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#odysseus — Public Fediverse posts

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  1. Kävin katsomassa Nolanin Odysseuksen. Haarniskojen ajantasaisuus ei ole itselleni iso ongelma, ja Troijan Helenan hipiä kelpasi kyllä, mutta en oikein saanut kiinni siitä, mitä Odysseus-elokuva ennen kaikkea halusi olla.

    Veijarinelkeet oli siivottu pois, ja palaa mieleen Terry Gilliamin toteamus, ettei hän hahmota, miten voisi ohjata Iliaan, kun ei saa mukaan näyttelijöiksi kreikkalaisia jumalia. Kirke ja Calypso olivat kummallisia - Calypso tuntui olevan jostain "Viidakon tähtösistä" eksynyt - ja äitinä paheksun, ettei Odysseus tavannut äitiään Manalassa.

    Jotkut osuudet olivat näyttäviä, mutta eivät istuneet kokonaisuuteen. Mitä ne alumiinihaarniskaiset isokokoiset saarityypit edes olivat?

    Anne Hathaway riutuneena Penelopena oli mainion kulunut ja rasittunut. Hyvin kriittinen elokuvaseuralainen teki sen myönnytyksen, että Odysseuksen koira näytteli hyvin 😆 Itse tykkäsin alkupuolen unenomaisuudesta. Äänimaailmassa myös paljon hienoa.

    Mutta en oikein lämpene sille, että sankari kirmaa ratkaisevissa kohdissa kolme nuolta torsossaan.

    Joihinkin asioihin oli panostettu paljon, mutta toiset jäivät irrallisiksi. Agamemnonin kypärä oli komea, mutta jäi vähän epäselväksi, mitä hän siellä pasteeraili. Ja Sinonin sota-arpajuttu meni ohi. Välillä oli autenttista ja välillä ei yhtään, olisi ehkä voinut tyylitellä enemmän.

    Ihan rauhassa kyl saa tykätä, jos tykkää.

    Hankin ehkä katsottavaksi tämän vuoden 2024 elokuvan vastapainoksi. Ja lapsuudessa nähty vuoden 1968 toteutus pitäisi ehkä myös katsoa uudestaan.

    #Odysseus

    imdb.com/title/tt19861162/

  2. Kävin katsomassa Nolanin Odysseuksen. Haarniskojen ajantasaisuus ei ole itselleni iso ongelma, ja Troijan Helenan hipiä kelpasi kyllä, mutta en oikein saanut kiinni siitä, mitä Odysseus-elokuva ennen kaikkea halusi olla.

    Veijarinelkeet oli siivottu pois, ja palaa mieleen Terry Gilliamin toteamus, ettei hän hahmota, miten voisi ohjata Iliaan, kun ei saa mukaan näyttelijöiksi kreikkalaisia jumalia. Kirke ja Calypso olivat kummallisia - Calypso tuntui olevan jostain "Viidakon tähtösistä" eksynyt - ja äitinä paheksun, ettei Odysseus tavannut äitiään Manalassa.

    Jotkut osuudet olivat näyttäviä, mutta eivät istuneet kokonaisuuteen. Mitä ne alumiinihaarniskaiset isokokoiset saarityypit edes olivat?

    Anne Hathaway riutuneena Penelopena oli mainion kulunut ja rasittunut. Hyvin kriittinen elokuvaseuralainen teki sen myönnytyksen, että Odysseuksen koira näytteli hyvin 😆 Itse tykkäsin alkupuolen unenomaisuudesta. Äänimaailmassa myös paljon hienoa.

    Mutta en oikein lämpene sille, että sankari kirmaa ratkaisevissa kohdissa kolme nuolta torsossaan.

    Joihinkin asioihin oli panostettu paljon, mutta toiset jäivät irrallisiksi. Agamemnonin kypärä oli komea, mutta jäi vähän epäselväksi, mitä hän siellä pasteeraili. Ja Sinonin sota-arpajuttu meni ohi. Välillä oli autenttista ja välillä ei yhtään, olisi ehkä voinut tyylitellä enemmän.

    Ihan rauhassa kyl saa tykätä, jos tykkää.

    Hankin ehkä katsottavaksi tämän vuoden 2024 elokuvan vastapainoksi. Ja lapsuudessa nähty vuoden 1968 toteutus pitäisi ehkä myös katsoa uudestaan.

    #Odysseus

    imdb.com/title/tt19861162/

  3. Kävin katsomassa Nolanin Odysseuksen. Haarniskojen ajantasaisuus ei ole itselleni iso ongelma, ja Troijan Helenan hipiä kelpasi kyllä, mutta en oikein saanut kiinni siitä, mitä Odysseus-elokuva ennen kaikkea halusi olla.

    Veijarinelkeet oli siivottu pois, ja palaa mieleen Terry Gilliamin toteamus, ettei hän hahmota, miten voisi ohjata Iliaan, kun ei saa mukaan näyttelijöiksi kreikkalaisia jumalia. Kirke ja Calypso olivat kummallisia - Calypso tuntui olevan jostain "Viidakon tähtösistä" eksynyt - ja äitinä paheksun, ettei Odysseus tavannut äitiään Manalassa.

    Jotkut osuudet olivat näyttäviä, mutta eivät istuneet kokonaisuuteen. Mitä ne alumiinihaarniskaiset isokokoiset saarityypit edes olivat?

    Anne Hathaway riutuneena Penelopena oli mainion kulunut ja rasittunut. Hyvin kriittinen elokuvaseuralainen teki sen myönnytyksen, että Odysseuksen koira näytteli hyvin 😆 Itse tykkäsin alkupuolen unenomaisuudesta. Äänimaailmassa myös paljon hienoa.

    Mutta en oikein lämpene sille, että sankari kirmaa ratkaisevissa kohdissa kolme nuolta torsossaan.

    Joihinkin asioihin oli panostettu paljon, mutta toiset jäivät irrallisiksi. Agamemnonin kypärä oli komea, mutta jäi vähän epäselväksi, mitä hän siellä pasteeraili. Ja Sinonin sota-arpajuttu meni ohi. Välillä oli autenttista ja välillä ei yhtään, olisi ehkä voinut tyylitellä enemmän.

    Ihan rauhassa kyl saa tykätä, jos tykkää.

    Hankin ehkä katsottavaksi tämän vuoden 2024 elokuvan vastapainoksi. Ja lapsuudessa nähty vuoden 1968 toteutus pitäisi ehkä myös katsoa uudestaan.

