Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut. Alexander is directed by Oliver Stone, who co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Kyle and Laeta Kalogridis. The cast includes Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Anthony Hopkins, Rosario Dawson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Christopher Plummer. Vangelis composed the music, and Rodrigo Prieto was the cinematographer. Alexander is a historical epic centered on the life of Alexander the Great. I need to state upfront that this "Final Cut" version is the only one I’ve experienced. After the initial home format release – the first theatrical version – I gave up after an hour and fifteen minutes, seeking entertainment elsewhere. As someone who appreciates historical epics, it has been a persistent frustration for me to not have seen Alexander in its entirety. So, with Oliver Stone continually revising versions—convinced he’s created something worthwhile—I finally decided to watch it. As far as I'm aware, The Final Cut is significantly better than the original theatrical release, at least according to those who gave it another chance rather than abandoning it entirely. Immediately, I noticed a difference; what was once a slow start now has a sense of energy. It seems Stone wanted to demonstrate his ability to create compelling action and drama, asking viewers to stick around through the historical background, subtle sexual references, family conflicts, and military conquests, and he ultimately delivers. Stone himself acknowledges that he tackled a complex historical figure and believes this film does it justice. The narrative is fragmented; we begin with Alexander as a leader, while his childhood and family history are interwoven throughout. The battle scenes are intense and bloody—exhilarating at times—but more importantly, they allow us to understand Alexander the Great’s innovative tactics. This version generally works well, and I felt like I could grasp how Alexander's mind functioned, even though I didn’t fully know him by the end. The film boasts an impressive cast, although some performances are stronger than others. Farrell looks a bit off, similar to Pitt in Troy (released the same year as Alexander), but aside from accent issues, he grows into the role and seems dedicated to it. Jolie is simply miscast as the powerful Olympias, and her scenes with Farrell feel lifeless and threaten to undermine the drama that’s been built up. This is particularly disappointing because a promising storyline involving Dawson as Alexander's wife Roxanne is developed beautifully, only to be unresolved until late in the film. The rest of the cast members are adequate for the period setting (as expected from Hopkins, Plummer, and Meyers; Leto is interesting). This isn’t quite the career-defining masterpiece Stone hoped to create, even if he expresses satisfaction with The Final Cut on the special features. The film still has flaws, but they aren't severe enough to significantly damage it. There’s a great deal of grandeur, excitement, and thought put into the production, which is something valuable in today’s world of films made solely for profit. A commendable failure, then? Absolutely, but it's a better film than some might have imagined possible back in 2004. 7/10

Source on TMDB