Alexander
Today I watched one of the most awaited films of the year- Alexander. The film's director was Oliver Stone, and Colin Farrell was the main actor. Initially, I wasn't looking forward to watching it because Oliver Stone is known for directing slow and difficult films. At the same time, I've never been a big fan of Colin Farrell. However, once the film started rolling, I found myself slowly seduced by the movie until my mind was transported to a different time and place altogether.
Alexander begins with the death of one of the greatest rulers history has ever known. Quickly, the movie moves forward 40 years later when Ptolemy, who now rules Alexandria (Egypt), decides to tell his story of Alexander to one of the scribes in the great library of Alexandria. He begins his story with Alexander's childhood in Macedonia, where he grows up in a world full of violence under the influence of his overbearing mother Olympias. What saves him from becoming a complete brainless barbarian is that he becomes one of the students of Aristotle. Later on, we see his rise to power upon the death of his father. The thing is, Alexander is not content with becoming a strong ruler in his own land. He begins to dream of ruling the entire known world. This drives him to invade Persia and many other smaller kingdoms along the way. His ambitions become his life's meaning and his military campaigns bring him as far as India. He braves all sort of disasters, both natural and man-made, all for the sake of finding the edge of the world. Who knows how much more land he would have conquered had he not suddenly died at the age of 32?
I loved a lot of things about the movie. The story was riveting and never dragged unnecessarily. The battle scenes were quite awesome, especially the one set in Gaugamel.I have to say though, it was still nothing compared to the Battle of Pellenor Fields in Return of the King, but it does come in a close second. Colin Farrell was a great choice to play this very complex character. He manages to make the myth a human being without losing the essence of what made him a legend in the first place. Forget that horrible movie Troy. I'm betting this is the one that will be nominated next year for the Oscars. I'm definitely watching this film again a few more times over the next 2 weeks and I'll probably get the original DVD when it's released next year.
Alexander begins with the death of one of the greatest rulers history has ever known. Quickly, the movie moves forward 40 years later when Ptolemy, who now rules Alexandria (Egypt), decides to tell his story of Alexander to one of the scribes in the great library of Alexandria. He begins his story with Alexander's childhood in Macedonia, where he grows up in a world full of violence under the influence of his overbearing mother Olympias. What saves him from becoming a complete brainless barbarian is that he becomes one of the students of Aristotle. Later on, we see his rise to power upon the death of his father. The thing is, Alexander is not content with becoming a strong ruler in his own land. He begins to dream of ruling the entire known world. This drives him to invade Persia and many other smaller kingdoms along the way. His ambitions become his life's meaning and his military campaigns bring him as far as India. He braves all sort of disasters, both natural and man-made, all for the sake of finding the edge of the world. Who knows how much more land he would have conquered had he not suddenly died at the age of 32?
I loved a lot of things about the movie. The story was riveting and never dragged unnecessarily. The battle scenes were quite awesome, especially the one set in Gaugamel.I have to say though, it was still nothing compared to the Battle of Pellenor Fields in Return of the King, but it does come in a close second. Colin Farrell was a great choice to play this very complex character. He manages to make the myth a human being without losing the essence of what made him a legend in the first place. Forget that horrible movie Troy. I'm betting this is the one that will be nominated next year for the Oscars. I'm definitely watching this film again a few more times over the next 2 weeks and I'll probably get the original DVD when it's released next year.
posted by wilgefortis @ 3:59 AM
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