 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 13834
Released: August 12, 2003 |
| Our Price: $8.01 |
| Used Price: $6.49 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
One of the most epic adventure stories of all time comes powerfully to life in this original four-hour epic-series. Filmed in exotic locales with an international cast and featuring state-of-the-art special effects, Helen of Troy depicts one of the greatest battles ever fought to win the love of the world's most beautiful woman. Though married to Menelaus, King of Sparta, Helen (Sienna Guillory) falls madly in love with Paris (Matthew Marsden) a handsome Trojan prince. Together, the lovers flee to Troy, where they are given safe haven by Paris' father, King Priam (John Rhys-Davies). Bent on bringing Helen back, the king's ruthless brother Agememnon (Rufus Sewell) leads the skilled Spartan army to the shores of the fabled city. There the Greeks lay siege to Troy, thus beginning one of history's most legendary wars which would ultimately decide the destinies of two empires.
Helen of Troy Reviews:
Better than "Troy" with Brad and Orli 
2008-09-01 - This is the best telling of the story of the downfall of Troy that I have ever watched... including that blockbuster "Troy" which starred Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom. It may not be as visually stunning as that high-budget version, but it does an amazing job telling a lot more of the legend. It starts out with Paris's birth and continues all the way through to the end of the war (though, thankfully most of the war years are breazed over in a few minutes). :)
This is a great two part mini series. When it aired on TV a few years ago, I taped it on my VCR and I have since then worn it out watching it over and over again, so I am extatic that this DVD is available.
I highly recommend it!
Great Deal! 
2008-06-18 - Im glad.it was just was i been wishing for since a long time!!! the delivery was great and everthg cool! thanks
First part excellent, second part lacking. 
2008-04-26 - The first part of the party is beautiful, I think one gets a real sense of the story of Helen ( a very attractive) Sienna Guillory, a beautiful child bride, full of life and youthful passion, forced into marriage by an emotionally abusive father in a loveless marriage to King Menelaus of Sparta (James Callis), and the scene where she is paraded naked in front of Menelaus' cronies shows something of what she really was- a beautiful pawn of powerful and selfish, usually ruthless men, although Menelaus will later show to Helen the gentler more merciful side of his character.
The prophecy of Cassandra (Emilia Fox) from the beginning is very powerful, Bettina Paris is also phenomenal in the beginning of the movie as the young Cassandra, and I cannot fault he elopement of Paris (Matthew Marsden) with Helen, indeed it is done in a powerfully romantic way.
Agamemnon is portrayed perfectly by Rufus Sewell as the greedy, ruthless, scheming, power-hungry villain.
The portrayal of Helen and her fate is in my opinion faultless, but the story of the actual Trojan War is butchered beyond recognition.
Achilles (Joe Montana) was not Agamemnon's mindless goon, and it actually quite ironic him killing Hector (Daniel Lapaine) as a tribute to Agamemnon. Achilles hated Agamemnon and had refused to fight for him, he killed Hector as revenge for Hector slaying in battle Achilles cousin Patroclus (not mentioned in this film).
The entire characters of Achilles and Hector are completely warped, with Hector being reduced to a paltry minor entity.
The movie is somewhat redeemed at the end by the slaying of Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra (Katie Blake) at the end of the movie, in revenge for Agamemnon's sacrifice of their little daughter and his rape of Helen, as well as Menelaus' mercy and forgiveness of Helen.
Like the Wolfgang Petersen 2004 version Troy, there are aspects that are both stunning and that take too many liberties.
It is however a visual feast and has a good and compelling story flow.
Trojan Dream 
2008-04-15 - And what woman wouldn't dream to be the Helen of this Troy? This is the BEST of all the Troy movies out there. Superb! Every woman would take the leap she does in this movie. What a scene!
A complete abomination 
2007-11-12 - I'm not going to waste time specifying the reasons why all extant copies of this movie should be thrown into a gigantic crater and covered over with cement. Suffice it to say that "Helen of Troy" is garbage. In the casting, the special effects, the acting, the script, the lack of dramatic tension, the perversion of the original story, this movie was in every imaginable way a failure. Do not- I repeat- do NOT expend your money or precious moments watching this movie. Read the Iliad- the definitive Trojan War movie has not yet been made.