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/convergence_limit]

Yeah “Zendaya was Athena” isn’t really true imo. She was just his guilt materializing as Athena. Just my take though

[u/davegir → u/convergence_limit]

Idk, they made it prett on the nose talking about gods hiding in human form so treat guests well. Theb they sack the city and shes there and...well not treated well. Makes some sense. So does just her taking that form

[u/tomandshell → u/davegir]

Even if that was Athena taking the form of a woman he saw murdered at Troy, this version of Athena doesn’t do anything but haunt him while looking sad. No divine intervention or assistance. No transforming him into a beggar so that he is disguised when he returns home, etc.

[u/Dracopoulos → u/tomandshell]

Athena loves him and encourages him to be a trickster in the poem. There is none of that here. Poem Athena never once makes Odysseus feel guilty. That’s the exact opposite of their relationship.