Otherwise, it completely lacks a sense of the beauty of Homer's language and storytelling. Sententious, the film boasts only one satisfying cinematic segment: the climactic entrapment and destruction of Penelope's suitors. All the Homerian set-pieces are trotted out, but there isn't one truly suspenseful sequence or emotionally riveting moment in the whole exercise. Sumptuously photographed but simple-minded, THE ODYSSEY plays like a "Classics Ilustrated" adaptation of the original work. The lay-abouts, Odysseus resumes his reign as King of Ithaca. With the cooperation of Telemachus (with whom he's reunited), Odysseus tricks Penelope's suitors into a contest of archery skill. With the help of Athena, Odysseus finally returns home in disguise. Sole survivor Odysseus then becomes the lover of Calypso (Vanessa Williams). After visiting the prophet Tiresias (Christopher Lee) in Hades, Odysseus and his crew must brave the gaping jaws of the monsters Scylla andĬharybdis. Although this temptress transforms Odysseus' men into animals, Odysseus breaks her spell and lingers five years in her seductive company. Assuming the bag contains gold, Odysseus' greedy sailors open it, unleashing gusts which propel them to the isle of Circe Pollard) helpfully seals up Poseidon's ill winds in a bag. Back in Ithaca, other suitors pressure Penelope to give up her vigil for her husband.įollowing an adventure in which Odysseus blinds a Cyclops planning to eat his men, the god Aeolus (Michael J. Odysseus to roam the seas, unable to return home. His plan succeeds, but boastful Odysseus fails to give sufficient thanks to the god Poseidon for his help. Resolves to end the 10-year impasse by duping his enemy with a large wooden horse from which his troops can storm the city, once inside the gates. Prodded into action by the goddess Athena (Isabella Rossellini), Odysseus Soon after the birth of his son Telemachus (Alan Stenson), Ithaca's King Odysseus (Armand Assante) leaves his wife Penelope (Greta Scacchi) and mother Anticleia (Irene Pappas) to join a losing war against the Trojans. In fact, Homer refers to his protagonist throughout the epic as "wily Odysseus.Another lavishly produced, all-star, TV-movie emasculation of great literature from the creators of the even more bloated GULLIVER'S TRAVELS (1996), THE ODYSSEY is a thoroughly sanitized version of Homer's classic. ![]() Odysseus's most memorable quality is not his bravery or strength - though he is brave and strong - but rather his cleverness.The extraordinary length of Odysseus' return trip, which should take a matter of weeks, is due to his many antagonists, including the god Poseidon, the many mythical creatures he encounters, and Odysseus' often greedy and lazy crewmen. The journey of Odysseus from Troy to Ithaca takes ten years - the same amount of time that the Trojan War itself lasted.And many epics, probably including The Odyssey, were written to be performed to musical accompaniment. Some epics were composed in order to be performed from memory, and so they include poetic devices to make them more memorable. ![]()
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