The Odyssey: Greece Is A Country In Africa

Summary, a modern audience adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey with renewed female focus.

Sadly the Editor demanded that someone cover this film and that fell to me so here we are. The film didn’t look good from the trailers and from the other marketing materials but there is still further to fall.

Firstly, not only is Helen of Troy black but also Troy has a black princess. This makes no sense for the region or the time period but hey Troy is clearly Wakanda lite.

Secondly, to address the evil nature of Homer’s original text and how it didn’t focus enough on the female perspective despite being written about a war and return home from it, things only men would have had experience with at the time, we get lots of Penelope action. She is a girlboss running Ithaca turning down all the marriage proposals, as she is married and believes her husband is still alive. This wastes a lot of the film’s runtime goes on for far too long, but hey we needed more female perspective so forced marriages and suitors is the way to go, very progressive Chris.

Thirdly, the idea of Ellen Page as a greek warrior is laughable. If a male child was born like that in ancient Greece it likely would have been left for dead, she has the normal portions for a woman, but hey ho this clearly a very tolerant and progressive ancient Greece.

Fourthly, as is customary of Hollywood you can’t really have villains they have to be misunderstood. Charlize Theron’s Circe both helps the gang but also keeps and rapes Odysseus for 7 years but is not treated like the out and out villain she is. The woman uses a man for her pleasure and that is all that matters in these modern days where marriage is oppressive and men the enemy.

Finally, Odysseus is made out to be a monster for killing innocent people during the Trojan war, once again despite the left’s refusal to accept reality innocent people die in war all the time. He is punished repeatedly by Zendaya, whose presence in this film reminds us all that you don’t need to be able to act to be an actor.

You can tell at times this is adapting the translation and not the original text, the message is very clear. Women are made to rule, to use and punish men as they see fit, and that men are only after power and use women for it and that war is bad.

Christopher Nolan used to be a serious filmmaker this is not serious filmmaking it is a vandalisation of Greek mythology, but hey they refuses to do the press tour in Greece so what does it matter.

1/5

Pros.

There are a few aspects of the classic text it leaves alone.

Cons.

The modern dayisms

Expecting people to believe that Ellen Page is a greek soldier

The terrible acting at times

The pacing and bloat

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Cinema Issues: The Cowardice Of The Odyssey

As many of you may know the new Christopher Nolan film is mere days away from release, yet unlike other Nolan offerings this one is wrapped up in controversy. Whether that is the vandalisation of greek mythology, casting a woman to play a man’s role (Ellen Page), the race swap of Helen of Troy, or possibly having Lupita N’yongo Karensplain female perspective to Homer thousands of years later. The latter is particularly egregious when you think the Odyssey has some of the most developed female characters in the ancient literature, but surely you don’t expect N’yongo to bother reading it.

The beginnings of the cowardice began when they announced a worldwide press tour for the film, but that it wouldn’t stop in Greece. This is important as the Greek Government has publicly criticised the film for not featuring Greek actors. Moreover, knowing what they have on their hands Universal has taken to turning off comments on any new marketing material they release in order to make sure they only platform positive comments and docile bot accounts. The ratio of the trailers shows a very different story.

The fact remains this may have been one of Christopher Nolan’s greatest mistakes as a director and this may well cost him professionally if it doesn’t land well over the 600 million needed break even point

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Cinema Issues: The Odyssey To Inject Modern Dayisms Into Fantasy

First they came for the Lord of the Rings and we were silent, then they came for the Wheel of Time and we murmured, then they came for the Witcher and voices started to rise, now they are coming for real world myths and fables and folks are angry.

(The above example is figurative) we were loud about all of these things bar the Wheel of Time as we actually care about fantasy. However, the point remains folks are really really angry about the Odyssey.

Elon Musk is arguing that Nolan is giving into DEI here despite previous saying he doesn’t want to take a political stance in his films for awards. However he could get them without this. He is also far too big to be succumbing to studio pressure. There is only one reason to cast a woman pretending to be a man as Achilles, and to make Helen of Troy black and that is because he wants to. There is a school of thought that Nolan may have always had these tendencies and have had to hold back or been held back by people yet now thinks that he can get away with it.

