Alexander -- The Movie

I am totally disappointed with Alexander, the movie. There are so many things wrong with the movie that I really do not know where to start. How could a talent like Oliver Stone make one of the most--if not the most--interesting and influential figure in history a whiney bore?

Here are some thoughts:

1. The movie neglects to discuss Alexander's main achievement--the defeat of the much larger and more powerful Persian army.

2. The movie neglects to showcase Persepolis--the great Persian capital--and Alexander's burning of the magnificent city. The torching of Persepolis is one of the biggest crimes in ancient history, and an act that Alexander regreted all of his life. In Oliver Stone's movie, the city does not even appear. (Kinda like talking about WWII but not mentioning London, Berlin, or Stalingrad).

3. The movie neglects to explore any Persian characters. For example, king Darius's personality and motives are never discussed. Alexander was obsessed with Darius, but, in the movie, Darius does not even speak. In fact, there are virtually no speaking parts for any Persians, sans one, Darius's daughter, who actually gets three speaking lines. (Making a movie about Alexander, and neglecting to include interesting viable Persian characters is kinda like making a movie about the confederacy and neglecting to talk about slavery).

4. There is absolutely no doubt that Alexander was, in today's terms, gay or if you want, a very male-centric bi-sexual. He had many male lovers, and only married the women in his life to annex territory, and/or to produce an heir. Alexander's love affairs with men were only alluded to briefly. There is some good eye candy in the movie though.

There are many more reasons to be disappointed in this movie, but those are some of the highlights.