Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Ella-May O'Brien
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Janis
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Rainey Dawn
Plot: Aeneas leads escapees from the Trojan war to new land in Italy, and must deal with new threats to his people. The film is based one Publius Vergilius Maro;s epic poem: "Aeneis".I found nothing special with the story or the film. For me it's average and does not stand out in the crowd of the 1960s peplum fad. It's far from awful but certainly not great. It does have some depth to it - most so than most of them.This one is in B&W - so you won't see vivid or even faded colors in the film. B&W films are fine with me, some of favorite films were made that way.4/10
Wizard-8
I haven't seen too many of these Italian sword and sandal movies that were so popular in the 1960s, but I feel pretty confident with my guess that experts of this genre would consider this entry to be a below average entry. The biggest problem that this movie has is that it is more often than not gosh-darn DULL. Especially the first half of the movie, which is talk talk talk and with almost no action. The second half of the movie slightly improves things - there is a lot of action. Unfortunately, the action is choreographed and directed in a way that saps out all excitement, instead generating a matter-of-fact feeling. Fans of Steve Reeves will be disappointed by the fact that he doesn't get to do a lot that is heroic, instead almost coming across as a secondary character. I will say that the movie does boast some good production values, but this eye candy does little to keep the audience awake.
steven-222
It's easy to forget, when watching the worst or campiest entries in the sword & sandal genre, that the Italians also produced serious historical epics in the 1960s. Here, Steve Reeves reprises his role as Aeneas, whom he previously played in the superb THE Trojan HORSE (LA GUERRA DI TROIA).Having survived the destruction of his city, the Trojan noble and a band of survivors have made their way to Italy, where they hope to create a new life for themselves. But the region is already populated by various tribes, ruled by warlords, and Aeneas's longing for peace cannot be accomplished without recourse to battle and bloodshed.The screenwriters take their inspiration from Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid. The scale of the sets and the rustic costumes evoke a convincing atmosphere of Bronze Age Italy. (Small details like the king's peculiar-looking crown are based on authentic artifacts). The curious customs of the natives have the ring of historical truth; the bird-shooting contest on horseback is a brilliant bit of cinema.A part of Steve Reeves' notable legacy as a performer was his portrayal of three of the great hero figures of the ancient Greek and Roman world: Hercules (in two films), Romulus (in DUEL OF THE TITANS/ROMOLO E REMO), and Aeneas (in two films). Of the three, his Aeneas is the most complex, admirable, and ultimately heroic.
Poseidon-3
Famous muscle man Reeves appears here in a sequel of sorts to "The Trojan Horse". Having been displaced, along with a large contingent of his people, after The Trojan War, Reeves attempts to settle in a patch of land along the Tiber River. The King who governs the area is fairly agreeable to this, but most of the surrounding territories are against it. The Queen is especially repelled by the idea and wants her daughter to inherit everything through her own contributions and an arranged marriage. Reeves and his people are betrayed and reviled until finally a large battle erupts with several different contingents fighting it out. Reeves is as handsome as ever, but perhaps less animated than he was in other, more lively films such as this. He flashes back occasionally (and briefly) to the previous film, which, by comparison, seems like a more grand one. There are still things to enjoy here, though, such as Reeves competing in an archery contest in order to thwart the cocky Prince who thinks he's unbeatable. There's also an interesting assault on Reeves' compound in which arrows fly while the inhabitants try to collect them for their own use in resistance. Camp arrives in the form of Orfei, as a curvy, but strong warrior princess. She rides with the men and fights with them while wearing a teeny mini-dress and a gold band around her impossibly bouffant hair (which she does manage to smash under a helmet for the big skirmish!) She's startlingly similar to Stefanie Powers, which adds an almost surreal element to her scenes. Then there's another ruler (on Reeves' side) who, while riding horseback during the archery contest, lifts up in his saddle to reveal a wedgie and two gleaming butt cheeks! While this is certainly not the greatest sword and sandal flick out there, it remains watchable and reasonably engrossing. Reeves is always easy on the eyes, in any case and should be admired for his commitment to healthy, steroid-free body-building.
