i can not believe some of the comment here in the review . the film be date of course and and from our comfortable viewpoint in the age of cgg a lot of the special effect be deeply unconvincing now . but even allow for this and helen of troy be so bad that it be almost laughable . the scripting be awful and just awful and with no characterisation at all . the performance suffer a a result and you can see the like of hardwicke and andrew writhe in an agony of embarrassment a they deliver the most ridiculous shallow trite codswallop line . the writer seem to feel the need to explain almost everything in a dreadful didactic screenplay that allow the viewer to decide nothing for him or herself at all . the beginning of the movie spell out the historical background a if no one have ever hear of ancient greece while i know they have american audience to take into consideration and but the patronising way we be tell everything twice to make sure we understand the action be really awful . i honestly can not believe the comment above describe this movie a a great epic film . even allow for the comparatively primitive cinematography and the relative sophistication of today audience and this movie truly stink .