Alexander

Book/ Film: ALEXANDER
Genre: Action
Author/ Director: Oliver Stone
Characters/ Actors: Colin Farrell Angelina Jolie Val Kilmer Anthony Hopkins

Review:

The movie is based on the life of Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, who conquered Asia Minor, Persia and part of Ancient India.

The story begins in 356 BC with Ptolemy I Soter, who narrates throughout the film. We see Alexander's life and the relation between his parents. Alexander grows up with his mother Olympias and his tutor Aristotle, where he finds interest in love, honor, music,exploration, poetry and military combat. His relationship with his father is destroyed when Philip marries with Eurydice.

After Philip is assassinated, Alexander becomes king of Macedonia and Greece. Also shown are Alexander's private relationships with his childhood friend Hephaestion and later his wife Roxana. Hephaestion compares Alexander to Achilles, to which Alexander replies that, if he is Achilles, Hephaestion must be his Patroclus who was the Achilles's lover. When Hephaestion mentions that Patroclus died first, Alexander pledges that, if Hephaestion should die first, he will follow him into the afterlife. Hephaestion shows extensive jealousy when he sees Alexander with Roxana and deep sadness when he marries her, going so far as to attempt to keep her away from him after Alexander murders Cleitus the Black in India. After Hephaestion succumbs to an unknown illness either by chance or perhaps poison, Alexander distances himself from his wife, despite her pregnancy, believing that she has killed Hephaeston.

After conquering Babylon, Alexander admits that Hephaestion is the only person whom he loves and dies less than three months after Hephaeston, keeping his promise that he would follow him.

This movie is great to see if you follow and like the history, but is not for the childrens under 16 years.

Student name: Juan Pablo Astegiano
Class: 5 H