Critics and audiences don’t always see eye-to-eye and, in the case of one of 2004’s biggest and most ambitious action movies, that’s certainly the case. Despite gathering an elite troupe of actors, including the likes of Brad Pitt, Rose Byrne, and Brian Cox, as well as hundreds of extras for some insanely choreographed battle scenes and brutal fights, critics just weren’t impressed with 2004’s Troy. However, the film has become a fan favorite, and those fans can now enjoy the Greek epic on a new streaming home.
Troy is now streaming on Peacock. The epic sword-and-sandal action film was added to the streaming service as part of its December line-up. Wolfgang Petersen directed the movie, which is based off the classic Greek poem, The Iliad. Brad Pitt plays Achillies in Petersen’s epic adaptation of the already epic poem, who falls for the wife of the Spartan King Menelaus, and takes her back to Troy. But, Menelaus’ brother uses that as an excuse to wage war against Troy to expand his empire. The official synopsis reads:
“While visiting Spartan King Menelaus, Trojan prince Paris falls for Menelaus’ wife, Helen and takes her back to Troy. Menelaus’ brother, King Agamemnon, having already defeated every army in Greece, uses his brother’s fury as a pretext to declare war against Troy, the last kingdom preventing his control over the Aegean Sea.”
We already mentioned that Troy features a phenomenal cast, and we weren’t exaggerating. Alongside Pitt, Byrne, and Cox, Troy also stars Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, Peter O’Toole, James Cosmo, Julie Christie, and Garret Hedlund. The film a gigantic success during its theatrical run. Against an estimated budget of $175 million, Troy grossed just shy of $500 million. However, critics weren’t sold on the film.
‘Troy’ Divided Audiences and Critics
Despite the immense talent in front of, and behind the camera, the great action scenes, and the classic Greek poem behind it all, critics were unimpressed by Troy. The film holds a measly 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences were entertained (whoops, wrong sword-and-sandal action movie), as Troy boasts a far stronger 74% user rating. Audiences praised everything from the great performances by Pitt, Cox, and the rest of the cast, as well as the gigantic scale battles, and tightly choreographed action scenes.
“This film is a true sword-and-sandal epic, reminiscent of those from the’50s and ‘60s. The scope is grand, the battles are brutal, and the themes of love and loss, as well as betrayal and honor, are palpable,” read one recent user review. Others found it hard to look past the countless changes to The Iliad, but still enjoyed the film nonetheless, like this user, who wrote:
“Troy is a heroic take on Greek mythology, but it may not be entirely faithful to the original tales. While mythology enthusiasts will appreciate the cinematic effort, those well-versed in the lore might find themselves battling with inaccuracies and pacing issues.”
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
