7:28 - The Battle of Gaugamela is depicted accurately imo. They do skip over the entire Egyptian campaign but had to because Oliver Stone could have made this a 12 hour mini-series and probably should have.
I saw the potential in the theatrical version. His subsequent releases of the director’s cut and Revisited were flawless. Troy and Gladiator were box office hits but were made for the masses. IMHO, Oliver Stone’s work here is a masterpiece in the lost genre of sword & sandal epics. But I’m a natural born killer - I mean contrarian.
Alexander the Great is one of my historical fav heroes. Why? Because in the story, he took half a legion to find my patron saint, Diogenes of Sinope...and said to him how much he wanted to find him and admire hime...and Diogenes said : "could you stand a bit to my left and block the sun. Who are you?"
I share your opinion, the film has some breataking scenes, the soundtrack is superb, and the scale of Stones ambition is light years ahead of anything Ridley Scott has attempted.
I remember watching this movie in the cinemas with my lill brother back in 2004 and we loved the movie. Sure I was in my teens and my history knowledge of Alexander was very basic, but like I said, movie wise we liked it. Afterwards I got a theatre poster used, but my brother got a big paper cut-out of Alexander riding his horse while weilding his sword! Mabey I still have that poster rolled up but I can't say for sure (?)
As a Greek thank you for the very analyzing video about Alexander. In my opinion Collin Farrell is miscast because did not have the charisma and the screen presence compared with the leading mens in other epic-history movies like Russel Crowe as Maximus, Mel Gibson as William Wallace and brad Pitt as Achilleas. Also Heath ledger born to be Alexander the Great because he is blonde naturally and also he have the previous Experience of playing in history-epics movies like the patriot (2000) and A,knights tale (2001).
One can not simply make an Alexander film. His 13-year campaign in Egypt and Asia is nothing short but legendary. I am studying his life and death for more than 2 decades now.. Mini series would have been great, but the last depiction of him on NF was an abomination. Just like Cleopatra's, again, on NF...
4:51 - Truthfully this is probably Angelina's best performance as an actress. It's either this or Gia, because let's face it she isn't getting hired for her acting.
The dancing scene where we first encounter the Persian dirvishes is one of the most elaborate, gorgeous, perfectly choreographed scenes ever made. The shadows, scale, costume design, music, the way the actors were blocked, the length of the shots... just flawless in every possible way. There are scenes in films that unexpectedly go so far beyond expectation, and are just so engrossing and rich and visual. That scene where he is seduced by the woman who will become his wife, that scene is worth every annoying aspect of the film that leads up to it. Another film, Plunkett & MacLeane, has a scene like that, the ball scene. It's absolutely breathtaking filmmaking in that scene as well. Alexander was a mixture of contradictions. It had moments of boredom, some dialogue I didn't like, but it's still a strong film with some magic hidden in it. It wasn't profitable, initially, but eventually, it made solid earnings. It was not a flop. Most film projects have these same issues in pre-production, especially big scale films. Alexander is a lot like Eyes Wide Shut to me. I can't watch it often, but when I do, I appreciate the details, the quality of the filmmaking, the masterpiece scenes, and I can overlook the dialogue I don't particularly care for because the film is still worth watching. The acting itself in Alexander is excellent, and so are the sets, the art direction, cinematography, and it does have a few scenes that are very unique to the film. I also do like that it's not formulaic and predictable. It reminds me of the old epic films that were a mix of everything. Some of Ben Hur is boring, overacted, but that chariot scene and the scale of the film, and all the ingredients are there for an epic film.
Only WB earned. Company only gave 35% of budget, then didn't give money for marketing (one of the reasons of poor box office) and then earned with DVD sales. Other small investors (65%) - lost their $$$.
@KinoReel-c4f Was this the fault of WB, Oliver Stone, both, or an agent like a distribution leg? Those small foreign investors never broke even after all these years of sales and distribution outside of the U.S.?
Catherine Zeta Jones: I'm sorry, I can't do this film. Why don't you try Angelina Jolie? Indian Elephants: We're sorry, we can't do this film. Why don't you ask the elephants from Operation: Dumbo Drop?