    #Odysseus

    imdb.com/title/tt19861162/

  4. Kävin katsomassa Nolanin Odysseuksen. Haarniskojen ajantasaisuus ei ole itselleni iso ongelma, ja Troijan Helenan hipiä kelpasi kyllä, mutta en oikein saanut kiinni siitä, mitä Odysseus-elokuva ennen kaikkea halusi olla.

    Veijarinelkeet oli siivottu pois, ja palaa mieleen Terry Gilliamin toteamus, ettei hän hahmota, miten voisi ohjata Iliaan, kun ei saa mukaan näyttelijöiksi kreikkalaisia jumalia. Kirke ja Calypso olivat kummallisia - Calypso tuntui olevan jostain "Viidakon tähtösistä" eksynyt - ja äitinä paheksun, ettei Odysseus tavannut äitiään Manalassa.

    Jotkut osuudet olivat näyttäviä, mutta eivät istuneet kokonaisuuteen. Mitä ne alumiinihaarniskaiset isokokoiset saarityypit edes olivat?

    Anne Hathaway riutuneena Penelopena oli mainion kulunut ja rasittunut. Hyvin kriittinen elokuvaseuralainen teki sen myönnytyksen, että Odysseuksen koira näytteli hyvin 😆 Itse tykkäsin alkupuolen unenomaisuudesta. Äänimaailmassa myös paljon hienoa.

    Mutta en oikein lämpene sille, että sankari kirmaa ratkaisevissa kohdissa kolme nuolta torsossaan.

    Joihinkin asioihin oli panostettu paljon, mutta toiset jäivät irrallisiksi. Agamemnonin kypärä oli komea, mutta jäi vähän epäselväksi, mitä hän siellä pasteeraili. Ja Sinonin sota-arpajuttu meni ohi. Välillä oli autenttista ja välillä ei yhtään, olisi ehkä voinut tyylitellä enemmän.

    Ihan rauhassa kyl saa tykätä, jos tykkää.

    Hankin ehkä katsottavaksi tämän vuoden 2024 elokuvan vastapainoksi. Ja lapsuudessa nähty vuoden 1968 toteutus pitäisi ehkä myös katsoa uudestaan.

    #Odysseus

    imdb.com/title/tt19861162/

  5. Kävin katsomassa Nolanin Odysseuksen. Haarniskojen ajantasaisuus ei ole itselleni iso ongelma, ja Troijan Helenan hipiä kelpasi kyllä, mutta en oikein saanut kiinni siitä, mitä Odysseus-elokuva ennen kaikkea halusi olla.

    Veijarinelkeet oli siivottu pois, ja palaa mieleen Terry Gilliamin toteamus, ettei hän hahmota, miten voisi ohjata Iliaan, kun ei saa mukaan näyttelijöiksi kreikkalaisia jumalia. Kirke ja Calypso olivat kummallisia - Calypso tuntui olevan jostain "Viidakon tähtösistä" eksynyt - ja äitinä paheksun, ettei Odysseus tavannut äitiään Manalassa.

    Jotkut osuudet olivat näyttäviä, mutta eivät istuneet kokonaisuuteen. Mitä ne alumiinihaarniskaiset isokokoiset saarityypit edes olivat?

    Anne Hathaway riutuneena Penelopena oli mainion kulunut ja rasittunut. Hyvin kriittinen elokuvaseuralainen teki sen myönnytyksen, että Odysseuksen koira näytteli hyvin 😆 Itse tykkäsin alkupuolen unenomaisuudesta. Äänimaailmassa myös paljon hienoa.

    Mutta en oikein lämpene sille, että sankari kirmaa ratkaisevissa kohdissa kolme nuolta torsossaan.

    Joihinkin asioihin oli panostettu paljon, mutta toiset jäivät irrallisiksi. Agamemnonin kypärä oli komea, mutta jäi vähän epäselväksi, mitä hän siellä pasteeraili. Ja Sinonin sota-arpajuttu meni ohi. Välillä oli autenttista ja välillä ei yhtään, olisi ehkä voinut tyylitellä enemmän.

    Ihan rauhassa kyl saa tykätä, jos tykkää.

    Hankin ehkä katsottavaksi tämän vuoden 2024 elokuvan vastapainoksi. Ja lapsuudessa nähty vuoden 1968 toteutus pitäisi ehkä myös katsoa uudestaan.

    #Odysseus

    imdb.com/title/tt19861162/

  6. "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island" is the most anticipated film in Japan, grossing ¥2.24 billion in its opening weekend, and has taken over most movie screens during the school summer vacation period. japantimes.co.jp/commentary/20 #commentary #japan #chiikawa #anime #manga #movies #hollywood #genz #hellokitty #sanrio #pikachu #odysseus #us

  7. "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island" is the most anticipated film in Japan, grossing ¥2.24 billion in its opening weekend, and has taken over most movie screens during the school summer vacation period. japantimes.co.jp/commentary/20 #commentary #japan #chiikawa #anime #manga #movies #hollywood #genz #hellokitty #sanrio #pikachu #odysseus #us

  8. "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island" is the most anticipated film in Japan, grossing ¥2.24 billion in its opening weekend, and has taken over most movie screens during the school summer vacation period. japantimes.co.jp/commentary/20 #commentary #japan #chiikawa #anime #manga #movies #hollywood #genz #hellokitty #sanrio #pikachu #odysseus #us

  9. "Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island" is the most anticipated film in Japan, grossing ¥2.24 billion in its opening weekend, and has taken over most movie screens during the school summer vacation period. japantimes.co.jp/commentary/20 #commentary #japan #chiikawa #anime #manga #movies #hollywood #genz #hellokitty #sanrio #pikachu #odysseus #us

  10. A quotation from Homer

    And, oh! whate’er Heaven destined to betide,
       Let neither flattery soothe, nor pity hide.
    Prepared I stand: he was but born to try
       The lot of man; to suffer, and to die.
     
    [πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
    μηδέ τί μ᾽ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδ᾽ ἐλεαίρων,
    ἀλλ᾽ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὃπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.]

    Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
    The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 96ff (3.96) (c. 700 BC) [tr. Pope (1725), l. 114ff]

    More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/homer/49946/

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #homer #odyssey #telemachus #odysseus #brutallyhonest #candor #destiny #doom #fate #honesty #meaningoflife #misfortune #mortality #suffering #death

  11. A quotation from Homer

    And, oh! whate’er Heaven destined to betide,
       Let neither flattery soothe, nor pity hide.
    Prepared I stand: he was but born to try
       The lot of man; to suffer, and to die.
     
    [πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
    μηδέ τί μ᾽ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδ᾽ ἐλεαίρων,
    ἀλλ᾽ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὃπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.]

    Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
    The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 96ff (3.96) (c. 700 BC) [tr. Pope (1725), l. 114ff]

    More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/homer/49946/

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #homer #odyssey #telemachus #odysseus #brutallyhonest #candor #destiny #doom #fate #honesty #meaningoflife #misfortune #mortality #suffering #death

  12. A quotation from Homer

    And, oh! whate’er Heaven destined to betide,
       Let neither flattery soothe, nor pity hide.
    Prepared I stand: he was but born to try
       The lot of man; to suffer, and to die.
     
    [πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
    μηδέ τί μ᾽ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδ᾽ ἐλεαίρων,
    ἀλλ᾽ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὃπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.]

    Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
    The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 96ff (3.96) (c. 700 BC) [tr. Pope (1725), l. 114ff]

    More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/homer/49946/

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #homer #odyssey #telemachus #odysseus #brutallyhonest #candor #destiny #doom #fate #honesty #meaningoflife #misfortune #mortality #suffering #death

  13. A quotation from Homer

    And, oh! whate’er Heaven destined to betide,
       Let neither flattery soothe, nor pity hide.
    Prepared I stand: he was but born to try
       The lot of man; to suffer, and to die.
     
    [πέρι γάρ μιν ὀιζυρὸν τέκε μήτηρ.
    μηδέ τί μ᾽ αἰδόμενος μειλίσσεο μηδ᾽ ἐλεαίρων,
    ἀλλ᾽ εὖ μοι κατάλεξον ὃπως ἤντησας ὀπωπῆς.]

    Homer (fl. 7th-8th C. BC) Greek author
    The Odyssey [Ὀδύσσεια], Book 3, l. 96ff (3.96) (c. 700 BC) [tr. Pope (1725), l. 114ff]

    More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/homer/49946/

    #quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #homer #odyssey #telemachus #odysseus #brutallyhonest #candor #destiny #doom #fate #honesty #meaningoflife #misfortune #mortality #suffering #death

  14. 🎞 watched “The Odyssey” at the Metreon in 70mm IMAX on opening weekend, and mostly enjoyed it. No spoilers in this post.


    My pal Rohit (@rohit.khare.org) had bought tickets last year, had a spare, and invited me along last minute. After an early dinner at Cha Cha Cha (@chachachasf.com) we made our way to the Metreon.

    There was a line to get in. I have never before seen a line merely to get into the IMAX theater. We only missed maybe 1-2 movie trailers.

    Our seats were in the front row, only a few seats from the left edge. In general I would not recommend the front 3-4 rows at an IMAX theater because it requires craning your neck back, and lots of swiveling to see the entire screen. Ironically being near the corner helped minimize the latter. Despite being sold out, the seat to my left was empty so I was able to lean back kinda diagonally to take in most of the screen.


    The film itself was excellent (as many others have said).

    There were parts that felt like they dragged a bit, yet also parts that felt rushed, where a bit more build-up before resolution would have hit harder. The only negative of the experience was the seating location in the IMAX theater, and the rigidness of the seats (they’re quite old, not like newer, plushier reclining seats that most theaters have upgraded to.)

    The best part of The Odyssey is despite all the action, it dives into a number of philosophical and other intellectual challenges, illustrated by the situations encountered and paths taken.

    I recommend seeing this film with nerdy friends on the earlier side, grabbing dinner after and discussing the nature, ethics, decisions, actions of the characters, and consequences thereof.

    I definitely want to see it again.

    #TheOdyssey #Odyssey #Odysseus #IMAX #70mmIMAX #IMAX70mm #Metreon #Blaugust #Blaugust2026 #2026_199 #2026_07_18

  15. 🎞 watched “The Odyssey” at the Metreon in 70mm IMAX on opening weekend, and mostly enjoyed it. No spoilers in this post.


    My pal Rohit (@rohit.khare.org) had bought tickets last year, had a spare, and invited me along last minute. After an early dinner at Cha Cha Cha (@chachachasf.com) we made our way to the Metreon.

    There was a line to get in. I have never before seen a line merely to get into the IMAX theater. We only missed maybe 1-2 movie trailers.

    Our seats were in the front row, only a few seats from the left edge. In general I would not recommend the front 3-4 rows at an IMAX theater because it requires craning your neck back, and lots of swiveling to see the entire screen. Ironically being near the corner helped minimize the latter. Despite being sold out, the seat to my left was empty so I was able to lean back kinda diagonally to take in most of the screen.


    The film itself was excellent (as many others have said).

    There were parts that felt like they dragged a bit, yet also parts that felt rushed, where a bit more build-up before resolution would have hit harder. The only negative of the experience was the seating location in the IMAX theater, and the rigidness of the seats (they’re quite old, not like newer, plushier reclining seats that most theaters have upgraded to.)

    The best part of The Odyssey is despite all the action, it dives into a number of philosophical and other intellectual challenges, illustrated by the situations encountered and paths taken.

    I recommend seeing this film with nerdy friends on the earlier side, grabbing dinner after and discussing the nature, ethics, decisions, actions of the characters, and consequences thereof.

    I definitely want to see it again.

    #TheOdyssey #Odyssey #Odysseus #IMAX #70mmIMAX #IMAX70mm #Metreon #Blaugust #Blaugust2026 #2026_199 #2026_07_18

  16. 🎞 watched “The Odyssey” at the Metreon in 70mm IMAX on opening weekend, and mostly enjoyed it. No spoilers in this post.


    My pal Rohit (@rohit.khare.org) had bought tickets last year, had a spare, and invited me along last minute. After an early dinner at Cha Cha Cha (@chachachasf.com) we made our way to the Metreon.

    There was a line to get in. I have never before seen a line merely to get into the IMAX theater. We only missed maybe 1-2 movie trailers.

    Our seats were in the front row, only a few seats from the left edge. In general I would not recommend the front 3-4 rows at an IMAX theater because it requires craning your neck back, and lots of swiveling to see the entire screen. Ironically being near the corner helped minimize the latter. Despite being sold out, the seat to my left was empty so I was able to lean back kinda diagonally to take in most of the screen.


    The film itself was excellent (as many others have said).

    There were parts that felt like they dragged a bit, yet also parts that felt rushed, where a bit more build-up before resolution would have hit harder. The only negative of the experience was the seating location in the IMAX theater, and the rigidness of the seats (they’re quite old, not like newer, plushier reclining seats that most theaters have upgraded to.)

    The best part of The Odyssey is despite all the action, it dives into a number of philosophical and other intellectual challenges, illustrated by the situations encountered and paths taken.

    I recommend seeing this film with nerdy friends on the earlier side, grabbing dinner after and discussing the nature, ethics, decisions, actions of the characters, and consequences thereof.

    I definitely want to see it again.

