Troy Film Review

The movie Troy (2004) was based on the stories told within the Iliad written 3200 years ago. The story is a tale of one mans greed versus the land loving, pride fighting Troy army. Troy seemed to be outnumbered, but their faith in the gods, and the love of their own country helped them stand up strong against the enormous Greek army. With the kings' son, Hector a great war hero and powerful leader, the Troy army had seemed unbeatable. They were a very advanced and healthy city, protected by giant walls that stretched all around the city, making it nearly impossible for an army of this period to break it down. They were also protected by the Aegean Sea, since there city was located about a mile from the shores. Greece's best chance of attack was by crossing this sea. The Greek's were a loose unity of kingdoms that were all controlled by Agamemnon, a greedy dictator who craved power and land.

When a war film is created to tell a story of a certain time period, it is supposed to portray what war was like during that time in history. We will see that the story of the Iliad does not quite reflect what historians believe was the style of fighting during this time. Historians believe that the Greeks' were team workers when in war. Not one man was supposed to stand out among the rest. The armies used such fighting styles as the phalanx. This was a formation of about twenty men, who all lined up in a Ð''V' like unity with shields up and spears facing out. As the phalanx marched forward, they would trample over the opposing army, or break off with swords blazing. The movie does portray one event where the phalanx is used. Within the story of Troy, there are many acts of individual heroism. Let's take a better look at the story told in the film Troy.

In the beginning of the film they explain what was going on during the time of Greece. The king of Mycenae had forced the kingdoms of Greece into a loose alliance. Only Thessaly had remained unconquered. Agamemnon's brother Menelaus, king of Sparta is tired of battle. He decides to make peace with Troy. Achilles is considered the greatest warrior ever born. He fights for the Greek army, but detests Agamemnon and his greed for power. Achilles fights for himself and for the embedment of his name into history. The first scene is in Thessaly, Greece. The weapons used during this time were spears and swords, with some archery. The men wore heavy mail armor with fancy engravings in the body armor. They also used cavalry and some chariots. The movie matches up exactly to what was actually used during that time. Before battle, the two king's talk, and decide to have there best warriors fight. Achilles is late for battle and somewhat embarrasses the Mycenae king. No one disobeyed a king, even if they were a great warrior. Achilles defeats the giant man of Thessaly. This act of individualism was unlikely during this time period.

While Thessaly is being handed down, on the south side of Greece, Sparta is making a treaty with Troy. The prince's of Troy came to visit to make peace with Menelaus. While Prince Hector and Prince Paris are at the kingdom, Paris falls deeply in love with Helen. Helen is the wife of king Menelaus, but this doesn't stop Paris from showing his love for her. Paris convinces the beautiful Helen to come back to Troy with him to become a princess of Troy. This is where the war begins. Menelaus unites with his brother and the battle of the century begins.

The Greeks send 1,000 ships across the ocean to destroy Troy. The ships are very narrow and carry about fifty to one hundred men. They row the boats with long paddles, which was a typical ship style in during this time. Achilles leads the fight for the shore of Troy. He manages to get his ship ahead of all the others, and takes on the Troy army with only fifty men. When they get of their boat, they form a phalanx to protect them selves from the archer's arrows. When they break off, it is all sword play and battle with spears. The beach of Troy had been taken. Achilles had a chance to kill Hector, but decides it is too early in the war to kill him.

All though the beach was now the Greeks, Troy still had faith in Hector and the gods of Troy. Briseis, the kings' niece is now a captive to Achilles. She quickly falls for him, but hates what he is. Achilles love Briseis and her pure beauty and charm.

The next battle is at the walls of Troy. Paris, who is a week leader and fighter, decides to take on Helen's husband. Paris thinks that his battle will end the war, but he doesn't realize that the war is not about Helen anymore. In battle, Paris gets cut once and quickly crawls away to hold his brother. Menelaus is enraged in this dishonorable incident and tries to kill Paris at the knees of his brother Hector. Hector stabs Menelaus, which kills him instantly. The battle then begins. This battle is an all out brawl. Hector manages to organize his troops better, and defeats Agamemnon quickly. Hector tells his messenger that the Greeks can come back for their dead. This was an honorable act of war during the time of the Greeks, also when there men die; they place coins on their soldiers and burn their bodies. Religion had a lot to do with both the Greeks and