TROY (2004) - The Movie

September 19, 2023

A Brief on the Movie - TROY

Troy is a 2004 epic historical war film directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff. Produced by units in Malta, Mexico and Britain's Shepperton Studios, the film features an ensemble cast led by Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom.

It is loosely based on Homer's Iliad in its narration of the entire story of the decade-long Trojan War—condensed into little more than a couple of weeks, rather than just the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon in the ninth year.

Achilles leads his Myrmidons along with the rest of the Greek army invading the historical city of Troy, defended by Hector's Trojan army. The end of the film (The Sack of Troy) is not taken from the Iliad, but rather from Quintus Smyrnaeus's Posthomerica, as the Iliad concludes with Hector's death and funeral.

Troy made over $497 million worldwide, making it the 60th highest-grossing film at the time of its release. However, it received mixed reviews, with critics praising its entertainment value and the performances of Pitt and Bana while criticizing its story, which was deemed unfaithful to the Iliad. It received a nomination for Best Costume Design at the 77th Academy Awards and was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2004.

Synopsis of the Movie - TROY

In 1250 B.C, King Agamemnon unites the Greek kingdoms. Achilles fights for Agamemnon but despises him due to his arrogance. Meanwhile, Prince Hector of Troy and his brother Paris negotiate a peace treaty with Menelaus, King of Sparta. Paris is having an affair with Menelaus' wife, Queen Helen, and smuggles her aboard his home-bound vessel.

Menelaus meets Agamemnon, his elder brother, and asks him to help take Troy. Agamemnon agrees, as conquering Troy would give him control of the Aegean Sea. Agamemnon gets Odysseus, King of Ithaca, to persuade Achilles to join them.

In Troy, King Priam welcomes Helen, and prepares for war. The Greeks invade with 50,000 men and take the Trojan beach, thanks largely to Achilles. Achilles has the temple of Apollo sacked, and claims Briseis - a priestess.........

Helen of Troy

The face that launched a thousand ships refers to Helen of Troy, describing the fact that a massive war was mounted on her behalf. Helen of Troy might also be called Helen of Sparta, as she was the wife of King Menelaus of Mycenaean Sparta.

Paris, Prince of Troy, stole her. As a result Menelaus led a war against Troy, resulting in Paris’ death and the rescue of Helen. Whether Helen wanted to be rescued is a matter for debate. Where history ends and mythology begins in this story is uncertain.

It is widely believed that the Trojan war actually occurred, but the existence of Helen of Troy is less certain. In any case, the romance of a stolen and retrieved bride has endured for centuries, as the term the face that launched a thousand ships was not coined until the turn of the seventeenth century. Christopher Marlowe referred to Helen of Troy this way in his The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus: “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships / And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?”

Today, the face that launched a thousand ships is still most often used to describe the unsurpassed beauty of Helen of Troy, though it may be used to describe the beauty of any woman.

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He is angered when Agamemnon spitefully takes her from him, and decides that he will not aid Agamemnon. The Trojans have assembled their entire army of 25,000 soldiers. General Glaucus has confidence in Troy's defenses and the skill of their soldiers; however others argue for diplomacy, prompting Paris to say he will challenge Menelaus for the right to Helen.

The armies meet outside the walls of Troy. Paris offers to fight Menelaus in exchange for Helen and the city being spared. Agamemnon, intending to take the city regardless, accepts. Menelaus wounds Paris, but is killed by Hector, who breaks the rules of combat to save his brother.

Agamemnon orders the Greeks to crush the outnumbered Trojan army, but thousands of Greek soldiers fall to the battle-hardened Trojan warriors. Agamemnon is forced to order the retreat. He gives Briseis to the Greek soldiers for their amusement, but Achilles saves her.

Later that night, Briseis sneaks into Achilles' quarters to kill him; instead, she falls for him and they become lovers. Achilles resolves to leave Troy, much to the dismay of Patroclus, his cousin.

Priam orders Hector to retake the beach. Hector leads the entire Trojan army there and engages the Greek army ; he fights a man he believes to be Achilles and kills him, only to discover it was actually Patroclus. The armies agree to stop fighting for the day.

Achilles is informed of Patroclus' death and vows revenge. Wary of Achilles, Hector shows his wife Andromache a tunnel beneath Troy, telling her that should he die and the city fall, she should take their child and any survivors out of the city.

The next day, Achilles arrives and challenges Hector; the two fight until Hector tires and is killed by a spear to the shoulder and a stab in the heart. Achilles attaches Hector's corpse to his chariot and drags him to the beach. Priam sneaks into the Greek camp and implores Achilles to return Hector's body for a proper funeral. Achilles agrees and allows Briseis to return to Troy with Priam, promising a twelve-day truce so that Hector's funeral rites may be held.

Agamemnon declares that he will take Troy regardless of the cost. Odysseus concocts a plan: the Greeks build a gigantic wooden horse as a peace offering and abandon the beach, hiding their ships nearby. The horse is brought into Troy. That night, Greeks hiding inside the horse emerge and open the city gates for the Greek army, beginning the Sack of Troy. The Trojan soldiers rouse themselves and attempt to defend the city but they are overwhelmed and massacred, while their families are taken as slaves or slaughtered.

As the lower city is being sacked, Andromache and Helen guide some Trojans to safety through the tunnel. Paris gives the Sword of Troy to Aeneas, instructing him to protect the Trojans and find them a new home. As the Greek army penetrates the palace grounds Glaucus leads the remaining Trojans in a valiant last stand. Agamemnon kills Priam and captures Briseis, who then fatally stabs Agamemnon.

Achilles fights his way through the city and reunites with Briseis. Paris, seeking to avenge his brother, shoots an arrow through Achilles' heel and then several into his body. Achilles bids farewell to Briseis, and while dying watches her flee with Paris.

In the aftermath, Troy is finally taken by the Greeks and a funeral is held for Achilles.