It is a conscious choice to inject modern language into the film or to have a rapper be an analogue to the bards of old in the film, whilst fiercely screaming about accuracy elsewhere. Or to do things like talk about diversity whilst a Latina man does white face, or to have the costumes look like they are from Spirit Halloween. Nolan seems to want to take a stand with this film for good or for ill and it could be his first flop.

The access media keen to always do what their studio masters want have already begun running ops for the film, incorrectly using mythology to explain it away or saying it doesn’t matter. A particular favourite is to point out that Jesus isn’t white and so that explains why Helen of Troy is now black, it doesn’t explain a damn thing it shows you they are floundering.

Nolan has started to make statements so far not attacking the audience but how long will it stay that way. We’d guess not long.

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Nuremberg: Russell Crow Still Has It

Summary

This was a surprise.

I enjoyed the film and the serious approach it took not just to the subject matter but also to assuming that audiences could understand a more dense and intelligent script.

I thought the performances across the board were good but I thought Russell Crow was the clear standout for his role here. He managed to be both evil and terrifying whilst also being somewhat sympathetic at times. You could believe him as a master manipulator.

My central issue with the film would be that it had too many characters and tried to do too much, it did have some side plots it handled well, but others it didn’t give proper time to.

Overall, an impactful and well acted film.

3.5/5

Pros.

The acting

The scope

The seriousness

The cat and mouse plot line

Cons.

It took on too much

It had pacing issues

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September 5th: Required Viewing For Anyone With A Pro Palestine Flag In The Bio

 Summary

A film recounting the experiences of a live TV crew during the Munich Olympics hostage crisis.

So this film hits hard in relation to events currently going on in the world and the feeling by some people towards Jewish but more specifically Israeli people. Released in a contemporary setting this film serves as a reminder for what happens when you allow antisemitism to march unchecked through the streets, a lesson a lot of European governments need to here now more than ever.

However, as far as historical thrillers go there isn’t much to set this film apart from a number of other similar films. That is the issue with doing something based on a true story though you cannot really innovate in any meaningful way. Whilst I found the film engaging I wouldn’t say it was edge of your seat viewing in the way something like Argo was.

The cast were all serviceable but not particularly memorable.

3/5

Pros.

It is timely

It shows genuine heartbreak and strife

It is very engaging

Cons.

It feels too familiar

None of the performances are stand out

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Saturday Night: Hollywood Pats Itself On The Back Again

Summary

Hollywood gives itself a pat on the back.

I don’t know about you, and maybe it’s because I am not American, but I’m getting quite sick and tired of films about Hollywood about filmmaking, and about classic actors or ensembles. This film manages to be quite a few of those at the same time, an ignoble triumph.

Perhaps I would have gotten more out of this if I had ever watched an episode of Saturday Night Live, however, as I have not it was just an unfunny film about a group of people making a TV show. I questioned at times if this was even supposed to be a comedy film as laughs were had by none, the screening I attended had maybe 20 people in it and I didn’t hear a singular laugh once.

In terms of actors everyone was OK, there were no particular standouts or strong performances, and likewise there were no particularly bad performances. My main emotion whilst watching this film was tedium, the pacing was incredibly off and whenever it felt like the film was going to end it would then continue on for another half an hour, not ideal.

Overall, if you’re American and grew up watching the show you may get something out of it, however, if you are either not American or did not grow up watching it then you’ll get a subpar comedy film and a wasted afternoon

1/5

Pros.

There is one good joke towards the end however if is not intended as a joke but it is funny

Cons.

It feels like self-aggrandisement

It is painfully unfunny

It is badly paced

None of the performances are all that good

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Shogun Season One Overview: The Best Series Of The Year

Summary

A series about an Englishman, Cosmo Jarvis’ trip to feudal Japan.

I think this was one of the strongest series of the year, not just because it was well done but also because it was so refreshing. We have been crying out for more Samurai fare for a while, there are some films and series here and there, but by and large the sub-genre at least from a western perspective has been dry for a while. As such this arrived at just the right time.

What I appreciate about this show is that it is both a slow burn and has soap opera like elements but it doesn’t effect the quality of the show. There is enough happening within an episode to make the slower pace and the world building feel rich and meaningful rather than tedious. Moreover, there is enough action and character’s doing things to make the interpersonal soap opera stuff seem few and far between.

