Reading this " but the modern world is Odyssean: great migrations, gap years, road trips; we have lived with Odyssean technology for centuries: trains, planes, and automobiles; we all have careers, which means ‘journey through life’; our highest aspiration is still to undertake the new quest in space" after reading Alex Tabarrok's piece in today's MR that quoted: "most people in the world have never flown in an airplane. Most do not own a car or a bicycle" made me pause at your review. Perhaps Nolan is seeing a world more like the Iliad and perhaps that is the real world today where most people DON'T journey, so that the Odyssey is new and fresh.
I believe it's a fair adaptation of the original, and I was deeply moved when, after many twists and turns, we were shown the actual sack of Troy. The casting choices that were so controversial worked very well for me. People laughed about Elliot Page playing the character of an ancient soldier, but he is very convincing playing a shade.
In ancient times, people gathered around a bard to listen to this timeless story. Our grandfathers read it, perhaps in Greek; our fathers in a shiny translation; and I read different adaptations and related works, but never a full translation of the original. I invited my nephews to the screening, and they now know this story through Nolan.
Reading this " but the modern world is Odyssean: great migrations, gap years, road trips; we have lived with Odyssean technology for centuries: trains, planes, and automobiles; we all have careers, which means ‘journey through life’; our highest aspiration is still to undertake the new quest in space" after reading Alex Tabarrok's piece in today's MR that quoted: "most people in the world have never flown in an airplane. Most do not own a car or a bicycle" made me pause at your review. Perhaps Nolan is seeing a world more like the Iliad and perhaps that is the real world today where most people DON'T journey, so that the Odyssey is new and fresh.
Those who do not travel are also integral to the Odyssey!
I watched it yesterday and I loved it.
I believe it's a fair adaptation of the original, and I was deeply moved when, after many twists and turns, we were shown the actual sack of Troy. The casting choices that were so controversial worked very well for me. People laughed about Elliot Page playing the character of an ancient soldier, but he is very convincing playing a shade.
In ancient times, people gathered around a bard to listen to this timeless story. Our grandfathers read it, perhaps in Greek; our fathers in a shiny translation; and I read different adaptations and related works, but never a full translation of the original. I invited my nephews to the screening, and they now know this story through Nolan.
It will survive another generation.
I agree about adaptation and casting
Emily Wilson’s “translation” is, in your view, very good?