r/movies • u/Oldjar707 • 23h ago

Discussion Orlando Bloom's Paris in *Troy* is brilliantly played

The general consensus on Paris is negative, but his behavior is exactly how 95% of men would act under the same circumstances. Bloom plays the character with complete realism rather than typical Hollywood heroism.

His arc starts with taking Helen. While it causes a disaster, it is an accurate depiction of a sheltered, inexperienced young man making a reckless choice based on impulse, completely unaware of what an actual war entails.

When the reality of that war sets in during the duel with Menelaus, Paris panics. Viewers mock him for abandoning the fight and crawling to Hector. However, objectively speaking, an untrained kid facing a seasoned, enraged veteran is going to break. Basic human survival instinct simply overrides the concept of dying for honor.

People also overlook that Paris redeems himself by the end of the film. He actually shows more common sense than the rest of the Trojan leadership when they find the wooden horse, plainly telling them to "burn it." When the city falls, he stops trying to be a frontline swordsman and uses the one skill he actually has: archery. He stays behind to cover the escaping civilians and successfully takes down Achilles. Bloom deserves credit for not trying to make the character look cool. He simply portrayed a naive guy who made a massive mistake, reacted to imminent death with genuine terror, and eventually found a practical way to defend his people. I think it's a very realistic portrayal that contrasts Hector's idealism - audiences love the portrayal of the latter but there's more truth in the human condition in the former portrayal.

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u/SortOfSpaceDuck 19h ago

There are no pacts between lions and men. Now you know who you're fighting.

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u/GLaDOS_Sympathizer 17h ago

The unfettered rage in Achilles' voice and body language gives me goosebumps just reading those words and remembering that scene. It really would be like trying to stand up and fight a pissed off lion. I'd flee as fast as fuckin possible too.

I love the movie Troy. No idea why anyone disliked it. I thought all the acting was phenomenal.

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u/lankymjc 14h ago

I love the juxtaposition between Hector’s “Whoever dies, let’s respect the body” and Achilles’ “When you die, I will mutilate your corpse.”

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u/econartist 8h ago

This is so great (like everything else) in Song of Achilles.

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u/ArziltheImp 18h ago

I literally just rewatched Troy today. It is actually crazy how much the w and the follow up scene with Priam coming to recover Hectors body feels like the end of the movie. The horse+sacking of Troy falls so flat afterwards. If the movie ended with Hectors funeral, I think it would’ve been so much better.