Reviews

If you like plot turns, this is your movie. It is impossible at any moment to predict what will happen next. Nothing is as it appears or ends as you think it will. The characters are all gritty and engaging. Cage is at his best. Dennis Hopper again shows his delightfully sinister side. JT Walsh is perfect in his last performance. Laura Boyle sizzles. Dwight Yoakum makes a film debut superbly in a cameo. I categorize this movie as "I am having a really, really, really bad day" film. Not a slow minute in this film. A real sleeper. This movie is underrated and, sadly, overlooked.

This movie was made by a military hating, anti-war Hollywood political activist, and it shows.

The greatest military commander in history whines, pouts, is hated by his troops, is arrogant, rapes his bride on the wedding night,is overtly gay, is dominated by his mother, is publicly insecure, constantly crying and pouting. Can you imagine Schwartzkoff, Dwight Eisenhower, Napoleon, Colin Powell or any military leader acting in this shameless fashion?

The battle scenes are chocked full of gore and screaming. Missing is the brilliant strategy, the nobility, the self-sacrifice, the comradery and loyalty. Also missing are most of Alexanders brilliant battles (Issos, Tyre, etc) These scenes are replaced primarily with either raucous orgies or Alexander in confusion and self doubt.

The sound editing was awful; the dialog barely understandable most of the time.

What a looser of a film. At least O. Stone probably won't be working much after this.