    #TheOdyssey #Odyssey #Odysseus #IMAX #70mmIMAX #IMAX70mm #Metreon #Blaugust #Blaugust2026 #2026_199 #2026_07_18

  17. 🎞 watched “The Odyssey” at the Metreon in 70mm IMAX on opening weekend, and mostly enjoyed it. No spoilers in this post.


    My pal Rohit (@rohit.khare.org) had bought tickets last year, had a spare, and invited me along last minute. After an early dinner at Cha Cha Cha (@chachachasf.com) we made our way to the Metreon.

    There was a line to get in. I have never before seen a line merely to get into the IMAX theater. We only missed maybe 1-2 movie trailers.

    Our seats were in the front row, only a few seats from the left edge. In general I would not recommend the front 3-4 rows at an IMAX theater because it requires craning your neck back, and lots of swiveling to see the entire screen. Ironically being near the corner helped minimize the latter. Despite being sold out, the seat to my left was empty so I was able to lean back kinda diagonally to take in most of the screen.


    The film itself was excellent (as many others have said).

    There were parts that felt like they dragged a bit, yet also parts that felt rushed, where a bit more build-up before resolution would have hit harder. The only negative of the experience was the seating location in the IMAX theater, and the rigidness of the seats (they’re quite old, not like newer, plushier reclining seats that most theaters have upgraded to.)

    The best part of The Odyssey is despite all the action, it dives into a number of philosophical and other intellectual challenges, illustrated by the situations encountered and paths taken.

    I recommend seeing this film with nerdy friends on the earlier side, grabbing dinner after and discussing the nature, ethics, decisions, actions of the characters, and consequences thereof.

    I definitely want to see it again.

    #TheOdyssey #Odyssey #Odysseus #IMAX #70mmIMAX #IMAX70mm #Metreon #Blaugust #Blaugust2026 #2026_199 #2026_07_18

  18. 🎞 watched “The Odyssey” at the Metreon in 70mm IMAX on opening weekend, and mostly enjoyed it. No spoilers in this post.


    My pal Rohit (@rohit.khare.org) had bought tickets last year, had a spare, and invited me along last minute. After an early dinner at Cha Cha Cha (@chachachasf.com) we made our way to the Metreon.

    There was a line to get in. I have never before seen a line merely to get into the IMAX theater. We only missed maybe 1-2 movie trailers.

    Our seats were in the front row, only a few seats from the left edge. In general I would not recommend the front 3-4 rows at an IMAX theater because it requires craning your neck back, and lots of swiveling to see the entire screen. Ironically being near the corner helped minimize the latter. Despite being sold out, the seat to my left was empty so I was able to lean back kinda diagonally to take in most of the screen.


    The film itself was excellent (as many others have said).

    There were parts that felt like they dragged a bit, yet also parts that felt rushed, where a bit more build-up before resolution would have hit harder. The only negative of the experience was the seating location in the IMAX theater, and the rigidness of the seats (they’re quite old, not like newer, plushier reclining seats that most theaters have upgraded to.)

    The best part of The Odyssey is despite all the action, it dives into a number of philosophical and other intellectual challenges, illustrated by the situations encountered and paths taken.

    I recommend seeing this film with nerdy friends on the earlier side, grabbing dinner after and discussing the nature, ethics, decisions, actions of the characters, and consequences thereof.

    I definitely want to see it again.

    #TheOdyssey #Odyssey #Odysseus #IMAX #70mmIMAX #IMAX70mm #Metreon #Blaugust #Blaugust2026 #2026_199 #2026_07_18

  19. The Odyssey: A Review

    Have you ever had one of those moments in life that at the time felt like a great victory, but then turned sour later on, leading to regret? I have. It’s no fun to look back on. It can hurt worse to look in the mirror.

    Sure you can go into therapy to help you feel better about your choices and the ramifications. But first you have to face them, own them, and accept responsibility.

    Or you could try to bury them in the bottle. Or drugs, illicit or otherwise. Or some other way of trying to keep them from resurfacing. Or you could just throw up your hands, blame the gods. Perhaps defy them. But in the end the choices you make define you. How you deal with the definition tells your story.

    That’s essentially the story of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Much the same as it was with Oppenheimer. Do a thing. Do it well. Succeed. Then realize what you’ve done has unleashed problems bigger than the one you set out to overcome.

    Is The Odyssey a good film? In my opinion, yes. Bordering on being very good one. It’s not a great one. You can see Nolan’s affection for the story he’s telling and his passion for the techniques he’s using to do so in every frame. That passion for filmmaking his way is also what keeps The Odyssey from being a great film.

    In general I blow hot and cold on Nolan’s work. While he can create some thrilling cinema, his attention to his process creates an almost Brechtian alienation, while still embracing the story he’s trying to tell. And make no mistake this Odyssey is Nolan’s story more than it is Homer’s. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is a movie after all, and a story to tell the way he wants too. But in most of his movies, his love for his craft and artistry is too distancing to lure me in.

    As to the story, the similarities between The Odyssey and Oppenheimer are easy to see. Man uses his ingenuity to do the impossible, man ends up regretting the result. Nolan told that story better in Oppenheimer.

    Both films contain big moments of spectacle alternating with more intimate scenes. I walked away from Oppenheimer less impressed with the apparent painstaking to create explosions than I was with the more intimate scenes which I found infinitely more frightening and revealing. I don’t feel the same way about The Odyssey, although the work to create the Cyclops and Circe’s turning Odysseus’ men into swine pays off very well. The intimate scenes in The Odyssey did not capture me the way I think Nolan thought they would. The spectacle largely worked well. Which brings me to Matt Damon.

    I don’t think Damon was the best choice for the lead. Given the framing that Nolan chose to wrap his story in, he certainly wasn’t. Following the poem’s lead in alternating timelines, Damon seemed to be the same throughout most of the film, until his return home.

    Damon’s known for his straight ahead with purpose presence on screen, plowing through any obstacle in his path, typically with a strong resolve that’s unyielding. Prior to seeing the film I thought the casting made great sense. Yet it did not in practice. I never felt Damon transition from a “something’s really bothering me about all of this” gest into a leader of confidence and cunning until the final act. He just seemed bothered.

    Part of that is certainly in the writing, both Nolan’s and Homer’s, given that the story is more about looking back in the aftermath. That makes sense while he’s trying to come to grips with all he’s wrought after the sack of Troy, but not in the early stages of his adventure, which we’re treated to in flashbacks. There’s no self-accomplished, self-aggrandizing height from which he can fall. His compatriots around him acted as if they were seeing something out of the ordinary, yet we never really saw what bonded their allegiance to him in the first place.

