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Very disappointing...

Touches You

good back-story, and good acting

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Unlike the epic TROY, which spent much time and money recreating the spectacle of the Trojan War with CGI, the emphasis here is on the political ambitions and prophecies leading up to the start of the siege of Troy. Rufus Sewell as Agamemnon gives a performance (as the man who would conquer Troy) which eerily evokes Oliver Reed at his sinister best, as he makes it clear that the romance of Helen and Paris was merely a convenient excuse for the events that followed, and that the war came out of his own thirst for conquest. Sienna Guillory is attractive as Helen, but her role is rapidly reduced to that of a bystander in the great events that swirled around her. And the film makes clear its logic about this: how could a woman be responsible for a war in a time when even princesses were chattels of the royal houses to be auctioned off in marriage for political gain? As it deals more intimately with its characters and looks more closely at social power structures and gender roles of the period, this film is much more interesting as a human drama than the rather empty spectacle TROY.

Having seen both this movie and "Troy," I much preferred this one. It is closer to the Iliad and more probable historically. I know that "Byzantium" is anachronistic, but I imagine it was easier than trying to explain to the punters who the Hittites were.There were a few creaky plot devices (the churlish way in which Achilles kills Hector, for example), but at least it accords with the Greek legends better than "Troy" - the sacrifice of Iphigeneia isn't sidestepped; Agamemon is murdered in revenge for this, rather than for any thing else the swine does; Menelaus and Helen actually survive, as we learn from the Odyssey.On the other hand, "Troy" makes a better fist of the Battle for the Ships, and Achilles' boiling anger over the death of Patroclus. Both film treat this with kid gloves, because of the homosexual element (If I remember, Patroclus doesn't even appear in "Helen"), but the Iliad's first word is "wrath," making it clear that this is an essential element of the story.Finally, even though both movies tend to be anachronistic on armour, that in "Troy" was, if I remember, a bit more accurate, at least for everyone else but Achilles. Oh, and why do the producers assume that the Minoan style of column (supporting the roof) was general everywhere?

Last July 26 until the first week of August, we viewed the movie "Helen of Troy". This 175-minute version that was released in 2003 was produced by Adan Shapiro and was directed by John Kent Harrison. This movie of romance, adventure, drama and action was based on Homer's Iliad. It is a Greek epic that tackles on the Greek mythology, emphasizing on the war between the Greeks and the Trojans or the Trojan War wherein the great City of Troy fell. The war started when a lovely woman named Helen left of her Achaean husband, Menelaus, and ran away with a Trojan named Paris. This war lasted for ten years wherein mighty warriors fought, gods and goddesses participated, and lives were sacrificed and lost. In the film, I was stunned with the irony in the end of the story. Even from the beginning of the movie, I was eager to see the fall of the creepy Agamemnon. I always thought that he would be killed by another warrior or a god but I never saw it coming that Clytemnestra, his own wife whom he always looked down to, was the only person to kill him. It's so ironic that someone who was portrayed weak was the one to put down Agamemnon who has a strong personality.Overall, I love the movie but it's too morbid for me. I like the cast and how they portrayed their character except for a few. An example of which is Achilles. For me, he doesn't seem like an honored warrior but instead, more of a wrestler. Also, I was disappointed with the background. In some parts of the movie, it was unrealistic with the light colors. On the other hand, I like the part wherein everything stopped when Menelaus saw Helen in Troy. For me, it was a moving moment and I saw how Menelaus really perceives Helen. With this assessment, I say that it is a movie that is good enough to rent. I guess, it's just not my type of movie but it's worth seeing.

The film Helen of Troy, produced by Ted Kurdyla, is a tragic movie inspired by one of the greatest epic stories of all time, Homer's The Iliad. Released in 2003, the 2 hours and 57 minute film depicts the legendary battle between the Greeks and the Trojans over love, wealth and honor. It all began when the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, fell in love with Paris the son of King Priam of Troy. Though married to King Menelaus of Sparta, she left him and went with Paris to Troy. Grieved by the departure of Helen, he asked help from his brother Agamemnon who led the Spartan army to attack Troy. For 10 years the Greeks and the Trojans battled. Wearied by the battle, the Greeks decided to make a gigantic wooden horse to enter the city and defeated the Trojans, thus ended the war. Menelaus narrates the story as he reminisces the events that took place. It was very effective because he was a witness to both Agamemnon's intent to sack Troy's city and Helen's love for Paris. If someone else told the story, chances are, it will be one-sided. Like, if it was Helen, it would probably be focused on her love story. Or, if it was Agamemnon, it will be about the gory encounter with the Trojans.John Kent Harrison, the director of Helen of Troy, was able to bring into life The Iliad. The actors and actresses gave justice to the roles they played. Although there were scenes where it was very obvious that the background was only a painting, the movie redeemed itself with the help of its lighting, sound effects, and script. These elements contributed to the effectiveness of the production because the audience felt that they were part and parcel of the whole. For this and its historical value, it deserves 5 stars.