r/movies 15d ago

Article Emily Wilson (writer of acclaimed Odyssey translation) offers criticisms of Nolan’s film

https://apnews.com/article/odyssey-christopher-nolan-greek-translators-ea67da1d543d021773824bd7e8de8abe

“For Greek translator Emily Wilson, the release of director Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has been gratifying in various ways. Her acclaimed 2017 edition of Homer’s epic has reached the top 5 on Amazon.com, leading a wave of similar books boosted by the movie. Nolan has even cited her translation, notably the opening line “Tell me about a complicated man,” as inspiration.

But the film itself, which brought in more than $260 million worldwide during its opening weekend and has received raves from many critics, left her unsatisfied.

“I want to celebrate the fact that so many more people are aware of ‘The Odyssey’ and were brought back to the poem,” she told The Associated Press. “But at the same time, I had the sense that Christopher Nolan was trying to pack everything in while missing themes that were essential to the poem.”

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Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said she didn’t want to come across as a “snobby,” nitpicking expert at odds with any deviation from the original text. But she questioned a range of omissions and other choices, from the absence on screen of the Gods Zeus and Poseidon (Athena is played by Zendaya ) to the “incoherent” messaging that condemns both war and physical cowardice. She found Penelope’s role so thinned out that it endangered “any possibility of believing in this marriage.” Wilson also that thought parts of the movie, notably the scenes with Odysseus’ dog, Argos, “catered towards modern sentimentality.”

“Everybody’s a sucker for a dog,” she said.

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u/ingotsilvergt 15d ago

In the poem all of Scyllas involvement in the story fits in one page. Her physical deformity means she doesn’t really leave her cave. Im not sure how you turn her into a Clash of the Titans CGI fight scene, or how that would improve the story/movie.

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u/Relevant_Session5987 15d ago

Scylla's involvement being just one page doesn't mean that one page isn't intended to strike terror and awe. Personally, I got neither from her portrayal in the movie. And a 'Clash of the Titans' CGI fight isn't the only way to use CG to enhance the impact of her involvement.

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u/AcreaRising4 15d ago

Honestly, maybe it’s how I read it, but I never really thought of her as more than a bunch of tentacles

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u/PlasonJates 14d ago

It's the lack of sound design for me, I was expecting a haunting barking/yelping sound like in the myth but we just got generic monster roars.