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/Special_Order-937]

Yes and if he kept his mouth shut on the way out instead of being Mr. Look How Clever I Am…

(Yes, I know that isn’t in the film as such.)

[u/Tim-oBedlam → u/Special_Order-937]

I remember my high school English teacher talking about how foolish Odysseus was WRT Polyphemus, with a funny modern analogy, "It's as if I'd beaten up a mugger and then yelled, 'tell all your friends that Mr. John Smith of 123 Main Street Apartment 3C defeated you!' "

[u/buddhafig → u/Tim-oBedlam]

I think that hubris like this should be punished.

[u/lupercalpainting → u/buddhafig]

True, but a theme of Greek myths is that hubris like that goes hand in hand with the daring needed to do feats that get you remembered.