    The other aspect of The Odyssey that keeps it from being a great film is the Netflix-like don’t trust your audience to pay attention restating of Zeus’ law, which grounds Odysseus’ guilt. The point that Zeus’s golden rule (be kind to strangers and guests-you never know they may be a god in disguise) is repeated so frequently, it often feels like Nolan the screenwriter didn’t trust it as the central motivating point for his character’s actions and struggles.

    On the plus side, Nolan has assembled an incredible cast of actors around Damon that we’re used to seeing carry their own films and that largely pays off. Although some seem underused. The visual and aural experience can be stunning. I particularly like the choice of orchestrations in the soundtrack. The special effects have their special moments.

    Is it worth seeing? I’d say yes. I’d also say that what it offers will not be substantially different once it becomes a streaming success than it is in the theaters, especially the limited number of venues that show it in the format the director wishes.

    I won’t get into the squabbles that have surrounded this film with more free publicity than you can shake a stick at. With one exception. I keep reading and hearing folks saying Nolan’s version of The Odyssey is as much about today as it is about the age the story takes place in. Of course in today’s world that means some love that and some hate that. That has more to do with Homer than it has to do with Nolan.

    The reason many of certain generations are at least tangentially familiar with The Odyssey is Homer wrote a story about humankind that is as enduring as the flaws and faults we as a species share and keep repeating. It’s a mirror that exposes those flaws that we really work hard to avoid looking into. It’s a difficult story that needs telling in and of itself, and has found itself as the foundation of many different variants in other forms. Funny thing is, we never seem to learn from it, regardless of its trappings.

    Thanks for reading. You can subscribe to this blog if you care to. You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. This site does not use affilate links.

     

    #art #ChristopherNolan #cinema #Culture #Cyclops #Film #Homer #MattDamon #Movies #Odysseus #Poetry #TheOdyssey
  20. The Odyssey: A Review

    Have you ever had one of those moments in life that at the time felt like a great victory, but then turned sour later on, leading to regret? I have. It’s no fun to look back on. It can hurt worse to look in the mirror.

    Sure you can go into therapy to help you feel better about your choices and the ramifications. But first you have to face them, own them, and accept responsibility.

    Or you could try to bury them in the bottle. Or drugs, illicit or otherwise. Or some other way of trying to keep them from resurfacing. Or you could just throw up your hands, blame the gods. Perhaps defy them. But in the end the choices you make define you. How you deal with the definition tells your story.

    That’s essentially the story of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Much the same as it was with Oppenheimer. Do a thing. Do it well. Succeed. Then realize what you’ve done has unleashed problems bigger than the one you set out to overcome.

    Is The Odyssey a good film? In my opinion, yes. Bordering on being very good one. It’s not a great one. You can see Nolan’s affection for the story he’s telling and his passion for the techniques he’s using to do so in every frame. That passion for filmmaking his way is also what keeps The Odyssey from being a great film.

    In general I blow hot and cold on Nolan’s work. While he can create some thrilling cinema, his attention to his process creates an almost Brechtian alienation, while still embracing the story he’s trying to tell. And make no mistake this Odyssey is Nolan’s story more than it is Homer’s. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is a movie after all, and a story to tell the way he wants too. But in most of his movies, his love for his craft and artistry is too distancing to lure me in.

    As to the story, the similarities between The Odyssey and Oppenheimer are easy to see. Man uses his ingenuity to do the impossible, man ends up regretting the result. Nolan told that story better in Oppenheimer.

    Both films contain big moments of spectacle alternating with more intimate scenes. I walked away from Oppenheimer less impressed with the apparent painstaking to create explosions than I was with the more intimate scenes which I found infinitely more frightening and revealing. I don’t feel the same way about The Odyssey, although the work to create the Cyclops and Circe’s turning Odysseus’ men into swine pays off very well. The intimate scenes in The Odyssey did not capture me the way I think Nolan thought they would. The spectacle largely worked well. Which brings me to Matt Damon.

    I don’t think Damon was the best choice for the lead. Given the framing that Nolan chose to wrap his story in, he certainly wasn’t. Following the poem’s lead in alternating timelines, Damon seemed to be the same throughout most of the film, until his return home.

    Damon’s known for his straight ahead with purpose presence on screen, plowing through any obstacle in his path, typically with a strong resolve that’s unyielding. Prior to seeing the film I thought the casting made great sense. Yet it did not in practice. I never felt Damon transition from a “something’s really bothering me about all of this” gest into a leader of confidence and cunning until the final act. He just seemed bothered.

    Part of that is certainly in the writing, both Nolan’s and Homer’s, given that the story is more about looking back in the aftermath. That makes sense while he’s trying to come to grips with all he’s wrought after the sack of Troy, but not in the early stages of his adventure, which we’re treated to in flashbacks. There’s no self-accomplished, self-aggrandizing height from which he can fall. His compatriots around him acted as if they were seeing something out of the ordinary, yet we never really saw what bonded their allegiance to him in the first place.

    The other aspect of The Odyssey that keeps it from being a great film is the Netflix-like don’t trust your audience to pay attention restating of Zeus’ law, which grounds Odysseus’ guilt. The point that Zeus’s golden rule (be kind to strangers and guests-you never know they may be a god in disguise) is repeated so frequently, it often feels like Nolan the screenwriter didn’t trust it as the central motivating point for his character’s actions and struggles.

    On the plus side, Nolan has assembled an incredible cast of actors around Damon that we’re used to seeing carry their own films and that largely pays off. Although some seem underused. The visual and aural experience can be stunning. I particularly like the choice of orchestrations in the soundtrack. The special effects have their special moments.

    Is it worth seeing? I’d say yes. I’d also say that what it offers will not be substantially different once it becomes a streaming success than it is in the theaters, especially the limited number of venues that show it in the format the director wishes.

    I won’t get into the squabbles that have surrounded this film with more free publicity than you can shake a stick at. With one exception. I keep reading and hearing folks saying Nolan’s version of The Odyssey is as much about today as it is about the age the story takes place in. Of course in today’s world that means some love that and some hate that. That has more to do with Homer than it has to do with Nolan.

    The reason many of certain generations are at least tangentially familiar with The Odyssey is Homer wrote a story about humankind that is as enduring as the flaws and faults we as a species share and keep repeating. It’s a mirror that exposes those flaws that we really work hard to avoid looking into. It’s a difficult story that needs telling in and of itself, and has found itself as the foundation of many different variants in other forms. Funny thing is, we never seem to learn from it, regardless of its trappings.

    Thanks for reading. You can subscribe to this blog if you care to. You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. This site does not use affilate links.

