3/5 Long on Spectacle Short on Drama
  by Martin Asiner (Jersey City, NJ)
For a film that has as many classic actors as it does, ALEXANDER THE GREAT still manages to misfire enough to cause the viewer to lose interest by midpoint. Whenever a film goes off course like that, the fault is usually the director's. In this case, Robert Rossen took a very big budget film and used it appallingly. Rossem filmed ALEXANDER THE GREAT as if it were two unrelated movies. The first half has Alexander (Richard Burton) in constant Oedipal conflict with his father Phillip (Frederick March). March plays Phillip as a ruler more interested in protecting his realm from a son whom he considers to be only quasi-legitimate since his wife (Danielle Darrieux) was forced on him as part of a political alliance. Phillip raises Alexander as one who is fit to command an army but not a nation. For that, he dreams of choosing a wife with whom he may bear a son to rule after him. Burton plays Alexander as one who owes fealty to his father but only at the cost of fealty to his destiny. From the very moment of Alexander's birth, omens presage his latent divinity, all the while reinforcing in Phillip's mind that his son is a mixed blessing. Alexander grows knowing that his future in irrevocably mixed with the Gods of Olympus. By the time that Phillip is assassinated, Alexander is convinced that his destiny and Greece's destiny are the same thing.

The second half is a working out of Alexander's vision of world conquest. The Gods of Olympus choose their entrants most carefully and Alexander deduces that it is only by humbling the Persian king Darius that he may assume the mantle of divinity. The problem of the second half is a continuation of that of the first half. For a film that chronicles the exploits of a world conquerer, ALEXANDER THE GREAT does not deliver the military dramatic goods. Whenever Alexander's forces face a foe, the entire filmed battle is more of a vignette than lively interpretation of blood and gore. Historically, Alexander overcame fearsome odds at nearly every battle by means of tactical genius. Here, he simply lines up his men and shouts at them "Charge!" The frequent discourses between March and Burton hold the first half more or less together, but there is nothing like that to do likewise in the second. Alexander runs from one battle to another whose fiercest opposition comes not from any Persian but from malcontents in his own army who see him as a false god unwilling to take them back to Greece after a ten year hiatus in Asia conquering the known world. Burton, as usual, holds up his end with his richly resonant voice though his physique seems a little too pretty-boy like for the role. There is not a whiff of any homesexual subtext that is usually associated with any filmed version of Alexander's life. ALEXANDER THE GREAT concludes as a film that is a sad misuse of what should have been a soul stirring spectacle of one who sought to rule a world when he could not first rule himself.

5/5 " 'My Father?' I'm Alexander: I'm not my Father!"
  by Jacob Smith (Bogue Chitto, MS)
Don't let any of the one star or two star reviews fool you; this is an excellent film. I just knew that some people weren't going to like it and call Burton's performance overacting or melodramatic, but seriously when considering such a great historical persona like Alexander (a man who actually thought he was a god) a lot of energy, vehemence, cunning, arrogance, and flamboyancy is necessary. Would you have him played like a silent, reserved, gentle thinker? What I love about Burton's performance and several other performances from well known actors in the 50's is that these people actually ACT: putting passion, meaning, and character into every word and action.
Barry Burton is mesmerizing as Alexander, a man so intoxicated with power and dominion that we see it drive him to occasional insanity and barbaric acts. This is not a moving film in the traditional sense: it won't tug at your heart or give you good feelings at the end, but a sobering look at what insatiable pride can do to a man. Alexander in a drunken fury ends up killing a man who was a close friend. He guards his 'glory' like a dragon guarding gold. Even though he does become a greater military leader and conqueror than Philip his father he falls into the same pitfalls. Neither man can handle the power he obtains, neither man is completely satisfied, and neither man can appear to the educated poplice as nothing more than a mad tyrant.
In short, stay clear of the horrid remake by Oliver Stone. This version may not have the best battle scenes but they are adequate enough when considering the year it was made. It is the historical characters, dilaogue, and the script that makes the movie enthralling.

2/5 Might be accurate, but almost unwatchable
  by L. Nathanson (USA)
The fact that I am writing this while I am actually watching the movie should tell you something. The first hour is very boring, and watching Richard Burton in a blonde wig (yeah, Greeks are well know for their lovely blonde hair) is painful. Accurate? Hardly. So we're just starting the second hour which is suppose to have some good fight scenes, but I doubt it. In any case, it's barely worth renting for $1.00 at redbox, much less buying it.

3/5 It's OK
  by Alex (Virginia)
This movie is so-so. It's not great, it's not bad, it's not awesome, it's not crappy. I didn't really like Richard Burton as Alexander. He over acted some parts too much and some parts not enough. I liked watching the guy who plays Philip much more. He seemed to really get into his character and made him work for the time that he was in the film.

The battle scenes are anemic compared to what we're used to today and even for that time I think left a bit to be desired in that realm. The dialogue could be a bit silly in places and odd in some other parts.

I would say, and this had it going for it, it's no worse than the modern version of Alexander with Colin Farrell. To me it seems like Stone watched this movie and only updated it instead of revamping it.

4/5 Alexander the Great
  by salagain (Pennsylvania)
This is a better movie then the new one they made with Colin Farell. It is more refreshing to watch a movie that is easier to understand about the history then the confusing flashbacks that do not explain enough.