Some iffy info presented here in regard to one of the different cuts. The “directors cut” isn’t longer, it’s actually shorter. Regardless, I love this film. That fact it got 3 different cuts proved that people were interested in this film. The ultimate cut is the best version imo. The soundtrack alone is worth watching it for. Eagerly awaiting a 4K release of the ultimate cut.
I really love the Ultimate Cut. Much better crafted than either cut. It's a flawed movie on many aspects but it has a special nostalgic feeling, and it will always have a soft spot on me.
Alexander Revisited: The Final Unrated Cut is excellent. The cinema edit was a rush job. This is a brave, ambitious film that audiences ultimately rejected, unlike the simple macho stories like Braveheart, which is appallingly historically inaccurate. Gladiator is a great film but again, a simple macho avenging angel story. To dismiss Alexander a "Colin Farrel in a funny wig" is a childish comment that betrays a total lack of understanding of film, film theory and (based on the rest of this commentary) a failure to understand ancient history.
I still rank it as the worst movie I ever saw at the theater. Will never forget thinking we were at least halfway through and it turned out we were only 40 min in!
same, went by myself, bad acting and boring script, I remember loving books and documentaries on Alexander, so much material to work with, the movie I saw is what Stone came up with
I don't care I love this film it isn't the greatest but it's still worth watching n worth seeing to see this time period I'm still glad for it got made because there isn't much films or shows set around this time or the Hellenistic period in general.
Colin Farrell never actually does any fighting he just rides around on horseback I'm sure the real Alexander would do as much fighting as the rank and file soldiers ..
Sorry, it was uneven to a fault. The studio must have been smoking crack to allow the Bi plotline, which was never ever going to result in a successful box office run. Duh. And then there is the music score, which feels insanely out of place. As a huge Oliver Stone film, I was beyond underwhelmed (JFK is ton 10 all time good - Salvador and Platoon are sensational works). All that money and Alexander has no thrills or heart. I have yet to speak to a single individual (in person) who liked the film. Nearly everyone I know hated it. Online, yeah, lots of people love it. Whatever. To each their own. The only true positive is Val Kilmer, who was fantastic. Well, Jolie was hot, but she was in her prime, so no surprise there.
I love this film, give me a flawed Oliver Stone film of vaunting ambition, as opposed to a Ridley Scott movie of tired cliches. The directors cut is fucking amazing!! Cannot credit Alexander`s homosexuality proved such an issue, take a look at some Ancient Greek pottery, they call it Greek Love for a reason.
Only WB, because they had rights in US. I happens often when big company wins, but other small investors lose. I have couple more videos with similar outcome.
Angelina Jolie did a Tremendous job portraying Alexanders mother Olympias!!! she was Brutal verbally as his mother! Cathern Zeta jones another very attractive Woman and Excellent Actress within her own right I do not think would have been a probably little more Convincing even Despite Catherine's age Difference from Colin Ferrell though I believe Catherine Zeta jones would have pulled off!! even the lovely still Gorgeous Monica Bellucci when have been even a little more convincing ?! and you have to also understand Colin Ferrell was Bad boy of Hollywood during this Time in the early middle 2000's and Monica saw that maybe Colin was trying to make a pass I do not know he was well known to be getting around the in Hollywood! if anything only thing I didn't like Historically Inaccurate it was Alexander was a Conqueror a good peace of work!! anyways the movie was too long somethings in it did not make much Sense in my opinion!!
@@KinoReel-c4f - what? People ASK for AI voiceover???? One of the reasons I subscribed to this channel is because it DIDNT use AI voiceover. Think I'll unsubscribe if AI is going to be used in the future.
You can unsub. right now bcs I will use AI for voiceover. There were dozens of comments claiming I used AI, when I actually didn't. This means 99% of ppl don't hear the difference AI vs real human. Why then strugle? AI does it better and faster. Story itself interesting and not AI generated.