     

    #art #ChristopherNolan #cinema #Culture #Cyclops #Film #Homer #MattDamon #Movies #Odysseus #Poetry #TheOdyssey
  21. The Odyssey: A Review

    Have you ever had one of those moments in life that at the time felt like a great victory, but then turned sour later on, leading to regret? I have. It’s no fun to look back on. It can hurt worse to look in the mirror.

    Sure you can go into therapy to help you feel better about your choices and the ramifications. But first you have to face them, own them, and accept responsibility.

    Or you could try to bury them in the bottle. Or drugs, illicit or otherwise. Or some other way of trying to keep them from resurfacing. Or you could just throw up your hands, blame the gods. Perhaps defy them. But in the end the choices you make define you. How you deal with the definition tells your story.

    That’s essentially the story of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Much the same as it was with Oppenheimer. Do a thing. Do it well. Succeed. Then realize what you’ve done has unleashed problems bigger than the one you set out to overcome.

    Is The Odyssey a good film? In my opinion, yes. Bordering on being very good one. It’s not a great one. You can see Nolan’s affection for the story he’s telling and his passion for the techniques he’s using to do so in every frame. That passion for filmmaking his way is also what keeps The Odyssey from being a great film.

    In general I blow hot and cold on Nolan’s work. While he can create some thrilling cinema, his attention to his process creates an almost Brechtian alienation, while still embracing the story he’s trying to tell. And make no mistake this Odyssey is Nolan’s story more than it is Homer’s. There’s nothing wrong with that. It is a movie after all, and a story to tell the way he wants too. But in most of his movies, his love for his craft and artistry is too distancing to lure me in.

    As to the story, the similarities between The Odyssey and Oppenheimer are easy to see. Man uses his ingenuity to do the impossible, man ends up regretting the result. Nolan told that story better in Oppenheimer.

    Both films contain big moments of spectacle alternating with more intimate scenes. I walked away from Oppenheimer less impressed with the apparent painstaking to create explosions than I was with the more intimate scenes which I found infinitely more frightening and revealing. I don’t feel the same way about The Odyssey, although the work to create the Cyclops and Circe’s turning Odysseus’ men into swine pays off very well. The intimate scenes in The Odyssey did not capture me the way I think Nolan thought they would. The spectacle largely worked well. Which brings me to Matt Damon.

    I don’t think Damon was the best choice for the lead. Given the framing that Nolan chose to wrap his story in, he certainly wasn’t. Following the poem’s lead in alternating timelines, Damon seemed to be the same throughout most of the film, until his return home.

    Damon’s known for his straight ahead with purpose presence on screen, plowing through any obstacle in his path, typically with a strong resolve that’s unyielding. Prior to seeing the film I thought the casting made great sense. Yet it did not in practice. I never felt Damon transition from a “something’s really bothering me about all of this” gest into a leader of confidence and cunning until the final act. He just seemed bothered.

    Part of that is certainly in the writing, both Nolan’s and Homer’s, given that the story is more about looking back in the aftermath. That makes sense while he’s trying to come to grips with all he’s wrought after the sack of Troy, but not in the early stages of his adventure, which we’re treated to in flashbacks. There’s no self-accomplished, self-aggrandizing height from which he can fall. His compatriots around him acted as if they were seeing something out of the ordinary, yet we never really saw what bonded their allegiance to him in the first place.

    The other aspect of The Odyssey that keeps it from being a great film is the Netflix-like don’t trust your audience to pay attention restating of Zeus’ law, which grounds Odysseus’ guilt. The point that Zeus’s golden rule (be kind to strangers and guests-you never know they may be a god in disguise) is repeated so frequently, it often feels like Nolan the screenwriter didn’t trust it as the central motivating point for his character’s actions and struggles.

    On the plus side, Nolan has assembled an incredible cast of actors around Damon that we’re used to seeing carry their own films and that largely pays off. Although some seem underused. The visual and aural experience can be stunning. I particularly like the choice of orchestrations in the soundtrack. The special effects have their special moments.

    Is it worth seeing? I’d say yes. I’d also say that what it offers will not be substantially different once it becomes a streaming success than it is in the theaters, especially the limited number of venues that show it in the format the director wishes.

    I won’t get into the squabbles that have surrounded this film with more free publicity than you can shake a stick at. With one exception. I keep reading and hearing folks saying Nolan’s version of The Odyssey is as much about today as it is about the age the story takes place in. Of course in today’s world that means some love that and some hate that. That has more to do with Homer than it has to do with Nolan.

    The reason many of certain generations are at least tangentially familiar with The Odyssey is Homer wrote a story about humankind that is as enduring as the flaws and faults we as a species share and keep repeating. It’s a mirror that exposes those flaws that we really work hard to avoid looking into. It’s a difficult story that needs telling in and of itself, and has found itself as the foundation of many different variants in other forms. Funny thing is, we never seem to learn from it, regardless of its trappings.

    Thanks for reading. You can subscribe to this blog if you care to. You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. This site does not use affilate links.

     

    #art #ChristopherNolan #cinema #Culture #Cyclops #Film #Homer #MattDamon #Movies #Odysseus #Poetry #TheOdyssey
  22. 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路
    路蘭新作《奧德賽》,重構三千年前荷馬筆下Odysseus長達十年的漂泊之旅,難免觸動離散港人的鄉愁。 在路蘭的 […]
    The post 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路 appeared first on 棱角媒體.
    #加拿大/北美 #博客 #文化 #最新
    points-media.com/最新/【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創

  23. 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路
    路蘭新作《奧德賽》,重構三千年前荷馬筆下Odysseus長達十年的漂泊之旅,難免觸動離散港人的鄉愁。 在路蘭的 […]
    The post 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路 appeared first on 棱角媒體.
    #加拿大/北美 #博客 #文化 #最新
    points-media.com/最新/【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創

  24. 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路
    路蘭新作《奧德賽》,重構三千年前荷馬筆下Odysseus長達十年的漂泊之旅,難免觸動離散港人的鄉愁。 在路蘭的 […]
    The post 【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創傷、離散、療癒和回家之路 appeared first on 棱角媒體.
    #加拿大/北美 #博客 #文化 #最新
    points-media.com/最新/【鄒崇銘】奧德賽:創

  25. fromoldbooks.org/Sachsen-Odyss

    Another engraving from Homer’s Odyssey. Seems like a good time for them :-)

    This time i included the border, which is also used for the full-page illustrations.

    Can you tell me more about what’s going on here? This is at the start of the poem. See Web page for my uninformed guesses :-)

    #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #Homer #Odysseus #Odysee #Odyssey #ancientGreece #chapterHead #engraving

  26. fromoldbooks.org/Sachsen-Odyss

    Another engraving from Homer’s Odyssey. Seems like a good time for them :-)

    This time i included the border, which is also used for the full-page illustrations.