I think the characters are all written well and that the story goes to interesting places, I would like to see the war between the clans more fully realised but I suppose that will be something to consider in the next season.

Overall, definitely one of the best shows of the year.

4/5

Pros.

The setting and the world

It feels fresh

It is interesting

It has great characters

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Gladiator II: The Hip Hop Modern Day Sequel No One Wanted

Summary

Give the people reheated slop and will they not eat of it?

So where to begin with this, could it be in all the homoeroticism they put into it as rather than just allowing it to be a film for men to enjoy with the violent spectacle of it all, we now have everything to have to have an LGBTQ+ undertone otherwise that one blue haired woman online will call the filmmakers ists and phobes.

Could it be that the first film ended on just the right note as to feel well wrapped up and as such a sequel felt incredibly unnecessary and only done for the money? As this film does little to add to the first, you could argue that it tries its best to pay tribute to it, but it does so in such a small way that in the end it doesn’t even matter.

Fresh off the indie circuit Paul Mescal is placed into a leading action role, even though the idea of him as a leading man is questionable. In terms of being an action hero he has none of the swagger and is easily upstaged by Denzel Washington at almost every turn, maybe that was contracted in.

I think the major issue with this film is that it is entirely needless and it feels like that to watch it.

Overall, a waste of everyone’s time and money

1.5/5

Pros.

It has one good fight scene

Cons.

They try and modernise it

It doesn’t need to exist

Paul Mescal isn’t an action lead

It is badly paced and structured

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Time Bandits Season One Overview: Scraping The Bottom Of The Nostalgia Well

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Another classic of yesteryear is vandalised.

I am a big fan of Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement however, this was unnecessary and doomed from the start. I am going to say something revolutionary right now so hold onto your hats, not everything needs to be remade and brought back for audiences of today to watch you can just watch older media.

I think part of the doom of this show was that it was not a well-known IP outside of some diehards, and the good will around Waititi after his breakthrough into Hollywood has fully waned. It also is coming out in a time where people need things to hit immediately and can’t give a show a two season run to see if it can find an audience, it either performs well immediately or it dies, that is the way of things now.

Moreover, the addition of modern day elements, race and gender flipping characters, is going to create enemies from the off and again is needless. Why not create new characters within the Time Bandits story and make those roles diverse why does it need to be handled like this?

Finally, and I get no joy from saying this what were they thinking casting Lisa Kudrow? She has not been relevant in about ten years and hasn’t been popular in a mainstream sense in over twenty. I like The Comeback but even I have to say that she was the wrong person for this role.

Overall, a needless remake of a beloved classic. Stop it.

1/5

Pros.

There are a couple (and I mean 1 or 2) good moments

Cons.

It wastes the cast

Kudrow is miscast

It doesn’t have the spirit of the original

It feels soulless

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Fly Me To The Moon: Hallmark In Cinemas

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A retelling of the moon landing.

So this rom-com goes quite the way you would expect it to, a couple, Scarlet Johansson and Channing Tatum, fall in love whilst working at Nasa during the moon landing. It is a sweet film and it does have some good moments of sentimentality, however, I have to say I never really bought the relationship between the two leads, the chemistry wasn’t there as it might have been in something like Anyone But You.

Johansson is surely a forced to be reckoned with here, and has a lot of good moments, yet Tatum is not given anything to elevate him. The material is very hokey and almost Hallmark esque in how earnest his character is, he is a small town, veteran, who cares about his job and about Jesus. Nothing wrong with that but it is quite stereotypical.

There is also a certain level of my old pet peeve, yes you guessed it American exceptionalism. With the film having a steady drum beat of USA USA every few minutes, which is fine is that is what you are into but for me it was a little clawing. Maybe if I was American I’d like that sort of uber patriotism more.

There are some good laughs here particularly the stuff with the cat and Tatum’s overreaction to it. Moreover, Woody Harrelson’s government spook is a great villain and has some terrific moments, particularly him singing Fly Me To The Moon at the end of the film that is his finest hour.

Overall, it does what you would expect it to, nothing more nothing less.

3/5

Pros.

Johannsen

Harrelson

A few laughs

Cons.

The chemistry could have been stronger

The uber patriotism

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