Great parallels in 'Alexander'
Margaret Eaton
Issue date: 9/16/05 Section: The Edge
The new movie seems to make itself too familiar to the public, meaning it tries too hard to look like something from daily life. This is a little too obvious when the Greek soldiers are called to attention in a way that is featured in all American war movies. Of course, the Greeks didn't do things like this. Also, Stone's film seems to have a few scenes that they pulled out of other movies. Alexander pacing on his horse in front of his troops before he fights the Persians and extolling them to think of freedom is a little too reminiscent of Mel Gibson's speech to the Scottish troops in "Braveheart" before the Battle of Stirling.
In the original movie there is a quotation taken almost exactly from the story of Christ's crucifixion. When Alexander finds a note from the Persian king after he has been killed, the last line reads, "Into your hands I commend my spirit," which I obviously further supports the idea that Alexander is a god.
The acting in both films is good with Angelina Jolie in the newer one turning in a very good performance as Olympias when she twists snakes around her wrists and tells Alexander of his conception by Zeus. The minor characters also are played well and it is a curious contrast to Alexander in the new movie that Philip is blind in one eye. In the old movie he was as strong as Alexander himself.
And then there is the question that comes to the viewer from the Philip of Macedonia in the old movie and seems to sum up both films, "What is an arm, or a leg or an eye for the sake of glory?"
In the original movie there is a quotation taken almost exactly from the story of Christ's crucifixion. When Alexander finds a note from the Persian king after he has been killed, the last line reads, "Into your hands I commend my spirit," which I obviously further supports the idea that Alexander is a god.
The acting in both films is good with Angelina Jolie in the newer one turning in a very good performance as Olympias when she twists snakes around her wrists and tells Alexander of his conception by Zeus. The minor characters also are played well and it is a curious contrast to Alexander in the new movie that Philip is blind in one eye. In the old movie he was as strong as Alexander himself.
And then there is the question that comes to the viewer from the Philip of Macedonia in the old movie and seems to sum up both films, "What is an arm, or a leg or an eye for the sake of glory?"
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