Opulent and overwrought with war and tragedy, Troy tells Homer’s story Hollywood style. Though it’s fun to witness such a large scale fight and get a sense for the massive nature of this war, the just as lofty drama is spread thin because it stretches so far.

Significant screen time, star power and sympathy is given to both sides of the battle in Troy, which allows for an interesting division of loyalty on the part of the audience throughout the film. Instead of creating a situation where we care considerably for both sides, however, the effect is just the opposite. Troy is like watching a major sports game where you’re apathetic about the outcome.

In Troy we have King Priam (Peter O’Toole) with his sons, Hector (Eric Bana) and Paris (Orlando Bloom), who has fallen in love with Helen (Diane Kruger), who belongs to Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson), of the Spartan Empire. Paris and Helen run off to Troy, which gives Agamemnon (Brian Cox), a reason to invade Troy. One of his greatest warriors is Achilles (Brad Pitt), who fights valiantly with Odysseus (Sean Bean) against the Trojans.

Fights and duals abound, with talk of support from the gods on each side. The gods make up an interesting part in Troy, in that they aren’t present at all. Some believe faithfully in them, others don’t believe at all. Some believe that they need to trust in the gods, others that they need to trust in themselves. Though multiple questions are raised as to the relationship of the gods to the people, none of them are really answered. On the one hand, tragedy strikes both sides and seems to suggest an absence of gods altogether, but on the other hand, the tragic results themselves seem to entail a divine justice.

Brief but weighty relationships abound among all of the characters, in such a way that we get a taste of each, but never really are allowed to become involved with. The centerpiece of Troy is the war though. From individual duels to large scale strikes, Troy’s battles allow us to reflect on the tragedies of war – from individual loss to wide spread carnage. I never found myself particularly moved on behalf of any of the characters or either of the rivals, but Troy’s massive action sequences make it a passable experience.

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