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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 4396
Released: January 4, 2005 |
| Our Price: $4.42 |
| Used Price: $1.22 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Brad Pitt picks up a sword and brings a muscular, brooding presence to the role of Greek warrior Achilles in this spectacular retelling of The Iliad. Orlando Bloom and Diane Kruger play the legendary lovers who plunge the world into war, Eric Bana portrays the prince who dares to confront Achilles, and Peter O'Toole rules Troy as King Priam. Director Wolfgang Petersen recreates a long-ago world of bireme warships, clashing armies, the massive fortress city and the towering Trojan Horse.
DVD Features:
Featurette
Photo gallery
Theatrical Trailer
Description of Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition):
No doubt about it, the 196-minute unrated director's cut of Troy represents a significant improvement over the film's original 162-minute theatrical release--and not just because it has more sex and violence. As director Wolfgang Petersen notes in his new "Troy Revisited" video introduction to this 2-disc special edition, he didn't have the time or directorial discretion (prior to Troy's release in 2004) to present a cut that more closely matched his vision for the film. Three years later, Petersen approached the film with a more relaxed perspective, and the result is a well-crafted expansion on a film that was previously underrated, with 30 minutes of previously unseen material. Character dynamics have been improved and intensified; the epic-scale narrative is now easier to follow, with greater emphasis on the inner turmoil of Achilles (well played by Brad Pitt) and his rivalry with Hector (Eric Bana); and viewers will feel a more satisfying escalation of tension and suspense from battle to battle. The film's enormous battle scenes (impressively enhanced with CGI) are bloodier and gorier, but they're also more effectively integrated into the political story, which goes beyond Homer's The Iliad and the death of Hector to incorporate elements of Virgil and a more revealing study of the differences between Trojan king Priam (Peter O'Toole) and his megalomanical Greek rival, king Agamemnon (Brian Cox), whose lust for revenge is now one of the film's most powerful ingredients. Some of Troy's original weaknesses remain (such as Orlando Bloom's wimpy performance as Paris), but overall, this director's cut easily justifies its existence, regardless of the film's overblown and historically inaccurate depiction of Troy as a gigantic city of massive columns and statuary. The good parts are better, and the not-so-good parts are more easily forgiven. And no matter how you cut it, Troy is a lavish feast for the eyes. --Jeff Shannon
Troy (Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) Reviews:
What a fantastic story. 
2009-12-05 - I loved this movie when it was in the theaters and purchased the DVD when first came out. I would suggest that any considering buying this should actually buy the "Director's cut", which is 30 minutes longer and provides a little more context. I think it would be great in either the regular DVD or Blue Ray version (depends on your player of course).
The original plot/story is well known, and people have described it in detail here so I won't repeat it all. It's a highly entertaining movie, women - and men - can marvel at Brad Pitt's portrayal of Achilles and his athleticism displayed in the battle scenes (Achilles vs Hector especially), and if you'll forgive a few Hollywood changes to what we believe "really happened" according to Homer's Iliad, you'll really enjoy watching this movie.
In short, it's fun, it's entertaining, visually beautiful, and highly recommended.
'Troy' Director's Cut
2009-11-12 - Though it is definately not entirely accurate to what is read in Homer's story, 'Troy' is the best movie about the Trojan War I've ever seen. If you are not a Trojan War purist, then this movie should be very entertaining for you. All of the actors and actresses, most notably Brad Pitt (Achilles) and Eric Bana (Hector), performed remarkably well for their roles. The special fx are empressive! The digitally done battle scenes look realistic and the city of Troy looks breathtakingly beautiful. The sound fx are great, making it perfect for surround sound. Despite the fact the movie somewhat deviates from Homer's famous story, it's plot is easy to follow and picks up at a descent pace. The director's cut of 'Troy' is much, much better than the theatrical version. If you were dissapointed with the theatrical release, then you should give 'Troy' another chance and watch the much improved director's cut on DVD or Blu-Ray. It is the way the director wanted the movie to be like in the first place. The many minutes of added scenes allows the viewer to learn more about each character in the film and also reveals a bit more extended action sequences during battles. And the extra footage also helps enhance the plot: making it much more enteresting to watch this movie. I am much impressed by the excellent music (score) by well respected composer James Horner. It goes along so well with all the fight scenes, romance, and dramatic moments the film offers. There is a lot of dramatically intense action in 'Troy': the first great battle before the walls of Troy, the early morning battle on the beach when the Trojans try to drive away the Greeks, and the heart pumping fight scene between Hector and Achilles. This film also delivers touching romance of forbidden love and comitment. This is only one of the many great motion pictures by director Wolfgang Peterson. But it is my favorite of his work. Whether on DVD or Blu-Ray, 'Troy' Director's Cut is a must-own film with a lot of excellent extra footage and must-see special features.
Better Version of an Already Great Movie
2009-11-04 - If you've seen the theatrical release of this movie, you already know how great it is. The director's cut only builds on that by showing you more in depth plot and character development along with a lot of great extras. If you're anything like me when it comes to movies like Troy, seeing all the extras is what makes it all worth it. The director's cut truly shines with the amount of special content that comes included. If you really want to see all of the hard work that was put into this movie and how much time the actors/director actually put into making such an epic tale, than this is the version for you!
Troy
2009-10-07 - This feature is way better than the dvd, very crisp picture and off the wall sound. Go get it.
A very good epic
2009-09-24 - Most people blamed this movie for the shallowness of the characters, but they are not shallow, they are God driven... It's true that as the gods are omitted in the film Helen appears as a brainless woman determined to trigger a war for love: she is not Aphrodite promised Paris he would have her. Some say that Paris is a spoiled brat who should have been killed: he has grown far from his family and was only found back recently, that's why they are all so glad to have him (moreover Paris is not supposed to be a nice man just because Orlando bloom is famous...). The absence of Gods had numerous effects, it is not obvious for people who do not know the iliad that Achille has reasons to be so scornful, that Paris and Helen had no choice. People think that Agamemnon is a tyrant ready to invade any part of the world for any reason: he is only Menelas' brother and leader of the kings who have all sworn to protect the couple Menelas/ Helen There are some details that really do not fit in the original story (the way Odysseus convinces Achille to come, the death of Achille...) but it's an adaptation of a book six time as long as LOTR, and including a cast of famous actors that do not like to die stupidly and cowardly... In my opinion it is a very good film, though there are some discrepancies with the Illiad. Those who say that they didn't like the characters miss the point cos the characters are mainly as they should be. Moreover I think that those who do not know, quite well, the Illiad can not appreciate the movie as they should, cos they do not know the ins and outs. And they have not dreamed of troy all their childhood. In an historical point of view, I think that the crew did good research works for the setting, costumes and weapons; especially for the Trojan cos there are not so much relics existing.
