picture in my mind

I watched Troy again yesterday. And I was trying to commit all the nice phrases to memory...

I know it starts off with something like, "Men have been haunted with the vastness of eternity..." ARGH. I wish I could remember! It was sooooo fantastic. I can remember the ending a bit better... "Let it be known that I lived in the time of Hector, tamer of forces. Let it be known that I lived in the time of Achilles." I am definitely getting the dvd.

The "gods envy us" part that Achilles was saying was really good... The first time I heard it, I was gaping at precisely how true it sounded - "Everything is more beautiful because we are doomed." The second time I heard, I was pissed because the people sitting at the back of the theatre were making a LOT of noise and wouldn't shut up so I couldn't really hear it clearly. Manu was very annoyed too (Yes! I watched with her and Jean.) because I told her that part was really nice but she couldn't hear the whole thing. The third time I heard it, I remember feeling stressed because I was trying to memorise it on the spot but was failing miserably.

Hector is the real hero of the story, I think. He was the only one who seemed to be working towards the right direction. Defend the walls of Troy but not attack the Greeks. He was not greedy for power OR glory, he was merciful (unlike bloody Achilles! Priam had to come BEG for Hector's body!), he was loving. He was like Brutus, but way smarter. Oh, I remember he said this to his soldiers, "All my life, I live by a code. And the code is simple. Honour the gods, love your woman and defend your country." And a roar of agreement erupted from his men. Like soldiers always do when great leaders give speeches before battles - Aragorn ("There comes a time when the courage of men fails, when we forsake all bonds of fellowship... But this is not the day. Today, WE FIGHT!" Okay... can't quite remember it. Heh.), William Wallace (FREEDOM!!!!!!)etc

And don't you just think that the movie is about people doing STUPID things? Why didn't Priam ever listen to his sons? Why couldn't Paris keep his hands to himself? Why couldn't Patroclus listen to Achilles? And why couldn't Achilles control his temper a little bit? I felt like smacking some of them. Because I think the one who suffered most from the stupid mistakes was Hector. He didn't do anything stupid and he was the one who got killed. There is no justice.

It is clear that Orlando Bloom will forever be associated with a bow and arrow. It seems to be the only thing he's good with. Paris did yet another stupid thing - Couldn't he SEE Briseis screaming her lungs off NOT to shoot Achilles? Was he blind (with fury, perhaps)? But I suppose he couldn't simply let off the guy who killed his wonderful brother, "the best man (he) knows". Honestly. Things are so complicated. They were all essentially good people, but they end up killing each other. Just goes to show how violence is never the answer to problems. "You lost your cousin, now you've taken mine. When does it end?" "It never ends." I suppose you can link it to current affairs in the middle east. The Israelis and Palestinians are mostly good people who want to get on with their lives in peace but... since revenge lives in some of their hearts... the you-kill-my-friend-I-kill-your-friend thing goes on and on and on and never ends.

Peter O'Toole was good... I like the confrontation scene between Priam and Achilles. Another thought-provoking moment - "...It doesn't change anything. You're still my enemy in the morning." "You're still my enemy tonight. But even enemies can show respect." I love the dialogue. I probably held my breath when I listened to it. It's amazing how everything they had to say had impact and meaning."I knew your father. He died before his time. But he was lucky not to see his son fall. I loved my son from the moment he opened his eyes to the moment you closed them."

Oh, I remember the quotes from this scene, where Briseis was holding a knife to Achilles' neck:
"Do it."
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Everyone dies. Today, fifty years from now, what does it matter?"
"If I don't kill you, you'll kill more men."
"Many."

Goodness... it seems like I've been on a quote-regurgitation spree. So fun. But I realise this has spoilers for people who haven't seen the movie. Haha. Shall give a warning then.