Alexander (2004)
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The film depicts the life of the ancient Macedonian general and king Alexander the Great.
The story
Set around 285 BC, the film follows the life of Alexander, the son of Philip II of Macedon. Guided by his mother Olympias and tutor Aristotle, Alexander develops a passion for love, honor, and military combat. His relationship with his father is strained by political marriages, leading to Alexander's banishment. Following the assassination of Philip, Alexander becomes King of Macedonia. The narrative, framed by the narration of Ptolemy I Soter, follows Alexander's ambitious expansion across the known world, including his campaigns against the Persian Empire and his declaration as the son of Zeus.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Narrated by Ptolemy I Soter, the film chronicles the life of Alexander the Great. Growing up under the influence of his mother Olympias and tutor Aristotle, Alexander becomes a formidable warrior and leader. After his father Philip II is assassinated, Alexander ascends to the throne of Macedonia. The film depicts his conquest of the Persian Empire, his declaration as the son of Zeus, and his expansion into Asia. Central to the narrative are his intimate bonds with friends like Hephaestion and Bagoas, and his marriage to Roxana. The story culminates in the bloody Battle of Hydaspes, where Alexander is wounded but survives. Following his death in Babylon, his generals fight over his body and kingdom. The final act reveals that Ptolemy and other officers poisoned Alexander to prevent further conquest, though it was recorded as a death by illness. The film concludes with the loss of Ptolemy's memoirs in the Library of Alexandria.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 175
- Production countries
- Germany; France; Italy; Netherlands; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Oliver Stone
- Writers
- Oliver Stone · screenplay; Christopher Kyle · screenplay; Laeta Kalogridis · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Colin Farrell · Alexander; Angelina Jolie · Olympias; Val Kilmer · Hephaestion; Jared Leto · Bagoas; Rosario Dawson · Roxana; Anthony Hopkins · Ptolemy I Soter
- Genres
- biographical; historical drama; war drama; action drama
- Themes
- Ambition; Legacy; Father-son relationships; Warfare
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Somber; Grand
- Premise and plot tags
- Historical Drama; Biopic; War; Epic
- Source material / true-story basis
- Alexander the Great (1973) by Robin Lane Fox
- Reception
- The film received mixed to negative reviews in the United States, criticized for its length and historical accuracy, but praised for its production values and performances. It was a box-office failure.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 15% · scale: percentage · review count: 201; Metacritic · score: 40 · scale: 100 · review count: 42; CinemaScore · score: D+ · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film's budget was $155 million, while it grossed $167.3 million worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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