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Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox ... see more see more... , Sean Bean , Brendan Gleeson , Saffron Burrows , Peter O'Toole , Julie Christie , Rose Byrne , Garrett Hedlund , John Shrapnel , Nathan Jones , James Cosmo , Julian Glover , Vincent Regan , Trevor Eve , Tyler Mane , Ken Bones , Nigel Terry , Mark Lewis Jones , Alex King , Jordi Casares , Jacob Smith , Adoni Maropis , Manuel Cauchi , Siri Svegler , Lucie Barat , Owain Yeoman , Luke Tal , Matthew Tal , Louis Dempsey , Joshua Richards , Tim Chipping , Desislava Stefanova , Tanja Tzarovska , Richard Ryan

Homer's sprawling tale of love and war in ancient Greece comes to the screen in all its grandeur in this epic-scale adventure. In 1193 B.C., Paris, Prince of Troy (Orlando Bloom), has fallen in love; ... read more read more...however, the beautiful woman who has beguiled him is Helen, Queen of Sparta (Diane Kruger), who is wed to King Menelaus (Brendan Gleeson). While Helen is hardly immune to Paris' charms, this doesn't blunt Menelaus' fury when Paris steals her away from him. Menelaus' brother Agamemnon (Brian Cox), the power-hungry king of the Mycenaeans, is eager to expand his empire through Troy to the lands of the Aegean Sea, and he uses Paris' romantic slight against Menelaus as an excuse to wage an all-out war against the great walled city. Priam, King of Troy (Peter O'Toole), summons his armies, led by Prince Hector (Eric Bana), to meet the onslaught of Agamemnon's forces, but while the great city has yet to yield in a battle, Agamemnon has a formidable ally -- Achilles (Brad Pitt), a mighty and seemingly unstoppable warrior whose presence could tip the scales in Agamemnon's favor. Sean Bean, Julie Christie, Saffron Burrows, and Rose Byrne highlight the film's supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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74% liked it

740,685 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

222 critics

DVD Release Date: January 4, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (49,457)


  • April 18, 2012
    Based on Homer's The Iliad, one of the most famous tale's ever told, Troy has all the usual Hollywood epic ingredients; an American hero with bulging biceps sporting an odd accent, a supporting cast of British character actors who routinely show him up (especially Peter O'Toole w... read moreho brings some real humanity to his somewhat underwritten role) and a soundtrack of the usual faux-folk warbling and penny whistles that seem to mean "ye olden days" to US audiences. Brian Cox is actually pretty good fun as the megalomaniacal king and Orlando Bloom's fresh faced vulnerability that I find usually compromises him in leading roles actually works to his advantage here. To be honest, all the characters are really just stereotypical "heroes" with little insight or depth but it has a sense of spectacle that reminded me of the similar old school historical adventures that pleasantly pass rainy Sunday afternoons. The fact is your enjoyment of this film is entirely dependent on whether or not you can swallow Brad Pitt as an ancient Greek hero and I have to say as ridiculous a casting choice it was, he does bring a hell of a lot of presence to the screen. It's no Gladiator, but compared to dim-witted trash like Clash Of The Titans it's a masterpiece.
  • September 14, 2011
    Troy is loved by the public, and I respect that, but as a film lover I did not find it as entertaining as everyone else. The storyline was boring in my opinion and easily forgettable. The cast was a bunch of actors girls can sweat for and thats pretty much it. The action scene... read mores are great, i will admit that, much just action doesn't make a good film. Troy can be loved by everyone for all I care, I just did not like it very much.
  • August 31, 2011
    Oklahoman Brad Pitt as Greek war hero? I didn't want to believe it, but given the medium he does quite well in this famous story done Hollywood style. O'Toole adds gravitas, Bana com-Pitt-tition (muscle for muscle), Cox is nicely disagreeable, Gleeson unrecognizable under a bea... read morerd, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all. For once, too, I did not need my Cliff Notes to know how it would end.
  • August 25, 2011
    One word - long. Now I know I am a chick so movies like this aren't specifically made for me, but really did it HAVE to be THAT long? Nevertheless, it was a pretty good movie, even if it did take me a million attempts to watch.
  • August 22, 2011
    This movie has been treated rather unfairly by people comparing it to the story of Homer's Iliad and / or reducing it to the attractive pieces of men flesh inhabiting this epic. It has so much more to offer, despite of the possible historical inaccuracies. There is some great act... read moreing, Bana, O'Toole and Bean stand out in an all around fantastic cast. There are great dialoges that have a lot of true things to say about war, universally true over all ages. There is great cinematography, art work and design, the movie is extremely gorgeous to look at, the Trojan horse turned out particularly pretty. The epic battles are really impressive and the one on one fights very nicely choreographed. The 30 minutes longer director's cut offers even more of everything: more blood, nudity, character development and especially blood. Nothing for the faint-hearted and maybe a bit too long but just as satisfying and impressing as the cinematic release. Epic Hollywood movie making at its best.
  • fb729949618
    July 31, 2011
    fb729949618
    Along with Wedding Crashers, this is my favorite movie and probably will be for many years to come. The scores on RT don't do this movie any justice, and I wouldn't go by them at all; I usually agree with RT, but not here. The drama, the fighting scenes, everything in the movie ... read moreis very real and very good.
  • May 13, 2011
    Homer's The Iliad is the basis of this film and wether or not the actual Trojan War took place or not this film actually does the story/fable much justice with its glorious and lavish looks. For me the mystery behind this ancient Greek plot is all the more intriguing and boosts m... read morey favour for the film, from what I see and have read Petersen's film is quite accurate to what we know of the event, everything seems to play out as it should and there doesn't appear to be much Hollywood tomfoolery going on with the details, well not too much.