Didn't Brad Pitt later star in the flop Troy, another historical failure?..These pretty boy actors starring in bloated boring historical films are the last thing on my to-do list..
The Ultimate Cut is awesome. The 4K disc will be epic, whenever they decide to release it.
The Longest version is the better among... the 4 versions!!! A 4k box set would be indeed marvellous.
Very underwhelming film but I do admire its ambition
Nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be. Thank God it didn't finish Farrell as an actor, he's fantastic thesedays.
7:28 - The Battle of Gaugamela is depicted accurately imo. They do skip over the entire Egyptian campaign but had to because Oliver Stone could have made this a 12 hour mini-series and probably should have.
I got through 20 minutes before I realised I was watching “Day’s of Our Lives” in Ancient Greece.
lol, yup.
I saw the potential in the theatrical version. His subsequent releases of the director’s cut and Revisited were flawless. Troy and Gladiator were box office hits but were made for the masses. IMHO, Oliver Stone’s work here is a masterpiece in the lost genre of sword & sandal epics. But I’m a natural born killer - I mean contrarian.
Poor casting, poor script, but there were some high points. A lot of unfulfilled potential. Too bad
I remember how controversial Alexander’s bisexuality was back then and thinking… but he was bisexual… people are mad at history for existing…
The soundtrack by Vangelis was quite good.
I was about to say that.
Alexander the Great is one of my historical fav heroes. Why? Because in the story, he took half a legion to find my patron saint, Diogenes of Sinope...and said to him how much he wanted to find him and admire hime...and Diogenes said :
"could you stand a bit to my left and block the sun. Who are you?"
Alexander is an amazing film, probably one of the most underrated films of all time, a fucking masterpiece. Fuck the naysayers.
lmfao! you must think The Acolyte is equally as brilliant! smh. . .🤣
@alexmesi5796 stick to your marvel movies kid
I share your opinion, the film has some breataking scenes, the soundtrack is superb, and the scale of Stones ambition is light years ahead of anything Ridley Scott has attempted.
Oliver Stone gave us Salvador(1985) and Platoon(1986).
Salvador is amazing.
I like both movies but I also enjoy U-Turn.
I remember watching this movie in the cinemas with my lill brother back in 2004 and we loved the movie. Sure I was in my teens and my history knowledge of Alexander was very basic, but like I said, movie wise we liked it.
Afterwards I got a theatre poster used, but my brother got a big paper cut-out of Alexander riding his horse while weilding his sword!
Mabey I still have that poster rolled up but I can't say for sure (?)
As a Greek thank you for the very analyzing video about Alexander. In my opinion Collin Farrell is miscast because did not have the charisma and the screen presence compared with the leading mens in other epic-history movies like Russel Crowe as Maximus, Mel Gibson as William Wallace and brad Pitt as Achilleas. Also Heath ledger born to be Alexander the Great because he is blonde naturally and also he have the previous Experience of playing in history-epics movies like the patriot (2000) and A,knights tale (2001).
Colin was amazing in the role
One can not simply make an Alexander film. His 13-year campaign in Egypt and Asia is nothing short but legendary. I am studying his life and death for more than 2 decades now.. Mini series would have been great, but the last depiction of him on NF was an abomination. Just like Cleopatra's, again, on NF...
4:51 - Truthfully this is probably Angelina's best performance as an actress. It's either this or Gia, because let's face it she isn't getting hired for her acting.
The dancing scene where we first encounter the Persian dirvishes is one of the most elaborate, gorgeous, perfectly choreographed scenes ever made. The shadows, scale, costume design, music, the way the actors were blocked, the length of the shots... just flawless in every possible way.
There are scenes in films that unexpectedly go so far beyond expectation, and are just so engrossing and rich and visual. That scene where he is seduced by the woman who will become his wife, that scene is worth every annoying aspect of the film that leads up to it.
Another film, Plunkett & MacLeane, has a scene like that, the ball scene. It's absolutely breathtaking filmmaking in that scene as well.
Alexander was a mixture of contradictions. It had moments of boredom, some dialogue I didn't like, but it's still a strong film with some magic hidden in it. It wasn't profitable, initially, but eventually, it made solid earnings. It was not a flop.
