redfiona99 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
redfiona99) wrote2004-01-03 12:14 am
redfiona99) wrote2004-01-03 12:14 am
On 'Troy' mainly
but also about me and Iliad/Odyssey, and quite why I'm so terrified about Troy.
Okay, when I was in primary school once a week we got to see a tape of an educational programme. Now they were a lot more fun than they sound, some of them, like 'The Dragon's Eye' were full on marvellous.
Anyway, one of these was called 'Zig-Zag' and it's feature for a couple of weeks was a cartoon of the Odyssey.
Now it finished at the part with 'Scylla and Charibdis' (which I have misspelt) but it was quite good, and ignited my Greek phase.
So Odysseus has always been one of those characters that I love. Because all he wants to do is finish the war and get home. That's probably also why I like Maximus in 'Gladiator'.
Back to the point - as with all things general consenus on the whole Iliad/Odyssey thing changes over time. When I first hoped on board it was all yay, Odysseus, because he was the one good man.
Now opinion, or the bits of opinion that I've caught, have swung the other way entirely, making him out to be a devious, manipulative sod.
Which he wasn't. He was a tactical genius, and the wooden horse was a fine bit of lateral thinking (yes, I know it was sneaky, but for goodness sake, after ten years I'd be reduced to sneaky as well).
Which gets me onto things which worry me -
1) The film will portray Odysseus as a devious, manipulative sod. This has been partly asuaged by casting Sean Bean and giving him a beard. I'm hoping that they'll let him be a good guy for once and not be his usual Hollywood bad guy. Plus the beard makes him look warm and cuddly.
Actually, I'll hit the next film critic/commentator who complains about casting a Yorkshire man as an ancient Greek hero. They had differing accents too plus it's better him being played by a tough Northern rather than some soft Southerner or Yank.
2) Brad Pitt as Achilles. I think he's a good actor, but I can't for the life of me see him as Achilles. Which leads to
3) Not having Achilles be the whiny, snivelling, good-for nothing sour sulky puss that he actually is. Okay, this is my Mother indoctrinating me again but really to throw a hissy-fit and refuse to fight just because of something stupid is not the act of a hero. And then poor Patroclus...(okay, so I have a soft spot for Patroclus too.) Plus, if they don't have him dragging Hector's body around Troy, pulled by his chariot, I shall complain.
4) If they make poor, noble, if slightly stupid and arrogant Hector into a villan I will also complain.
5) If they let Achilles be the one who thinks up the Trojan horse I really will scream. And tear my hair out.
6) If Paris is not a coward, I will mutter.
Actually I think Orlando Bloom is perfectly cast as Paris as is Sean Bean. And Peter O'Toole as Priam is going to make me weep like a child. Actually, I'm in love with most of the casting (and the director).
Okay, when I was in primary school once a week we got to see a tape of an educational programme. Now they were a lot more fun than they sound, some of them, like 'The Dragon's Eye' were full on marvellous.
Anyway, one of these was called 'Zig-Zag' and it's feature for a couple of weeks was a cartoon of the Odyssey.
Now it finished at the part with 'Scylla and Charibdis' (which I have misspelt) but it was quite good, and ignited my Greek phase.
So Odysseus has always been one of those characters that I love. Because all he wants to do is finish the war and get home. That's probably also why I like Maximus in 'Gladiator'.
Back to the point - as with all things general consenus on the whole Iliad/Odyssey thing changes over time. When I first hoped on board it was all yay, Odysseus, because he was the one good man.
Now opinion, or the bits of opinion that I've caught, have swung the other way entirely, making him out to be a devious, manipulative sod.
Which he wasn't. He was a tactical genius, and the wooden horse was a fine bit of lateral thinking (yes, I know it was sneaky, but for goodness sake, after ten years I'd be reduced to sneaky as well).
Which gets me onto things which worry me -
1) The film will portray Odysseus as a devious, manipulative sod. This has been partly asuaged by casting Sean Bean and giving him a beard. I'm hoping that they'll let him be a good guy for once and not be his usual Hollywood bad guy. Plus the beard makes him look warm and cuddly.
Actually, I'll hit the next film critic/commentator who complains about casting a Yorkshire man as an ancient Greek hero. They had differing accents too plus it's better him being played by a tough Northern rather than some soft Southerner or Yank.
2) Brad Pitt as Achilles. I think he's a good actor, but I can't for the life of me see him as Achilles. Which leads to
3) Not having Achilles be the whiny, snivelling, good-for nothing sour sulky puss that he actually is. Okay, this is my Mother indoctrinating me again but really to throw a hissy-fit and refuse to fight just because of something stupid is not the act of a hero. And then poor Patroclus...(okay, so I have a soft spot for Patroclus too.) Plus, if they don't have him dragging Hector's body around Troy, pulled by his chariot, I shall complain.
4) If they make poor, noble, if slightly stupid and arrogant Hector into a villan I will also complain.
5) If they let Achilles be the one who thinks up the Trojan horse I really will scream. And tear my hair out.
6) If Paris is not a coward, I will mutter.
Actually I think Orlando Bloom is perfectly cast as Paris as is Sean Bean. And Peter O'Toole as Priam is going to make me weep like a child. Actually, I'm in love with most of the casting (and the director).