Characters:
Sienna Guillory as Helen
Matthew Marsden as Paris
Rufus Sewell as Agamemnon
John Rhys-Davies as King Priam of Troy
Maryam d'Abo as Queen Hecuba
Emilia Fox as Cassandra, Princess of Troy
James Callis as Menelaus
Daniel Lapaine as Hector
Nigel Whitmey as Odysseus
Stellan Skarsgård as Theseus
Joe Montana (actor) as Achilles
Katie Blake as Clytemnestra
Craig Kelly as Pollux
Manuel Cauchi as Paris' Father
Kristina Paris as Iphigenia
Running Time: 177 mins.
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| (c) Universal Studios |
The movie, Helen of Troy revolves around the journey of Paris way back home after he was sent away from empire because Cassandra foretold that he would someday be the reason Troy will burn and fall. He was then sent to Sparta as emissary and fall into most lustful and beautiful woman in the world, Helen, who went willingly with him to Troy. The Judgment of Paris (choosing the bribe of Aphrodite, to have the fairest woman in the world, Helen) became the reason why the famous Trojan War sprung between Troy and Sparta which lasted 10 years.
Menelaus, wanted to bring Helen back to Sparta so he seeks for partnership with his brother Agamemnon.
Not being portrayed in the film, Agamemnon took advantage for the "abduction" of Helen, Menelaus' wife. So he agreed to join forces with Menelaus to launch an attack to Troy with a enormous number of armies (50,000). Menelaus wanted to get laurels and bring his wife back but Agamemnon only wanted Troy. Greed was the value being flared by Agamemnon.
The film, Helen of Troy, from the title itself, The most beautiful and lustful woman in the world. I don't think that the role of Sienna Gullory (as Helen) fits to what the mythology is being described her. My opinion, Sienna got the charm and sexual appeal but there is a lack of internalization. But somehow, It keeps its spirit to the Homer's Iliad. It has really a lot differences compared to the latest movie "Troy". Helen of Troy is more somewhat detailed and understandable in its way. The sequence of events moves coherently and based on true essence of Homer's Iliad (it must be). Unlike in 'Troy', It incorporates the story of how Helen went to Menelaus after Theseus was killed. It also incorporates the participation of Gods (Hera, Athena and Aphrodite) which brought out the color of the story and the participation of Clytemnestra. It captures and embraces the actual event that happened long ago. It should have been better if they maximize the use the panoramic views of battle arenas so that audience can see how enormous the armies are long ago. The movie also used a wide array of modern sound effects which made every battles realistic and embraced to the true essence of mythology. The actors and actresses portrayed their role very well,especially to Agamemnon and Cassandra. The participation of Cassandra really gives me a hint what will happen next in the story after she foretold the future of Troy.
The love story between Paris and Helen is just like the quotation, "Love can move/break mountains". Their passionate love to one another is intense, they have a little awareness what will happen to the future of them, and the people of Troy. It deserves 7 stars out of 10. It is a movie that is worth watching for.
