By Fred Topel | Image property of respective holders.
Alexander Revisited
I didn't mind Alexander when I saw it in the theater. I haven't watched it since then, so it's hard for me to remember what's different, but I already came to the movie with mildly positive feelings. I mean, what else did you expect from a long Oliver Stone epic? But for the ultimate exercise in beating a dead horse, the third cut of the film was too juicy a chance to pass up. The shorter "Director's Cut" didn't suck me in, but third time's the charm.
DVD Review: Alexander Revisited
Immediately noticeable, it does not open with Anthony Hopkins. It opens on Alexander's deathbed. So that's a more intense way to begin. Flashing forward then to Hopkins hardly makes sense.
This cut jumps around in time even more than the theatrical one. It gets to the action a lot quicker, like after 20 minutes, as opposed to an hour. Of course, that doesn't help when there's still several hours before another battle. Interestingly, on screen text identifies locations of battle, so that ought to make it easier to follow who's fighting whom and where.
The effect of all the back and forth seems to be to create a more stream of consciousness perspective on Alexander the Great. Like, he did this but that was informed by this in the past and then now that you know this, consider that he did this other thing. It hardly seems like a different story to me though. It's still the perspective on a leader between conquests, not so much on the battlefield.
There is definitely more gay material in this version, notably a lingering tender moment with a long haired stud. I don't think it really adds anything to the story, since I always knew they were skirting around that issue. But it's interesting that they had the footage and thought they should hold back, but now screw it.
Ultimately, the film still reeks of "Please like this movie. How about if I put it in this order, will you like it then?" Dude, if they didn't like it, they won't like it this way either. I was fine with it, I'm still fine with it. It's the same story, the same perspective.
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