2/5 Not happy
  by Adventure Girl (Boulder, CO)
I purchased this dvd knowing that it was used. When the dvd arrived it was in a cracked ripped cheap black unmarked dvd case. There was a sticker on the case saying that it was a used dvd without the cover. I did not break the sticker to see the dvd quality because I was so unhappy with the outside appearance. I'm guessing the dv quality was probably the same as the dvd case...terrible. Will not buy from this seller again.

4/5 Excellent Addition
  by Allie McD
I think this would be an excellent tool for teachers wishing to supplement their mythology units. I think this is is also an exceptional retelling of the historical/mythological war which began with the abduction of Helen of Troy. This isn't as technically or visually amazing as the Troy starring Brad Pitt, but it is thorough and does a good job at explaining complicated familial relationships and mythology.

4/5 The face that launched 1000 ships
  by Alex (Virginia)
I've read The Iliad and I really love that book. It's a classic. This movie is based on that book and a few other myths surrounding The siege of Troy and it's eventual sacking. This goes beyond the movie Troy and tells Helen's story. Helen in this film is seen to be stronger than in her other portrayals and a woman who just can't seem to catch a break. They also go a bit into Paris' back story and actually do both stories justice. They even bothered to tell how the Trojan War came about even before it started with the oath taken by the leaders of the Greeks.

The siege and sack of Troy are done very nicely in this movie without being too bloody, too long, or too anything else. The ending is also pretty satisfying because I don't believe any other movie ends like it does. It wasn't 100% correct, but still different.

This was another made for TV movie that does its job very well. The cast and crew took their time and it paid off.



3/5 Would Have Been Much Better With a Pretty Helen
  by nina
This was a dazzling and beautiful film despite being too long-winded in some spots. Much of the beginning of the film needed to be cut and the action came in short spurts. Things needed to be sped up but overall, it's still a nice film. The main problem for me was the woman who played Helen. She was not at all believable and I will tell you why.

Helen of Troy is supposed to be Zeus' daughter and the most beautiful woman in the world! Who picked this lanky, awkward and only semi-attractive lady to play this role? With all the beautiful actresses and models (who you could have trained for this) why on earth would the casting crew pick this woman to be Helen? I couldn't get into the film more because of her! This woman isn't beautiful at all. She's attractive, but not close to being able to wear the title of Most Beautiful Woman. Please! I know people down the street that are prettier than her! She wasn't even prettier than the women on the movie! That is what lost me. I managed to get through the film but I could not believe that this lady was supposed to be the "face that launched a thousand ships". Please! I couldn't and did not buy it. On top of that she couldn't even act and was way too old for the part! Helen was a child! This lady was obviously in her mid-thirties trying to play young. She was pathetic and very boring. She was the worst person that could have been picked to be Helen.I laughed everytime someone said she was beautiful. Also, didn't Helen have dark hair?

This casting catastrophe killed most of the movie for me. Newsflash to filmmakers, when a character is supposed to be so breathtakingly beautiful, make sure that the actress who plays her is! I could name millions of actresses who would have made a better Helen. This actress was a huge casting mistake and did not help this movie!

5/5 educational standpoint
  by Rheadawn Brown (Smyrna, TN USA)
As a high-school teacher for English foundations, I try my best to expose my students to the literature their peers in regular English classes receive. I must utilize movies as a visual aide supplement to help them connect with the characters, setting, dialogue... I strongly recommend using this dvd to support your curriculum to teach on all levels of student learning (auditory, kinesthetic, visual).