    Can you tell me more about what’s going on here? This is at the start of the poem. See Web page for my uninformed guesses :-)

    #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #Homer #Odysseus #Odysee #Odyssey #ancientGreece #chapterHead #engraving

  27. fromoldbooks.org/Sachsen-Odyss

    Another engraving from Homer’s Odyssey. Seems like a good time for them :-)

    This time i included the border, which is also used for the full-page illustrations.

    Can you tell me more about what’s going on here? This is at the start of the poem. See Web page for my uninformed guesses :-)

    #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #Homer #Odysseus #Odysee #Odyssey #ancientGreece #chapterHead #engraving

  28. fromoldbooks.org/Sachsen-Odyss

    Another engraving from Homer’s Odyssey. Seems like a good time for them :-)

    This time i included the border, which is also used for the full-page illustrations.

    Can you tell me more about what’s going on here? This is at the start of the poem. See Web page for my uninformed guesses :-)

    #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #Homer #Odysseus #Odysee #Odyssey #ancientGreece #chapterHead #engraving

  29. fromoldbooks.org/Sachsen-Odyss

    Another engraving from Homer’s Odyssey. Seems like a good time for them :-)

    This time i included the border, which is also used for the full-page illustrations.

    Can you tell me more about what’s going on here? This is at the start of the poem. See Web page for my uninformed guesses :-)

    #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #fobo #Homer #Odysseus #Odysee #Odyssey #ancientGreece #chapterHead #engraving

  30. “In Nolan’s version, whose script Wilson claims she would have been “ashamed to have written”, #Penelope is “barely more interesting” than the doll he has #Odysseus carry to represent her.” theconversation.com/in-homers-ep... #TheOdyssey

    In Homer’s epic, a bold prince...

  31. “In Nolan’s version, whose script Wilson claims she would have been “ashamed to have written”, #Penelope is “barely more interesting” than the doll he has #Odysseus carry to represent her.” theconversation.com/in-homers-ep... #TheOdyssey

    In Homer’s epic, a bold prince...

  32. “In Nolan’s version, whose script Wilson claims she would have been “ashamed to have written”, #Penelope is “barely more interesting” than the doll he has #Odysseus carry to represent her.” theconversation.com/in-homers-ep... #TheOdyssey

    In Homer’s epic, a bold prince...

  33. So, I read an excellent essay about #ToxicMasculinity a few years ago. Pretty much, it has to do with #hierarchy (#capitalism / #colonialism) making men feel powerless -- so they bully other men for dominance, and the result is dominating attitudes toward those perceived as lower in status (women, girls, foreigners, etc).

    In many ways, it goes way back to #AncientGreece -- pretty much, the only ones who had any rights at all were landowning men who were Greek citizens. And, of course, power, wealth and status dominating over those dominated men. #TheOdyssey and #Odysseus' attitude toward women (other than Penelope), those of lesser status, and foreigners -- was typical of the Achaean male viewpoint.

    @Remittancegirl @Crystal_Fish_Caves

  34. So, I read an excellent essay about #ToxicMasculinity a few years ago. Pretty much, it has to do with #hierarchy (#capitalism / #colonialism) making men feel powerless -- so they bully other men for dominance, and the result is dominating attitudes toward those perceived as lower in status (women, girls, foreigners, etc).

    In many ways, it goes way back to #AncientGreece -- pretty much, the only ones who had any rights at all were landowning men who were Greek citizens. And, of course, power, wealth and status dominating over those dominated men. #TheOdyssey and #Odysseus' attitude toward women (other than Penelope), those of lesser status, and foreigners -- was typical of the Achaean male viewpoint.

    @Remittancegirl @Crystal_Fish_Caves

  35. So, I read an excellent essay about #ToxicMasculinity a few years ago. Pretty much, it has to do with #hierarchy (#capitalism / #colonialism) making men feel powerless -- so they bully other men for dominance, and the result is dominating attitudes toward those perceived as lower in status (women, girls, foreigners, etc).

    In many ways, it goes way back to #AncientGreece -- pretty much, the only ones who had any rights at all were landowning men who were Greek citizens. And, of course, power, wealth and status dominating over those dominated men. #TheOdyssey and #Odysseus' attitude toward women (other than Penelope), those of lesser status, and foreigners -- was typical of the Achaean male viewpoint.

    @Remittancegirl @Crystal_Fish_Caves

  36. So, I read an excellent essay about #ToxicMasculinity a few years ago. Pretty much, it has to do with #hierarchy (#capitalism / #colonialism) making men feel powerless -- so they bully other men for dominance, and the result is dominating attitudes toward those perceived as lower in status (women, girls, foreigners, etc).

    In many ways, it goes way back to #AncientGreece -- pretty much, the only ones who had any rights at all were landowning men who were Greek citizens. And, of course, power, wealth and status dominating over those dominated men. #TheOdyssey and #Odysseus' attitude toward women (other than Penelope), those of lesser status, and foreigners -- was typical of the Achaean male viewpoint.

    @Remittancegirl @Crystal_Fish_Caves

  37. So, I read an excellent essay about #ToxicMasculinity a few years ago. Pretty much, it has to do with #hierarchy (#capitalism / #colonialism) making men feel powerless -- so they bully other men for dominance, and the result is dominating attitudes toward those perceived as lower in status (women, girls, foreigners, etc).

    In many ways, it goes way back to #AncientGreece -- pretty much, the only ones who had any rights at all were landowning men who were Greek citizens. And, of course, power, wealth and status dominating over those dominated men. #TheOdyssey and #Odysseus' attitude toward women (other than Penelope), those of lesser status, and foreigners -- was typical of the Achaean male viewpoint.

    @Remittancegirl @Crystal_Fish_Caves

  38. There are so man #craft lessons #writers can learn from #TheOdyssey (#homer, not #ChristopherNolan), as long as they don't try to shoehorn modern paradigms onto an ancient poem. Learn how Homer uses parallel episodes to show #Odysseus' character growth.

    #writingcommunity #odyssey

    aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/07/

  39. There are so man #craft lessons #writers can learn from #TheOdyssey (#homer, not #ChristopherNolan), as long as they don't try to shoehorn modern paradigms onto an ancient poem. Learn how Homer uses parallel episodes to show #Odysseus' character growth.

    #writingcommunity #odyssey

    aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/07/

  40. There are so man #craft lessons #writers can learn from #TheOdyssey (#homer, not #ChristopherNolan), as long as they don't try to shoehorn modern paradigms onto an ancient poem. Learn how Homer uses parallel episodes to show #Odysseus' character growth.

