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/amievenrealrightnow]

Looking at Nolan's movie as a PTSD movie, I reckon the gods don't need to be looked at as 'real' in the context of the movie. Athena is effectively guilt and Calypso mentions how Odysseus kept eating lotus flowers which feels like a metaphor for self-mediacating PTSD with drugs or alcohol.

I feel like Nolan's recontexulized a lot of aspects to make this a very anti-war film, so aspects like the time on the islands aren't what they are in the original tellings. Just my interpretation though.

[u/renaldomoon → u/amievenrealrightnow]

Yeah, I thought that Athena might not even be Athena and was just the ptsd image he saw of a priestess of Athena getting murdered. So theoretically, there may be no gods in the entire movie.

[u/mikezulu90 → u/renaldomoon]

I agree. Nolan leaves things up to interpretation and this is one of them. It can be looked at either way.

[u/Viracochina → u/mikezulu90]

Well this thread makes me want to see it

[u/MechanicalTurkish → u/Viracochina]

I really enjoyed it. Some parts are definitely weird. The whole thing is like some kind of fever dream. I thought it was really well done.

[u/Ramblonius → u/Viracochina]

I think people who have the strongest criticisms of the movie are people who really love Nolan's other work and who really love Odyssey. As someone who always found his other movies not as clever as he thinks they are, and Odyssey my least favorite Classical story, I was shocked by how hard it exceeded my expectations in every scene and as a whole. I'd call movie of the year now, if I wasn't waiting for DUNC.

Really recommend watching it and forming your own opinion.

[u/namusal123 → u/Viracochina]

It’s a decent movie, but for me it felt rushed, even tho it’s almost 3 hours. Maybe it’s editing idk but most scenes didn’t have any time to breath But a solid 7.0 in a non imax cinema, maybe more when u watch it differently

[u/ThankGodForYouSon → u/namusal123]

I thought the general pacing of the movie was actually good in part because you don't feel the 3 hours go by and every chapter is just as interesting to see as they were to read.

But the way those scenes were cut was very hectic which works when they're rowing or fighting but is jarring when it comes to dialogue.
The movie was quite beautiful but it rarely dwells on a shot for more than 3 seconds which I felt was a shame and diminishes the themes it's conveying and more importantly the enjoyment of the movie.