    One Slight argument could be raised about a minor detail, Achilles relationship to Patroclus is not known for sure where as here they are cousins. As for some other bigger issues...King Agamemnon wasn't killed in Troy but returned to Greece, Paris did actually die in Troy during the war and Helen of Troy may was suppose to have been taken back to Sparta, so alittle artistic license used it seems but not too bad, why it was done that way I don't know.

    As for the film...well it looks gorgeous, the location work really sets this up beautifully as everything looks a soft sandy golden colour against the piercing blue Aegean Sea although not actually filmed against the Aegean Sea. The Walls of Troy are powerful and impressive looking as the Greeks attack them throughout, the battles are huge with vast channels of warriors facing off against the city walls and each other, some excellent battle sequences I assure you. The scope of the battles is probably the best aspect of the film really, allot of historical films have good battles in them these days but you really get a sense of size here plus its all in broad daylight so its gotta look sharp.

    The look, the costumes, the sets and the battles can't be faulted but unfortunately one thing lets all this down badly and that's the casting, pretty much every member of the cast is a bad choice and doesn't fit the bill atall, harsh but true. Brian Cox as Agamemnon is far too much of a villain in the film and practically hams it up..you'd think he was in the next ''Die Hard' flick! Gleeson looks the part but his Irish-ness keeps coming through...he's in the wrong time period and army and Pitt simply can't act too well I'm afraid, always his major downfall and he looks too buff and pretty for the part really which takes away a sense of realism.
    Bana really puts in a poor show here for some reason, I just didn't feel the power he should have, the emotion just wasn't there plus his Aussie accent kept creeping in, the same for Bean with his Yorkshire accent which isn't covered atall!! so you have King Odysseus with a Sheffield/Yorkshire accent for Christ's sake! Then you have the very weak talented Bloom who somehow manages to keep getting cast in big films, yes he looks perfect for this role but he simply can't handle the weight of this type of epic film. Lastly we have the mighty Peter O' Toole who again like other cast members just doesn't seem to have the power or weight needed for the role, he came across as tired and almost reluctant to embrace the role, a stunning actor for sure but he didn't seem right here.

    Its a damn fine film to take on Homers ancient poem but I just wish Petersen had used a cast that wasn't simply chosen for their big name status at the time, I would of thought he had more sense than that and as a result he lets down this film which could of been truly epic in every aspect.
  • April 23, 2011
    (This is a review of the Director's Cut of Troy, which is significantly longer, more brutal, and better overall than the theatrical version. There's more time for character development and the battles are much more intense. It's definitely the version to watch.)

