So I went to see the Odyssey yesterday and I’m an archaeologist, here’s what I thought;
First of all, I’m aware that I’m watching a movie and not a documentary. Yes it’s a story steeped in myth, creatures and legend.
Spoiler free
Just my honest opinion, nothing has a deeper meaning
I know the armor was about the most historical inaccurate element of the entire movie, but I think they made the right choice. Because Odysseus’ men are sailing most of the time, you wouldn’t really want to see them as walking, bronze colored daleks. On the other hand, as Adam Savage once remarked, they are in their armor 24/7. That wouldn’t be the case, ever.
I would have liked to see the women in more elaborate peplos dresses or jewelry, because they felt either not historical or underdressed for their character. The Bronze Age was known for many dress elements, which I lacked. It could have been used to differentiate clearly between Spartans, Ithaca, …
I think choosing to location shoot worked in the movie’s favor. By having drastically different landscapes, you get the sense they traveled far and long. Rather than having islands that seemingly all look the same, you now get a sense that yes they are lost, far away or in the land of myth.
I like how they mention in the movie how stories are shaped by the people telling them, even encouraging people to embellish the story about their actions before they have died. That’s about as historically accurate as things get. It’s in a way like the children’s telephone game.
I really liked the use of background props and artefacts that are time appropriate. The bronze mirrors behind oil lamps to light the room, lanterns rather than torches, the dress pins, … these are things that keep convincing me that this is a skilled and civilised people who see a world they knew fall apart, without coming across as primitive brutes.
I didn’t mind the race swapping as much as I thought I would. Especially Himesh Patel was a good casting choice for me. He balances Odysseus well and acts as a more grounded in reality historical figure (rather than Odysseus god-like character). I did not like Zendaya nor Elliot Page in the movie however. Yes Zendaya is pretty and yes she is called Athena, but she never came across as the goddess of wisdom, politics, weaving or craftsmanship. She looks too young and doesn’t seemingly have the poise to hold herself as a goddess, no matter the costume. That’s something Charlize Theron would have been better at.
Elliot page as a soldier just wasn’t convincing to me. His role as a guard for the Trojan horse was all fine, but physically I don’t see a soldier even though the armour suggests a muscular person. To be blunt, he looks more like a page boy (I’m so sorry).
I really liked Matt Damon. He has the acting skills, he has the right age to be both a combat leader who has been away for a long time and still be a muscular, skilled army official and he has the skills to both portray the emotions as the fight scenes.
Just my opinion folks. I’m not an American so please don’t find any politics where there is none. This is just my feelings toward the movie and you are more than welcome to disagree, just keep things nice for everyone.
