Alexander

Alexa · 11-29-2004, 03:42 AM

Did anyone see "Alexander" yet ? I've just got back from the cinema and I cannot make up my mind if it's a good or a bad movie. My first impression is to put it in to a middle position : not really bad, but not good either. It makes me think at Cleopatra, but with less taste for decoration.

The casting was not bad. I liked Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie's interpretation.

I, Brian · 11-29-2004, 09:28 AM

I've not seen a single film at cinema yet - so I'm hoping to make sure that this is the one. I was sort of hoping for something on the old 60's epic scale. Maybe I should blank out all comments and reviews and try and see it fresh?

Alexa · 11-30-2004, 03:24 AM

Brian, I know Alexander is your favorite. So, please ignore my bad comments and go to see it. The movie has good parts, too. The landscapes cut your breath. There are a lot of maps, as the empire grows and I'm sure they are authentic. The musis is not bad. The casting is good. I didn't recognize first Anthony Hopkins. Only his voice told me I knew him. I'm not sure what his role is : a scribe, a priest or an historian. Angelina Jolie impressed me in her role as a witch. Val Kildmar' interpretation was interesting. You can see determination in Alexander as a child. And you can see his thirst of glory later.

Just don't forget to tell me what your impressions are, whenever you have the chance to see it.

erickad71 · 11-30-2004, 04:27 AM

I haven't seen this one yet, I'm not sure if I'm ready to see Colin Ferrel in a bad, blonde mullet.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer play Alexander's parents?

Alexa · 11-30-2004, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erickad71

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer play Alexander's parents?

You are right. Not a very happy family. Stone underlined Alexander as momy's son.

I just want to add I know finally who was Hopking's character : Ptolomey Soter. I guess I have failed on this history lesson.

"I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity." (Alexander The Great )

I, Brian · 11-30-2004, 01:18 PM

If I remember right, Ptolemy was one of the generals (an old bloke, too) - after Alexander died, he took the kingdom of Egypt for himself - his dynasty only falling with the suicide of Cleopatra VII when Octavian/Augustus came after her.

Alexa · 12-01-2004, 05:34 AM

Well, the movie began with him dictating to a scribe the life of Alexander. The scene was funny for me. Ptlolemy walks in his palace and the scribe follows him everywhere writing all the time. Another slave is close to the scribe with the ink-pot. I couldn't help myself and I associated the life of that slave carring the ink-pot and the life nowadays.

Lacedaemonian · 12-01-2004, 10:34 AM

Ptolemy, like all of Alexanders friends became a satrap - and eventually divided his empire amongst themselves.

Parmenion was executed by Alexander, as his son had apparently plotted to assasinate the Great one. Still makes me sad.

12-01-2004, 11:29 AM

Wasn't there a stink amongst Greeks about Alexander being prtrayed as bisexual? The films isn't out here so I can't be certain, but a silly thing to get irate about. I'm looking forward to it and hoping Lurhman's version isn't as schzophrenic as all his other offerings.

Leto · 12-01-2004, 11:47 AM

If i understood correctly what was said on TV this morning, Greeks blame on historical mistakes (as Alexander bisexualty, although it was already a rumor among Latin historians) to boycott the movie. As they did with Troy and Hercules by Walt disney (the latter I can understand, it's full of confusions and mistakes about the myth).

Anyway, Hollywood is not the best historical source, and it's not its job.