Well I can tell you what my gut says. This is an epic film based on a classic work of literature that is trying to play off the success of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Bloom and Bean, two of the stars of "Troy", are also major stars in the LOTR movies, and that should tell you something. Cox, Christie, and O'Toole are good choices, but Brad Pitt is no good for the part of Achilles. Pitt is not a bad actor, but Achilles is a strong, nearly invincible warrior, and Pitt (despite proving that he has some talent to back up his good looks) is a pretty-boy.
"Troy" will not be as popular as the LOTR movies, as "The Iliad" does not currently have as big a cult following as the LOTR books do. "Troy" will have its hardcore fans, of course, but most will just see "Troy" as slightly-above-average fare. The one exception may be the Academy members, who love historical dramas and love movies based on great literature. If so, maybe this could be that one last great role for Peter O'Toole that I've been hoping for (O'Toole had announced that he would not accept his honorary award because he would prefer to win an actual award for a performance; the Academy convinced him, but now I really want him to win an "actual" Oscar).
As for Wolfgang Petersen, I must admit that I have never actually seen a movie that he has directed. But from what I've heard of his films, let's hope he gets out of the trend that he'd been getting into in his recent movies (i.e., bad action movies) and returns to whatever he did right in "Das Boot" (which, again, I haven't seen).
I like what your gut has to say on the subject, and I think it's probably an apt observation that they are trying to capitalize on the LOTR phenomenon (and the technology is there to do big battles now without having to assemble thousands of extras).
Regarding Pitt/Achilles, while Achilles was an nigh invincible warrior, I think he was also handsome as all git out. A spoiled, arrogant, ass-kicking Adonis. Bring Pitt in a brooding Fight Club mode and he could be a good choice.
Finally, as for Wolfgang Petersen, Das Boot is certainly far and away his best movie, but I'd describe the rest of his movies as "mediocre at worst, and sometimes good". I've seen most of his American movies and none of his other German movies, but In the Line of Fire was quite good, and I wouldn't call any of them bad.
Quibbles aside though, your gut sounds about right to me!
Well, I won't be allowed to see "Fight Club" for another 8 months or so, but maybe that could change my mind about Pitt.
And as for Wolfgang Petersen, I was mainly talking about "Outbreak" and "The Perfect Storm", which I heard were pretty bad (both of which were more recent than "In the Line of Fire"). But hey, I'll admit it, I shouldn't judge his directorial ability of late without actually having seen any of his films. I should probably watch "Das Boot"...
I saw "Snatch" a while ago and remember loving it, but I don't remember it all that well. I've been meaning to watch it again. I also liked Pitt's manic performance in "Twelve Monkeys."
Were you trying to say that these performances would be indicators that he would be able to handle the role of Achilles, or just wondering if I've seen those movies? If the former, I do think he was aggressive in "Snatch", but it just doesn't compare to the fearless warrior character of Achilles. And Pitt's performance in "Twelve Monkeys" was fun but doesn't really relate to Achilles, I don't think. Note that I do think that Pitt is a good actor, I just would have a hard time seeing him in that particular role. There are other good actors that look more like the legendary, powerful, courageous Greek leader.
Cool. I'm vicariously looking forward to seeing Fight Club for the first time. I liked that one quite a bit.
I'd rank Outbreak and The Perfect Storm as flawed, but not bad. Both had very memorable scenes (the "people sneezing in the movie theater" scene and the "fishhook" scene, respectively).
I'm thinking this just might work. You can hardly beat the literary source, one of my very favorites!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Well I can tell you what my gut says. This is an epic film based on a classic work of literature that is trying to play off the success of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Bloom and Bean, two of the stars of "Troy", are also major stars in the LOTR movies, and that should tell you something. Cox, Christie, and O'Toole are good choices, but Brad Pitt is no good for the part of Achilles. Pitt is not a bad actor, but Achilles is a strong, nearly invincible warrior, and Pitt (despite proving that he has some talent to back up his good looks) is a pretty-boy.
"Troy" will not be as popular as the LOTR movies, as "The Iliad" does not currently have as big a cult following as the LOTR books do. "Troy" will have its hardcore fans, of course, but most will just see "Troy" as slightly-above-average fare. The one exception may be the Academy members, who love historical dramas and love movies based on great literature. If so, maybe this could be that one last great role for Peter O'Toole that I've been hoping for (O'Toole had announced that he would not accept his honorary award because he would prefer to win an actual award for a performance; the Academy convinced him, but now I really want him to win an "actual" Oscar).
As for Wolfgang Petersen, I must admit that I have never actually seen a movie that he has directed. But from what I've heard of his films, let's hope he gets out of the trend that he'd been getting into in his recent movies (i.e., bad action movies) and returns to whatever he did right in "Das Boot" (which, again, I haven't seen).
All just my own personal predictions, of course.
I like what your gut has to say on the subject, and I think it's probably an apt observation that they are trying to capitalize on the LOTR phenomenon (and the technology is there to do big battles now without having to assemble thousands of extras).
Regarding Pitt/Achilles, while Achilles was an nigh invincible warrior, I think he was also handsome as all git out. A spoiled, arrogant, ass-kicking Adonis. Bring Pitt in a brooding Fight Club mode and he could be a good choice.
Finally, as for Wolfgang Petersen, Das Boot is certainly far and away his best movie, but I'd describe the rest of his movies as "mediocre at worst, and sometimes good". I've seen most of his American movies and none of his other German movies, but In the Line of Fire was quite good, and I wouldn't call any of them bad.
Quibbles aside though, your gut sounds about right to me!
Well, I won't be allowed to see "Fight Club" for another 8 months or so, but maybe that could change my mind about Pitt.
And as for Wolfgang Petersen, I was mainly talking about "Outbreak" and "The Perfect Storm", which I heard were pretty bad (both of which were more recent than "In the Line of Fire"). But hey, I'll admit it, I shouldn't judge his directorial ability of late without actually having seen any of his films. I should probably watch "Das Boot"...
AJ, have you seen Pitt in Snatch or Twelve Monkeys?
I saw "Snatch" a while ago and remember loving it, but I don't remember it all that well. I've been meaning to watch it again. I also liked Pitt's manic performance in "Twelve Monkeys."
Were you trying to say that these performances would be indicators that he would be able to handle the role of Achilles, or just wondering if I've seen those movies? If the former, I do think he was aggressive in "Snatch", but it just doesn't compare to the fearless warrior character of Achilles. And Pitt's performance in "Twelve Monkeys" was fun but doesn't really relate to Achilles, I don't think. Note that I do think that Pitt is a good actor, I just would have a hard time seeing him in that particular role. There are other good actors that look more like the legendary, powerful, courageous Greek leader.
Cool. I'm vicariously looking forward to seeing Fight Club for the first time. I liked that one quite a bit.
I'd rank Outbreak and The Perfect Storm as flawed, but not bad. Both had very memorable scenes (the "people sneezing in the movie theater" scene and the "fishhook" scene, respectively).