mainstream audience, even if the movie played like a bad, borderline NC-17 slashfic.

As a history major I'll have to eventually see it, but I'll probably wait till it's on DVD (Thanks Santa! ). I think "epics" have to be very careful about their time of release. Summer is usually a good time for them and I think it came out too soon after Troy. I'm sure it's excellent filmmaking I just don't get why Hollywood and the press is so down on Oliver Stone. Is it his politics, his lifestyle or the conspiracy theories he's, supposedly, so obsessed with? I liked Platoon and JFK no matter what others say...

Yeah, the movie was really interesting. I got a good sense of history watching the movie. Of course, I don't know how much is accurate or not...heh. But yeah, it had a lot of good parts. And yeah, it was definately a lot darker then something comparable, like Troy. Troy was a lot more mindless action. My only problem was how long it was...heh. If I had known it was three hours going in, I would have prepared myself better, heh.-jay

I watched it this evening. I did enjoy it but was't sure how accurate it was from a historical view point. It has received a few bad reviews here in the UK, it wasn't as 'nice' as Troy so I can sort of see why. The battle scenes were impressive, except for the animal injuries shown, quite gory. (not that I usually mind gore actually)
I didn't really like how the film switched from time to time but I suppose they had to or it would have been even longer.
I found it interesting how they tried to show different relationships between Alexander and other characters. At times I did wonder if Colin Farrell had been the best choice for lead but overall not a bad film.
I did enjoy Troy more though.

It was soooo freaking long!

I liked it at the beginning but it got to a point where

Spoiler

I was depressed when he didn't die

I'm glad I saw it... don't want to ever see it again though.

I'm watching my DVD of the Director's Cut for the second time, this time with Stone's commentary. The commentary version has multiple advantages. It strings together, into a narrative, the historical points that were hit patchily in the movie. It identifies key characters whom I never could sort out in the movie.

In the movie without commentary, I thought there were 2 strong points. Angelina Jolie was scarily good as Alexander's mother. And there is a shot of maybe two seconds in which Alexander on his horse and an Indian king on his elephant face off in battle – a second or two that left me with goose bumps. But as a movie, it’s cluttered by too many facts left out for too little time.

6 out of 10.
over acted
over directed
over scored

great people making this movie, but fatally over done...

Usivius wrote:6 out of 10.
over acted
over directed
over scored

great people making this movie, but fatally over done...

I do agree on these points. On the whole, it really was over-the-top.

I would like to see it with the commentary, though. I'd love to get a better handle on how accurate it was in regards to actual events. I suppose I'll have to break down and rent it.

I never knew they could make enemas in the movie format, but Oliver Stone has outdone himself.

Lord Foul wrote:I never knew they could make enemas in the movie format, but Oliver Stone has outdone himself.

I turned it off after 20 minutes - ridiculously boring.

I rented it a couple of months ago. I didn't think it was as bad as the critics said it was. But I do have an interest in history. It seemed to be fairly accurate, from what I remember of Alexander's life. If you want to read about Alexander's life, Plutarch covers the subject pretty well.

Mary Renault's fictional series on Alexander is outstanding:

FIRE FROM HEAVEN
THE PERSIAN BOY
FUNERAL GAMES
though the last was after Alexander's death and a lot less lively.

All authors who write fiction about Alexander know they will have to be measured against Mary Renault.

And the award for the gayest movie of all time goes toooo.....



Why does Alexander The Great, a born horse rider, have the spindliest legs I've ever seen? I've known a few people that ride horses and they have thighs like you wouldn't believe!

I really like Colin Farell's acting, and there's quality in alot of the dimensions here, but the script and plot editing are atrocious: * 1/2 out of ****