And this weeks Friday night movie has been.... The Odyssey!
It seems every man and his dog (ha ha) has seen this so I finally got off my lazy arse and got around to seeing it for myself.
So what's my connection with Homer's epic poem? I knew of it back when I was in primary school: I read a few picture books on it and I later had a paperback edition that filled in a lot of the gaps. So yeah: can't say the source material isn't well known.
But in all honesty, adapting The Odyssey is just like adapting Shakespeare: The source material has been circulating for centuries so the challenge of adapting it lies in doing something new or unique with something very familiar.
So what does Christopher Nolan bring to the table?
I will admit that previous experience with the 'sword and sandal' movies from Hollywood tend to colourful, imaginative and adventurous affairs. So it is a surprise that this is clearly none of those things. It is bleak, is less concerned with the fantastical and more concerned with putting Odysseus through the PTSD wringer. But still: This is different and to that end, it is unique.
There is certainly some superb displays of creativity and some stunning imagery throughout. Certainly this tale has been told many times before but not like this.
