When I read about the Trojan War as depicted in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, I was curious to see how the blockbuster movie Troy compared to the original story. While the movie itself was an excellent example and didn’t stray too far from the original texts, as much as any movie could, it did change some of the originals. It could be done for fun or because of a lack of time, but whatever the reason, it’s still very well put together.
The Trojan War, as told in the history Trojan, was a huge battle between the Trojans and the Lacedaemonians. The story of the creation of the Trojan horses is included. Moreover, it is true that Paris killed the mighty and incorruptible Achilles. Paris was the same with Helen.
Also, people’s beliefs about gods and symbols in nature are important in the text and important in the film. The characters in the film believed that the gods brought them good or bad.
All this was true according to what was told by Homer, yet there are quite a few noticeable differences. For example, the war movie lasted only a few weeks, where as the Trojan War in the text was at least ten years.
Another example of the differences is how the war began. In the film, it is romantically depicted that Paris’s abduction of Helen is what sparked the war. In the text of Paris given Helen in judgment. Even before this whole event, Paris had married and left his wife Helen. While in the movie, Paris’s father and brother remember his love of running in his short life; previously the marriage is never mentioned.
The film is particularly notable for some key characters such as Diomendes. The lack of gods and their intervention is also important. While they are worshiped and respected, the original text is more involved in the whole process.
One of the biggest changes is the death of people compared to the text film. For example, Menelaus is killed by Hector in the movie, and eventually Helen runs away with Paris. The text reads: Menelaus survives the war and returns with Helen. They also live long and healthy life together
Agamemnon is not so happy. In the movie Briseis is killed, which never happens. He makes it home, but is killed by his own wife. This drastic change was very surprising to me, suitable for a Hollywood movie no doubt, but a major alteration from the text.
Among the biggest differences comes from the Trojan horse and the warrior Achilles included. In the movie, Achilles still rides the Trojan horse into the city and is later killed by Paris. This part is like a reverse text. Achilles was killed before the Trojan horse entered Troy and while Paris killed Achilles, an arrow was shot by the sun god Apollo. The Trojan horse himself was great; they had to fit within the walls of Troy.
For the movie, the search was made to feel. The places, the people, and the whole scene were placed almost as accurately as one could believe. It’s really exciting to see the text come to life in this form.
Because of entertainment, much of the information is romanticized and organized. These concepts are quite clear because the producers were looking to attract the viewers rather than telling a real story. The piece is very enjoyable, even if a little distracting to someone who reads the original text.
All in all, the story proves to be an entertaining and entertaining piece that captures the essence of the story of the Trojan War. As with most movie books, however, most viewers benefit from actually reading the original.
