I saw this movie last night on the Canadian History Channel, and for the life of me I cannot fathom the denunciation that rained down on it when it was new. Sure it skips around A's career, leaves things out, has a family soap opera at the center of it, and shows the title character as a forward-thinking, enlightened ruler, but surely we've all seen that before? On the plus side, it had fewer battle scenes than we might have been subjected to, decent acting (especially from the Macedonian nobles), and really good landscapes and sets.
And there are perfect moments, as when Alexander and his men enter Babylon (especially the non-salacious harem scene), or when, at the battle of Gaugamela, a crazy-eyed, blood-soaked Alexander screams in frustration at a retreating Darius. Now that was an Alexander I can believe in!
Image: the royal family of Macedon.
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