HOLLYWOOD is not great at re-telling history and more often than not doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

And so it is with Troy, Wolfgang Peterson's sprawling sword and sandals epic which is undoubtedly a triumph of style over substance.

Bruising sword fights and heavyweight battle scenes ensure this has all the feel of previous Roman classics, as does the beautiful beskirted heroes.

But the intertwined love scenes between Paris and Helen, whose elopement sparks the massive siege, are weak and vacuous and slow the pace of the film.

Orlando Bloom is a weak and superficial Paris and Diane Kruger is a simpering Helen. Between them, they have about as much passion as a night spent watching Eurovision.

Which means the premise that her wronged husband Menelaus and his brother Agamemnon sent a thousand ships to Troy in retaliation is left looking slightly silly.

However, there are highlights. Brad Pitt as Achilles is a joy to behold and his sheer brooding presence as the most powerful warrior in history is nearly enough to carry the film on his own.

He clearly has worked on his physique and take it from me, don't believe the rumours about leg doubles - there is nothing wrong with the pins God gave him.

Eric Bana's Hector is noble and gentle while being a strong and powerful character. Peter O'Toole and Sean Bean add gravitas with their performances and Brian Cox clearly revels in playing war-hungry Agamemnon more as a spoilt child than a leader of men.

This is easy on the eye and brain but don't go expecting another Spartacus or Gladiator as it falls far, far short. And at two and a half hours, it's tough on the backside.

SC