For those who have somehow contrived to miss all the pre-publicity, this is the big budget adaptation of Homer's The Iliad, to which has been added elements of The Odyssey (notably the Trojan Horse). Classics purists may feel that this is a Hollywood hotpotch version (the Gods are curiously absent, for example) and Brad Pitt, as Achilles, may please some, while hardly convincing others.

Good points? The big scenes are beautifully staged by Das Boot director Wolfgang Petersen, from the launch of a thousand ships to the truly epic battle scenes (when you have 80,000 warriors lined up, you're dying for someone at the back to shout - Fast Show style - "Anyone fancy a pint ?"), and there's the marvellously pagan Trojan Horse that is sure to please Wicker Man fans, as well as a great scrap between Chopper actor Eric Bana, as Hector, and the aforementioned Pitt.

Bad points? The script is largely a letdown, despite attempts by Sean Bean, as vengeful Odysseus, and Brian Cox, as the aggressive Agamemnon, to add spice to it. Pitt's lovemaking skills provide much-needed humour, even if unintentionally.

Performance-wise, Peter O'Toole (Priam), Bean and Bana are the strongest, whilst Orlando Bloom (Paris) and Diane Kruger (Helen) are fairly bland.

Overall, Troy is a little too long (almost three hours), but, as a spectacle, is entertaining.