Most film projects have these same issues in pre-production, especially big scale films.
Alexander is a lot like Eyes Wide Shut to me. I can't watch it often, but when I do, I appreciate the details, the quality of the filmmaking, the masterpiece scenes, and I can overlook the dialogue I don't particularly care for because the film is still worth watching.
The acting itself in Alexander is excellent, and so are the sets, the art direction, cinematography, and it does have a few scenes that are very unique to the film.
I also do like that it's not formulaic and predictable. It reminds me of the old epic films that were a mix of everything. Some of Ben Hur is boring, overacted, but that chariot scene and the scale of the film, and all the ingredients are there for an epic film.
Only WB earned. Company only gave 35% of budget, then didn't give money for marketing (one of the reasons of poor box office) and then earned with DVD sales. Other small investors (65%) - lost their $$$.
@KinoReel-c4f Was this the fault of WB, Oliver Stone, both, or an agent like a distribution leg? Those small foreign investors never broke even after all these years of sales and distribution outside of the U.S.?
Catherine Zeta Jones: I'm sorry, I can't do this film. Why don't you try Angelina Jolie?
Indian Elephants: We're sorry, we can't do this film. Why don't you ask the elephants from Operation: Dumbo Drop?
It led to us getting a full frontal naked Rosario Dawson in her prime and well...thats worth the price of admission...
Casting Anglina Jolie wasn't weird, both my parents are younger than me too😊
Some iffy info presented here in regard to one of the different cuts. The “directors cut” isn’t longer, it’s actually shorter.
Regardless, I love this film. That fact it got 3 different cuts proved that people were interested in this film. The ultimate cut is the best version imo. The soundtrack alone is worth watching it for. Eagerly awaiting a 4K release of the ultimate cut.
Exactly this movie a great
It is really hard to believe that this is an Oliver Stone film.
So this movie saved us from Baz super duper gay dancing Alexander movie? Ok I accept this!
I would have loved to see that one. Baz is great at production and Nicole is a better actress. It’s a shame it was never made.
I'm a die hard fan of the classical period... I walked out of the theatre halfway through this movie.
I saw this in the theater but forgot everything about it.
I really love the Ultimate Cut. Much better crafted than either cut. It's a flawed movie on many aspects but it has a special nostalgic feeling, and it will always have a soft spot on me.
Alexander The Final Cut is great 👍
Alexander Revisited: The Final Unrated Cut is excellent. The cinema edit was a rush job.
This is a brave, ambitious film that audiences ultimately rejected, unlike the simple macho stories like Braveheart, which is appallingly historically inaccurate. Gladiator is a great film but again, a simple macho avenging angel story. To dismiss Alexander a "Colin Farrel in a funny wig" is a childish comment that betrays a total lack of understanding of film, film theory and (based on the rest of this commentary) a failure to understand ancient history.
First half of the movies is epic, after the the victory over Darius, the movie just felt way too dragged.
I love this film so much, I think it would have been better received if it was a bit shorter
We just got troy like a year earlier too much it had no chance. His Battle speech was dope tho
I remember seeing TV spots for that film as a teen.
Enjoy these 😊
I still rank it as the worst movie I ever saw at the theater. Will never forget thinking we were at least halfway through and it turned out we were only 40 min in!
same, went by myself, bad acting and boring script, I remember loving books and documentaries on Alexander, so much material to work with, the movie I saw is what Stone came up with
This movie was good
Watch another cut of the movie. The TC is by far the weakest of the 4 cuts.
Literally walked out of this 🧚♀️ movie
The Thai elephants are so docile because their Thai handlers are so cruel… endless animal abuses in that country
I actually liked the movie.
I don't care I love this film it isn't the greatest but it's still worth watching n worth seeing to see this time period I'm still glad for it got made because there isn't much films or shows set around this time or the Hellenistic period in general.
Colin Farrell never actually does any fighting he just rides around on horseback
I'm sure the real Alexander would do as much fighting as the rank and file soldiers ..
