I was being a little sarcastic. I don't want to see Ben Affleck as Achilles, either. He strikes me as this generation's Troy Donahue. Most of the guys I would really see as Achilles are too old now if not dead. DeNiro would be OK, even if he's not exactly a giant. He could put menace and craziness into a role. Sort of
Raging Achaean. Yul Brynner, in his day. Jack Palance.
Achilles should not be a pretty boy.
Rob Roy is a good movie also.
I dont think Gladiator caused this change, it was Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, 3 hour movies that kids had no problem sitting through.
Get ready for next year, TWO Matrix movies!