Director Wolfgang Petersen’s adaptation of Homer’s The Illiad arrives on home video today complete with a Trojan-horse load of extra features including a feturette titled Troy: An Effects Odyssey. While the film ignored the epic poem’s inclusion of Greek Gods and magic, it does employ a healthy helping of digital wizardry to bring the storied Trojan War to the screen.
Troy stars Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, Brian Cox, Julian Glover, Diane Kruger, Nathan Jones and Brendan Gleeson as the main players in the bloody tragedy that ensues when Trojan prince Paris (Bloom) steals the beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta (Kruger), from her husband, Menelaus (Gleeson) and sails back to Troy with her. Pitt steals the show as virtually unstoppable Greek warrior Achilles, whose vengeful wrath leads to a showdown with Troy’s warrior prince, Hector (Bana).
Framestore CFC, The Moving Picture Co., Cinesite and Lola all contribute effects work to the war effort as the sword-and-sandal epic seeks to vanquish all rental and sales competition. With a price tag of $175 million, the film grossed nearly $450 million worldwide, despite having to compete domestically with DreamWorks’ megahit, Shrek 2.
The two-disc set also offers a 3D animated guide to Greek myths titled Gallery of the Gods, as well as featurettes on the film’s massive action sequences and production design. The Warner Home Video release carries a suggested retail price of $29.95.
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