I love this movie
Sorry, it was uneven to a fault. The studio must have been smoking crack to allow the Bi plotline, which was never ever going to result in a successful box office run. Duh. And then there is the music score, which feels insanely out of place. As a huge Oliver Stone film, I was beyond underwhelmed (JFK is ton 10 all time good - Salvador and Platoon are sensational works). All that money and Alexander has no thrills or heart. I have yet to speak to a single individual (in person) who liked the film. Nearly everyone I know hated it. Online, yeah, lots of people love it. Whatever. To each their own.
The only true positive is Val Kilmer, who was fantastic. Well, Jolie was hot, but she was in her prime, so no surprise there.
Haven't seen the Final Cut but the Ultimate cut is much better. The bisexual scenes add reality.
Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie are the problem. Colin Farrell isn't epic enough and it's dumb Jolie is playing his mother.
Colin is great in this film
I love this film, give me a flawed Oliver Stone film of vaunting ambition, as opposed to a Ridley Scott movie of tired cliches. The directors cut is fucking amazing!! Cannot credit Alexander`s homosexuality proved such an issue, take a look at some Ancient Greek pottery, they call it Greek Love for a reason.
Horrible histories has a better alexander
wait, how was it a failure if it made a profit?
It made a profit for WB, the company who invested only 35% in budget, got all US distr. rights and didn't give enough $$$ for marketing.
@@KinoReel-c4f right so you're saying private investors didnt get their money back?
I believe - no. Maybe after 20 years they broke even. Waterworld movie did.
@@KinoReel-c4f Then I misunderstood your video because from the numbers I thought that with the dvd/sales they made lots of $ from that!
Only WB, because they had rights in US. I happens often when big company wins, but other small investors lose. I have couple more videos with similar outcome.
Why did “Hephaistion” sound so weird? Is this an AI narration?
Its a really terrible movie trying to fit 10 years of conquest in to a two hour movie bound for failure
Angelina Jolie did a Tremendous job portraying Alexanders mother Olympias!!! she was Brutal verbally as his mother! Cathern Zeta jones another very attractive Woman and Excellent Actress within her own right I do not think would have been a probably little more Convincing even Despite Catherine's age Difference from Colin Ferrell though I believe Catherine Zeta jones would have pulled off!! even the lovely still Gorgeous Monica Bellucci when have been even a little more convincing ?! and you have to also understand Colin Ferrell was Bad boy of Hollywood during this Time in the early middle 2000's and Monica saw that maybe Colin was trying to make a pass I do not know he was well known to be getting around the in Hollywood! if anything only thing I didn't like Historically Inaccurate it was Alexander was a Conqueror a good peace of work!! anyways the movie was too long somethings in it did not make much Sense in my opinion!!
Is this A.I? Sounds robotic.
Yes. You guys kept asking for AI for weeks. Here you go.
Was this an AI voiceover on this video? Sure sounded like it.
Yes. You guys kept asking for AI voiceover for few weeks. Here you go.
@@KinoReel-c4f - what? People ASK for AI voiceover???? One of the reasons I subscribed to this channel is because it DIDNT use AI voiceover. Think I'll unsubscribe if AI is going to be used in the future.
You can unsub. right now bcs I will use AI for voiceover. There were dozens of comments claiming I used AI, when I actually didn't. This means 99% of ppl don't hear the difference AI vs real human. Why then strugle? AI does it better and faster. Story itself interesting and not AI generated.
Intermedia Films = Stupid German money - Investment only for tax-reasons
This movie was epic boring
Didn't Brad Pitt later star in the flop Troy, another historical failure?..These pretty boy actors starring in bloated boring historical films are the last thing on my to-do list..
Troy did pretty ok at the box office but was definitely nothing to write home about.
@ 5 minutes into that genre, accents and flamboyant costumes and I’m out like a light..😂
Troy $185 mil. vs $497 mil., this was a successful moneymaker:) One day I will post a video about Troy, The Last Samurai and Gladiator.
Troy was awesome.
A comment
Horrible acting