    Troy plays fast ... read moreand loose with history and Greek Mythology, but it ends up being a pretty entertaining movie, as a result. And really, isn't that the point?

    Yes, Brad Pitt as Achilles and Orlando Bloom as Paris are direct and blatant ploys to get butts in theater seats, but they're certainly not bad. The hodgepodge of accents can be a distraction, but the cast is likable (Sean Bean as Odysseus was a favorite of mine) and there are equal parts drama and epic battles to keep a wide audience satisfied. Lots of blood, noble, lusty heroes, beautiful women, and a pretty spectacular take on the ultimate fall of Troy.

    This movie doesn't quite reach the heights of the best movies in the genre, but it mostly achieves what it sets out to do: put a fresh take on one of the oldest and most famous stories of war.
  • April 4, 2011
    No wonder why I hate historical type of movies -_-
    Boring.
  • December 20, 2010
    Torn torn torn... 1) I LOVE me some Orlando Bloom. 2) I don't love me some Brad Pitt. Especially in war-period. That's really not what he is good at. 3) I thought it was fairly accurate to parts of the Iliad. 4) Holy hell, Diane Kruger is pretty. 5) I LOVE me some Orlando Bloom.
    ... read moreOkay, and I really liked the CGI (and that is a rare comment from me indeed) and the fight scene between Hector and Achilles was AWESOME. Great choreography.
    4 stars is a toughie rating for me. I might change it later upon review.

Critic Reviews


Peter Rainer
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

A fairly routine action picture with an advanced case of grandeuritis. Full Review

David Denby
August 1, 2004
David Denby, New Yorker

Harsh, serious, and both exhilarating and tragic, the right tonal combination for Homer.

Stanley Kauffmann
June 23, 2004
Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic

The latest in a very long line of films made to give us those things that other mediums could not provide.

Rex Reed
May 20, 2004
Rex Reed, New York Observer

It's massive, opulent, passionate and -- unlike most summer time-wasters -- surprisingly intelligent. Full Review

Richard Roeper
May 17, 2004
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

... several of the scenes are just some of the best battle scenes I've seen in a long time. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
May 15, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Troy isn't so much a simplified retelling of The Iliad as a re-imagined version of it, told wholly without imagination. Full Review

Peter Howell
May 14, 2004
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Solid entertainment, true to the '50s formalism that so inspires its grand production design, ornate costumes, proverbial cast of thousands and sometimes painfully earnest dialogue. Full Review

David Edelstein
May 14, 2004
David Edelstein, Slate

Often plays like what it is: a clunky toga-and-sandals picture, with Hollywood compromises abounding. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
May 14, 2004
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

All Hollywood and no Homer, but within its limits, it's a vigorous, entertaining movie. Full Review

Joe Baltake
May 14, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Petersen has made an action epic for grown-ups -- the kind we haven't seen for, oh, 40 years. Full Review

View more Troy reviews

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Facts


    • Achilles: You sack of wine!
    • Odysseus: You don't fear anyone. That's your problem. Fear is useful.
    • Achilles: Myrmidons! My brothers of the sword! I would rather fight beside you than any army of thousands! Let no man forget how menacing we are! We are lions! Do you know what's there, waiting beyond that beach? Immortality! Take it! It's yours!
    • Thetis: If you stay in Larissa, you will find peace. You will find a wonderful woman, and you will have sons and daughters, who will have children. And they'll all love you and remember your name. But when your children are dead, and their children after them, your name will be forgotten... If you go to Troy, glory will be yours. They will write stories about your victories in thousands of years! And the world will remember your name. But if you go to Troy, you will never come back... for your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom. And I shall never see you again.
    • Achilles: You gave me peace in a lifetime of war.
    • Achilles: There are no pacts between lions and men. [stabs spear into ground, and takes off helmet, throwing it to the side]

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Troy Trivia


  • Which actor played the role of 'Paris' in the 2004 blockbuster, 'Troy' ?  Answer »
  • What 2 actors star together in Black Hawk Down and Troy   Answer »
  • This actor has battled in Middle earth and Troy. He has also visited Elizabethtown and sailed on The Black Pearl - who is he?   Answer »
  • In what movie did Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom and Brat Pitt star in?  Answer »

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