Alexander (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Unfairly treated, 2010-07-20
Since its release Alexander has being subjected to an almost universal panning by the critics. br /Total Film opens by claiming it may be "the comedy of the year". br /Attitude called it dull. Hotdog (gone out of business now) seemed to think it was just O.K. br /What I found the most intriguing of all of the reviews I read is that no-one has attacked the film on its historical accuracy, or lack thereof. Historically Alexander is a bit of a mess, for example it is strongly believed that both Alexander and Olympias were responsible for the assassination of King Phillip as had he lived Alexander would not have inherited the throne or possibly even survived The battle of Guagamela was in fact the third battle between Alexander and Darius, and all three were fought with rivers between the armies making Alexander's victories all the more impressive. Alexander was injured in India, but not in a jungle but in the walled city of Malli. This may seem like nit picking but in fact had we seen the real battles and strategies that were employed the moniker Alexander the great would seem much more fitting. This was a man who laid siege to the island fortress of Tyre and by building a causeway from the coast succeeded in taking it in a few months, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon lay siege to this same city for thirteen years and eventually gave up. For me these were where the film fell down. But even these details did not stop my enjoyment of the film. br /This for me was a film not about a great warrior king who fought wars and conquered nations, it is a blood stained love song to Hephaestion his childhood friend and constant companion. I have heard constant criticism of Stone in that you never see this love consummated, I disagree, throughout the film there are moments between these two men that are so intimate and loving as to transcend sex, in fact the sex act as portrayed in the film is unpleasant and violent, we see Phillip brutally sodomise a young man, Alexander virtually raping his wife and even a kiss between Alexander and a dancing youth is aggressive and angry, sex in this film is never loving and intimate, it is like the battles, obsessed with power. The relationship between the two men in the film is one of mutuality and devotion and I think this is really where a lot of the negative press springs from, I believe had there been a big sex scene between the men it would hardly have registered or we would have had reviews praising the bravery of Farrell and Leto and all sorts of Oscar talk, however two men looking into each others eyes and talking of love is even more frightening and threatening than a quick shag and back to the killing. br /For me Alexander is a flawed masterpiece, the score was by the numbers. And some of the dialogue was overblown and grandiose, but to call it dull or comedic is to miss the point. br /

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They cut stuff!, 2010-06-09
I rented the movie, I liked it, and I figured the Director's Cut would just add more awesomeness to the whole experience..... instead everything moves slightly faster, they must have cut a minute here and a minute there, a few seconds here and a few more there, so it would "move faster".. WTF? since when does a Director's Cut remove material?????????? well, now I guess, what a rip off. br / br /

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

An excellent revisit, 2010-05-02
For those who saw the first version and this version, its like night and day! The revisit shows a lot more alternate character development then the first. You get to see and hear everything clearer being blu ray and all so in my opinion 10 out 10!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Colin Colin Colin...where for art thou?, 2010-04-11
I watched the first version of this movie and found this one to be more complete. I appreciate that Mr. Stone did not turn history around to please the straight world. This is the copy to own.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Lots of history, 2010-04-02
There is a lot of history and myths in this movie. It is very long. It was okay.