After reading The Iliad, which has to be the spiritual predecessor to the action movie (at least in tone and content, not to mention its depiction of relationships between soldiers) it seems entirely possible for a work of art to be both homoerotic and, like, totally awesome, man. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is often interpreted as pederasty, but it is clear that their friendship resonates with the sort of intimacy often associated with soldiers who share so much for so long in situations of extreme stress. Debate on whether Achilles was "more than friends" with Patroclus is entirely missing the point.

The reaction of Achilles to Patroclus' death, that otherworldly combination of grief and rage that transforms him into the demigod among men is so profound precisely because the loss is so acute. Who cares if he was gay or not? The important part is his reaction. The ruthless killing machine that Achilles becomes upon hearing of Patroclus' death has been mirrored in so many action movies (I remember reading the section when Achilles gets his new armor from Hephaestus and thinking This is the "Oh, its ON" Montage). The point of the moment is about the purity of Achilles' fury, and what it turns him into. That's the part of it that is awesome.

The Achilles/Hector divide - the pairing of mutually regarded near-equals - is another action movie staple. The fact that Achilles finally goes toe-to-toe with Hector only after he is provoked by Hector's killing of Patroclus is a classic buddy-action moment.