In terms of historical accuracy, Troy is probably on par with Van Helsing. But for balancing intimate stories with spectacular battles in an old-school-sized epic, it's closer to Gladiator.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 7, 2023

... it’s hard to take the cataclysmic events of this ancient war seriously, as it is entirely predicated on an unconvincing romantic gesture of a prince with the impulse control of a spoiled brat and the political consideration of a cat in heat.

Full Review | Jul 5, 2022

Petersen puts an effects-generated, action-film spin on the Trojan War, focusing on spectacle rather than emotional nuance. While this undermines acting opportunities by downplaying personalities, it works on a popcorn entertainment level.

Full Review | Aug 11, 2021

With all the over-the-top costumes and sets, it looks more like a television movie of the week than a big summer event flick.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 5, 2019

The real problem with Petersen and Benioff's reductive ideological updating of the epic story they tell is organic, not pedantic: the "realism" they've opted for goes against the grain of the genre they're working in.

Full Review | Aug 20, 2018

Brad is worth the ticket price alone and others turned in creditable performances, particularly Eric Bana as an upright family man who just happens to be the prince of a warlike city-state, and Sean Bean as Odysseus the Ironic.

Full Review | Jan 9, 2018

overblown historical epic

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jan 17, 2016

An adaptation of The Iliad that would have had to work much harder to miss the point of The Iliad any more thoroughly.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Dec 4, 2014

Violent, watered-down version of The Iliad.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 29, 2010

While an achievement in visuals, Troy fails in every other aspect including its writing and storytelling.

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

Despite its shortcomings, Troy is a visual smorgasbord.

Full Review | Oct 18, 2008

The face-off between Achilles and Hector is beautifully realized, all the more wounding because we can precisely read each man's emotions going into the fight.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Aug 5, 2007

It's coherent at least. But only barely. Its special effects are pretty, and it has a cool soundtrack (though it's over-used). But boy is the writing terrible. I mean, terrible.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4 | Jul 14, 2007

All the cast members, even Mr. Pitt, adopt the obligatory British accent, sans contractions, employed by the historical drama genre, even though the action takes place in Ancient Greece.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | May 2, 2007

A numbingly reliable tick-tock of expository set pieces alternating with vast CGI-aided battle scenes.

Full Review | Jun 24, 2006

Troy condenses Homer's ten-year war into a couple of months.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 25, 2005

The battle of Troy takes the jump from history books to film with little consideration, disregarding the story's historical accuracy and failing to entertain audiences with the kind of flashy battle sequences the summer season demands.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 5, 2005

Aside from being the first Hair Movie of the year, Troy also claims the prize of being the first Get Your Fat Butt to the Gym Movie of the year.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 1, 2005

'A valiant but doomed affair, as carefully constructed -- and ultimately as hollow -- as the Trojan Horse itself.'

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 22, 2005

It's no classic but Troy does prove to be a damn good film overall.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 14, 2005