    #writingcommunity #odyssey

    aarubin.wordpress.com/2026/07/

  41. The Odyssey, een recensie (1b)

    De vrijers en Penelope (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden)

    [Dit is het tweede van drie blogjes die Nimue van Dijk wijdde aan de speelfilm The Odyssey. Het eerste was hier.] 

    Een ander element dat het zwaartepunt bij Odysseus’ psyche legt is de fysieke afwezigheid van de goden. Hun aanwezigheid is wel voelbaar, door rommelende donder en een woeste zee, maar ze verschijnen niet, wat je als kijker motiveert om goed op te letten. Odysseus zelf lijkt sceptisch over bovennatuurlijke krachten. “We can’t live by omens and sacrifices,” zegt hij tegen zijn vermoeide mannen. Athene, de enige godin die wel een rol speelt, blijkt het gezicht te hebben van een priesteres die Odysseus door de Grieken gegrepen heeft zien worden in Troje. Deze scène wordt gecontrasteerd met het hoofd van een standbeeld van Athene dat in haar tempel wordt afgehakt; de godin en de onschuldige vrouw zijn één geworden voor Odysseus. In deze gedaante achtervolgt ze hem tijdens zijn reis, en dit, naast de toevoeging van Sinon, suggereert dat hij gedreven wordt door zijn eigen geweten, niet door goddelijke interventie.

    Oorlogsslachtoffers

    Athene is, ondanks haar minimale schermtijd, een belangrijk figuur. Ze kan gelezen worden als symbool voor de onschuldige oorlogsslachtoffers van Troje, en het is binnen dit narratief niet toevallig dat ze een vrouwelijke godheid is. Ik kreeg zelf de indruk dat de film er, onder het oppervlak van de focus op Odysseus, naar hintte dat de slachtoffers van mannelijke oorlogszucht vaak vrouwen zijn. Het geschreeuw dat we in Troje horen is duidelijk vrouwelijk, en we zien expliciet hoe de Griekse soldaten vrouwen donkere hoeken in slepen. Terwijl de mannen die in Troje sterven grotendeels anonieme soldaten zijn, worden de brute gevolgen van de oorlog voor elk vrouwelijk karakter in de film duidelijk in beeld gebracht.

    Helena heeft zowel fysieke als mentale littekens omdat ze de zondebok is geworden van een oorlog die ze zelf niet begonnen is; er wordt duidelijk gemaakt dat het eigenlijk om controle over handelsroutes ging. Klytaemnestra wordt vermoord omdat ze gerechtigheid zocht na het offer van haar dochter. Kirke ontdoet Odysseus’ mannen van hun “vermomming” en verandert ze in de varkens die ze in Troje al bleken te zijn, uit zelfverdediging. Kalypso draagt de zware emotionele last van het verzorgen van een door de oorlog gebroken man, om uiteindelijk weer in de steek gelaten te worden. Penelope geeft Odysseus een figuurtje van Athene mee om hem te beschermen; door verderf te brengen middels een “geschenk voor Athene”, het Paard van Troje, en haar tempel in Troje te onteren, schendt hij niet alleen Zeus’ Law, maar ook de bescherming waar zijn vrouw om gebeden heeft.

    Penelope

    Penelope is misschien wel het karakter dat het meest lijdt onder de voorrang die de film verleent aan de belevingswereld van Odysseus. De dynamiek tussen Penelope en Telemachos werkt; het weglaten van Telemachos’ vrouwonvriendelijke trekjes zorgt ervoor dat er sympathie ontstaat voor zowel moeder als zoon, en dat hun beperkte schermtijd bestaat uit gedeelde frustratie, spanning, maar ook wederzijds respect. Nolans Penelope zelf voelt echter als een onvervulde belofte. De film laat zien dat ze al jarenlang onder hoogspanning staat. Ze houdt zich waardig, houdt de vrijers op afstand, verlangt naar de terugkeer van Odysseus. Maar hij blijft weg, verhalen over zijn lot blijken leugens, haar vertrouwen in zijn terugkeren neemt af, het koninkrijk wordt geteisterd en dit cumulatieve gewicht eist zijn tol op Penelope.

    Antinoös ontdekt dat ze het hertrouwen uitstelt door de lijkwade die ze weeft nooit af te krijgen, en probeert op haar in te spelen door te herkennen dat ze doodop moet zijn van al het wachten en alle onzekerheid. Hij vindt dat ze na bijna twintig jaar haar echtelijke plicht wel vervuld heeft. Ze toont zich gevoelig voor zijn verhaal; de effecten van de terreur die ze dagelijks doorstaat beginnen bijna net zo zwaar te wegen als haar liefde voor haar man. Ook naar Telemachos doet ze een ontstemde uithaal: “I’ve been sitting on this empty throne for twenty years!”, wat een toespeling is naar de frustratie die ze voelt als vrouw in een mannenwereld.

    Maar als Odysseus eindelijk terugkeert, en ook nog eens blijkt wat voor een oorlogsmisdadiger hij is, lijkt de opgekropte emotie te verdampen. Na alles wat hij haar aangedaan heeft wordt ze meteen weer aan zijn wil onderworpen: terwijl ze hem net een paar seconden vastheeft begint hij al over ballingschap, en snijdt de film naar scènes waarin ze samen wegvaren. Op zich een passend einde voor Odysseus, die nog eer aan zijn gevallen mannen moet betonen en zich na zijn bezinningen wellicht geen koning van Ithaka meer voelt, maar ik vind dat Penelope de scène met hun trouwbed verdiende, om recht te doen aan wat twintig jaar lang haar realiteit was.

    [Deze gastbijdrage van Nimue van Dijk wordt zo meteen vervolgd. Dank je wel Nimue!]

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    simply great #literature

    or do they compress functional #pattern s of complex adaptive systems that help explain their persistence across millennia?

    That is the testable hypothesis explored in my new paper.

    doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

  43. Are the #Iliad, the #Odyssey, and #Odysseus

    simply great #literature

    or do they compress functional #pattern s of complex adaptive systems that help explain their persistence across millennia?

    That is the testable hypothesis explored in my new paper.

    doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

  44. Are the #Iliad, the #Odyssey, and #Odysseus

    simply great #literature

    or do they compress functional #pattern s of complex adaptive systems that help explain their persistence across millennia?

    That is the testable hypothesis explored in my new paper.

    doi.org/10.5281/zeno...

  45. Are the #Iliad, the #Odyssey, and #Odysseus

    simply great #literature

    or do they compress functional #pattern s of complex adaptive systems that help explain their persistence across millennia?

    That is the testable hypothesis explored in my new paper.

    doi.org/10.5281/zeno...