Brad Pitt’s Ancient Greek Epic Is the Perfect ‘Odyssey’ Replacement

When *Troy *was first released, it earned mixed reviews from both critics and general audiences, who criticized it for its bloated narrative and the many creative liberties it took with Homer’s original story. Some of those criticisms were earned, but if you watch the movie today, many of the qualities that once made the movie have an old-fashioned feel are now precisely what makes it refreshing.

While Homer’s Iliad focuses on the ensemble of characters, *Troy *centers itself around Achilles and his quest to carve his name into the stones of history. Rather than painting him as just the skilled warrior that he is, the movie makes his awareness of his mortality the defining trait of his character. On the other side of the coin is Eric Bana’s Hector, the leader of the Trojan military, who feels responsibility for not just himself, but his family and his country. It’s a more nuanced take on the conflict that most adaptations take, and gives Troy more complexity than its reputation as a sword-and-sandals blockbuster suggests. Achilles and the Greeks want history to remember them; Hector and the Trojans fight for those they love.

The presence of Odysseus in the film makes Troy especially interesting as a companion piece to Nolan’s The Odyssey. Both stories are filled with heroes, but their narratives serve as an interesting contrast in how they define heroism. Achilles is unbeatable in combat but struggles with understanding his own humanity, while Odysseus survives because he knows how to adapt and survive, not because he is the greatest warrior. Each character represents different aspects of who we consider to be a hero and what qualities we place the most emphasis on in a person.

Because of this, watching Troy after The Odyssey does more than provide viewers with another ancient Greek adventure to enjoy. It reveals a new and exciting corner of the same legendary world. Much of The Odyssey’s focus is on mythology and the destiny that the Greek gods had set humans on, and while Troy is more grounded, it shares the same fascination with fate and mortality. More than 20 years after the movie’s release, it remains a fun, if flawed, take on Greek mythology and what it means to be a hero.

For anyone looking to dive back into ancient Greece after watching The Odyssey, and spend a few more hours in the lands of Homer’s heroes, Troy remains one of the best places to go next.

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Wolfgang Petersen

Orlando Bloom

Eric Bana

Brian Cox