I’m sure most people recall the movie Troy when it came out in 2004. It was one of those big, ancient pieces. And yes, while the event is based off an actual time in history, we must remember that it is most famous for Homer’s rendition of it in his very large book, The Iliad. The movie was entertaining and featured plenty of action and a tragic love story; heroes, bold and brave; and a marvelous movie score. However, it lacked a key element that would have made it very successful, and gone on to continue Homer’s work in The Odyssey. It was missing the gods!
If you’ve read the original epic, or have a basic grasp of Greek mythology, you will remember that the whole war did start over a woman. Three Greek goddesses were arguing over which one was the fairest: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. They went to the fairest man alive, Prince Paris of Troy. They asked him to be the judge, and each offered him a reward for choosing them. Hera offers him political power; Athena offers him victories in war; and Aphrodite offers him the most beautiful mortal woman. Paris turns Hera down because he is already a Prince of Troy; he turns Athena down because he prefers love making to war mongering; and he accepts Aphrodite because he is a man fooled by appearances (Helen is taken back by her husband and makes comments about her adulterous relationship with Paris in The Odyssey). He then steals Helen away from Menelaus, and flees to the safety of Troy. Menelaus goes to his brother, King Agamemnon, and together, they rally the soldiers of Greece. From there, the Greek gods take sides in the fight: Apollo, Ares, Aphrodite, and Artemis fighting with the Trojans; while Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hermes, and Hephaestus fought for the Greeks. Occasionally, Zeus would waggle a finger to aid this person or that, but he never took an official part or side.
The politics and drama between the gods would have added to the movie, making it grander. Also, it would have explained to those who did not know, the reason why Achilles was killed by an arrow to the heel. Just saying.
Another fact (which I mentioned above) is that it would have and should have led into The Odyssey, Homer’s tale of Odysseus’ long journey home. Sean Bean was basically narrating the movie, so it would have made sense for his character to get the spin off he deserved. The story of Odysseus’ road back to Ithaca is full of cunning and adventure and (yes) sex. He sleeps with the nymphs Circe and Calisto for pity’s sake! It would have been epic! Anyway, I’m going off an a tangent because I really wanted to see that, but he’s too old now (sh*t!). Anyway, that is why the movie, Troy, could have been better. If they had modeled it more after Homer’s work, rather than guess at the actual historical event.
And on that note, it’s been real!
It's Been Real! 