On 'Troy' mainly

[redfiona99]

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).

Comments

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

Odysseus IS kind of a devious, manipulative sod. His 20 years of wandering IS mostly his own damn fault. But he's also terrifically cool. I mean. I think that's the thing, really. Odysseus, Achilles, et al are both moron and genius, egoist and selfless. They're both good things and bad, which makes them interesting to read.

As for Troy, the movie, however, I hold much similar anxiety as well. I sincerely doubt they will make Achilles whiny, as evidenced by the casting of Brad Pitt into the role. I think they will make him all ANGSTY and TRAGIC, which is ultimately cool by me, 'cause Brad does ANGSTY and TRAGIC very well. I DO hope, however, that they will make him a bastard, because Achilles totally is. And Brad Pitt also does bastard really well.

Paris = TOOL. Orlando Bloom = TOOL. Therefore, perfect casting. *G* My only major worry about Troy, honestly, is my fear of the Orly fangirls leaping aboard Troy and commence with the degradation of Greek mythology.

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

>>Odysseus, Achilles, et al are both moron and genius, egoist and selfless. They're both good things and bad, which makes them interesting to read.<<

Very interesting to read. And I know he's a sod but I think it's like you said, they are all as bad as each other.

>>I think they will make him all ANGSTY and TRAGIC, which is ultimately cool by me, 'cause Brad does ANGSTY and TRAGIC very well. I DO hope, however, that they will make him a bastard, because Achilles totally is. And Brad Pitt also does bastard really well.<<

I'm cool with angsty and tragic as well because there's the whole 'Prophecy - fight and die young, don't fight and live long, but must avenge best friend who tried to take my place' bit. And yeah, Brad Pitt does those and bastard very well. Which is the advantage to having him there. I just hope they do stretch him.

>>Paris = TOOL. Orlando Bloom = TOOL. Therefore, perfect casting. *G*<<

Not going to disagree about Paris, and sadly I don't care one way or the other about Bloom.

>>My only major worry about Troy, honestly, is my fear of the Orly fangirls leaping aboard Troy and commence with the degradation of Greek mythology.<<

That would be number 7 on the list of worries but I figured I couldn't hold the film-makers responsible for that. And then there's the ever present threat of bad-fic. Because even at a young age I though that Achilles/Patroclus were a forever and ever deal and lord alone knows what will be written. Although I hold out hope for that since (worst luck) Patroclus will be played by a pretty blond boy as well.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

I just hope they do stretch him.

*nodsnodsnods* It may be a vain hope, since it looks to be one of those summer blockbuster, heavy CGI/visual/bloodbath type of deal, but yes. We can hope for more.

Achilles/Patroclus are my OTP, totally! I read a couple of really awesome classics slash with them, and yeah, I live in total fear of the badfic that will emerge. Then again, I'm not sure how much Troy is even gonna show of their relationship. I can just see people slashing, I don't know... Achilles and Paris, because they're respectively played by pretty people.

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

>>Then again, I'm not sure how much Troy is even gonna show of their relationship.<<

I'm supposing, however much they mess up the rest of it, they have to show quite a bit because Patroclus is the only reason that Achilles came back. It's the heart of the story. But like you said, hope, think happy hopeful thoughts ;)

>>I can just see people slashing, I don't know... Achilles and Paris, because they're respectively played by pretty people.<<

There are no words for how wrong that is, because everyone knows Paris is an airy, fairy waste of time and Achilles wouldn't.

[angstbunny.livejournal.com]

Uhh, I don't know about that, considering that most people who know Greek mythology enough to know who Achilles is, but haven't actually read Illiad/Odyssey, do not know who Patroclus is. And for being the heart of the story, he's played by an unknown. Urgh. Yeah. Happy hopeful thoughts. Happy hopeful thoughts.

But won't you think of the PRETTY!!! Oh the PRETTY!!! /sarcasm

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

But remember, three of the Hobbits weren't household names either. (Okay, I can't break logic for the pretty but I can for the Ancient Greek slash)

[devilswolf.livejournal.com]

That movie has the awesome potential to go so wrong on so many levels.