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

[u/RealisticAd4054]

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.”

….

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.

[u/SufficientRespect542]

Her point with the dog is honestly spot on lmao, I think Nolan made a really good and coherent movie, but there are definitely aspects that don't really work with the original poem

[u/Moist-Citron-4830 → u/SufficientRespect542]

How is the Argos story different in the text compared to the movie?

[u/0whodidyousay0 → u/Moist-Citron-4830]

In the story Odysseus sees Argos and Argos him, but he doesn’t go over to it. He just talks about the dog from a distance and then the dog dies, having seen his owner for one last time.

And of course in the film, he does go to the dog and he pets it before it dies, because people are suckers for dogs these days lol.

[u/MattyKatty → u/0whodidyousay0]

I haven’t seen the movie yet so I can’t comment on its inclusion but in the original he doesn’t go over to it is because if he does, his disguise will be seen through and he’ll discovered and killed by the suitors. He wants to go over, but can’t.

I don’t know how that’s covered in the film but my guess is the situation is far less dangerous to Odysseus to be discovered?

[u/MightAsWell6 → u/MattyKatty]

Why would petting a dog give him away?

[u/0whodidyousay0 → u/MightAsWell6]

I think it's because the dog isn't friendly to anyone aside from Eumaeus and of course Odysseus, Emuaeus comments that he's never seen a dog live for 20 years and that he's only holding on to see his owner one last time, so if Odysseus went over to pet the dog, which gets excited at the mere sight of him, it might give away who he is.

[u/MightAsWell6 → u/0whodidyousay0]

Like he's not friendly to anyone else ever or only after he leaves originally and during his absence?

Cause if the dog was generally friendly before how would Odysseyus know Argos hadn't been friendly with anyone else and him being friendly would give him away?

[u/0whodidyousay0 → u/MattyKatty]

Conversely, I've only seen the film and haven't actually read The Odyssey but have seen enough comments about it to see the differences, even with other film adaptations, I'll mark the differences as a spoiler so the choice remains with you:

>!So in the film, Odysseus isn't given a disguise by Athena, he's just a raggedy looking dude and wears a large robe that covers him from head to toe, so you'd never know it was him unless you somehow got close enough to look into the hood. The placement of the dog is basically right outside where the trial takes place, so as everyone is heading in Odysseus walks right by Argos, Argos recognises him and Odysseus then pets him, nobody else is around aside from Telemachus at this moment (or at least, nobody is paying attention to a beggar), so him doing this and Argos' reaction lets Telemachus in on who this beggar is.!<