u/Takeo888

Just seen this movie and, as a Classics nerd and regular reader of Homer’s epics, I have some thoughts. There’s been a lot of furore about diversity casting, the accents, the costumes, so I went into this film semi-apprehensive. None of that bothered me. In the slightest. I was fully immersed from the first minute.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t a fully faithful retelling of the epic (although it’s more faithful than I expected!), but one thing I do want to point out is that all of Nolan’s changes, for me, improved the story rather than take away from it. I never got the sense Nolan was trying to diminish Homer’s work by changing it.

I’ll start with what I didn’t like so much:

-It was very, for want of a better word, glum. Visually. I realise that this is a modern trend in cinema but it’s one I will rage against as much as I can. We’re travelling around the Mediterranean, where’s the sun? Where’s the colour? It all felt very monochrome. It may have been a conscious decision by Nolan to emphasise the melancholy and guilt, but I found myself thinking of Troy (2004) and how bright and lovely that film looked in comparison.

-A minor thing, but I didn’t like Menelaus’ allusion to ‘the face that launched a thousand ships.’ This line wasn’t said for a couple of thousand years after Homer was reciting.

What I liked:

-Loved the >!Athena/Zendaya/priestess!< reveal. While we’re on her, I ADORED the fact that >!Athena!< wasn’t purely a benevolent guide, helping him. In the epic she’s rather one-dimensional. A shining goddess whose only purpose is to help our hero. Here she is a quiet companion, a silent reflection of grief and, ultimately, guilt.

-Loved the >!sea people!< reveal. >!Making the men seem so desperate to return home that they become the villains.!<

-Certainly didn’t mind combining the >!Calypso, Nausicaä and Lotus Eater!< arcs. Having Odysseus slowly remember his tale rather than simply reciting it to the Phaeacians was a nice change.

-I thought the entire last third, when Odysseus landed in Ithaca onwards, was exceptional. >!The final Troy flashback, while he’s narrating to Penelope and seeing Athena!<, was so beautiful.

-The onrunning of theme of xenia was a really welcome inclusion.

-Agamemnon’s armour has received a lot of flack. I liked it. The scene of him >!standing menacingly at the head of his army as the Trojan gates open was stunning!<.

-All of the >!Argos!< scenes were incredibly well done. Emotional without being exploitive.

Just seen this movie and, as a Classics nerd and regular reader of Homer’s epics, I have some thoughts. There’s been a lot of furore about diversity casting, the accents, the costumes, so I went into this film semi-apprehensive. None of that bothered me. In the slightest. I was fully immersed from the first minute.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t a fully faithful retelling of the epic (although it’s more faithful than I expected!), but one thing I do want to point out is that all of Nolan’s changes, for me, improved the story rather than take away from it. I never got the sense Nolan was trying to diminish Homer’s work by changing it.

I’ll start with what I didn’t like so much:

-It was very, for want of a better word, glum. Visually. I realise that this is a modern trend in cinema but it’s one I will rage against as much as I can. We’re travelling around the Mediterranean, where’s the sun? Where’s the colour? It all felt very monochrome. It may have been a conscious decision by Nolan to emphasise the melancholy and guilt, but I found myself thinking of Troy (2004) and how bright and lovely that film looked in comparison.

-A minor thing, but I didn’t like Menelaus’ allusion to ‘the face that launched a thousand ships.’ This line wasn’t said for a couple of thousand years after Homer was reciting.

What I liked:

-Loved the >!Athena/Zendaya/priestess!< reveal. While we’re on her, I ADORED the fact that >!Athena!< wasn’t purely a benevolent guide, helping him. In the epic she’s rather one-dimensional. A shining goddess whose only purpose is to help our hero. Here she is a quiet companion, a silent reflection of grief and, ultimately, guilt.

-Loved the >!sea people!< reveal. >!Making the men seem so desperate to return home that they become the villains.!<

-Certainly didn’t mind combining the >!Calypso, Nausicaä and Lotus Eater!< arcs. Having Odysseus slowly remember his tale rather than simply reciting it to the Phaeacians was a nice change.

-I thought the entire last third, when Odysseus landed in Ithaca onwards, was exceptional. The final >!Troy flashback, while he’s narrating to Penelope and seeing Athena!<, was so beautiful.

-The onrunning of theme of xenia was a really welcome inclusion.

-Agamemnon’s armour has received a lot of flack. I liked it. The scene of him >!standing menacingly at the head of his army as the Trojan gates open was stunning.!<

-All of the >!Argos!< scenes were incredibly well done. Emotional without being exploitive.

What do you think are the episodes with the worst resolution? The biggest deus ex machina bs in the show? The most glaring ‘a wizard did it’ you can think of?

For me it’s The Power of Three. I know they had a lot of trouble with the antagonist’s actor and basically had to just produce what they had, but surely they could’ve come up with something better? I actually really enjoy the first half of the episode with the general life of the three of them, but the last third is just bleh. Ignoring the fact that it’s explained the cubes targeted humans closest to them to induce cardiac arrest so when the Doctor reverses it the likelihood is all those people will have been taken out of the vicinity of those cubes, are we supposed to believe the Shakri planned an elaborate invasion that spanned over a year and they’ll just go on their merry way now?

Any other deus ex machina rubbish you can think of?

I’m sure you get this all the time. I’m going to be spending a few days in Germany before flying up to Copenhagen and I’d like to see somewhere nice. Originally I had planned on Hamburg but after reviewing it I’m not sure it has what I’m looking for.

I’d like somewhere that’s pretty, nice old streets, cafes or bars for people-watching, maybe a castle although I’m not too fussed if not. I’m not into partying or museums. Maybe a nice river? Ultimately somewhere with CHARM in abundance. Ideally though, and this might be the sticking point, I don’t want it too far from an airport as I don’t want to spend a whole day getting there. Any suggestions? Heidelberg and Bremen both look nice so far.

It’s near 3.30am and I’m so hyped I couldn’t even begin to think of sleep. I’m just sat here listening to MCR (currently The World is Ugly). I have never been so pumped after a gig before, that was insane. Just wanna do it all again.

Hello. My first time seeing MCR live tomorrow and I’m very excited! It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish is my favourite MCR song. Do people think there’s any chance they might play this in the second half tomorrow?

I adored Yotei, but I’d say one of the main things I miss from GoT is the random monuments that have no relevance to the story. Things that seem like they might have some lore attached but are actually just aesthetics. Such as the gigantic Buddha statue at Omi Monastery, or the random ass giant ropes tied to rocks. It just made the world feel a bit more lived in.

I’ve just rewatched this one, and it got to me how well done the twist was of Oswin’s reveal at the end of the episode. It might’ve been easy to guess (though I’m notoriously bad for guessing twists), but I thought the emotional gut-punch of revealing this woman we’d grown to like over the past 40 minutes was already way past saving was so well done. A really good episode, for me.

Not to mention, that scene with Amy seeing the daleks as creepy old-timey people dancing was so good.

After weeks of playing this game, I’ve only just noticed this. When it’s raining and you open the map screen, you get raindrops falling on the screen as if Atsu’s really just opened the map in front of you. Love the small details like this.

In general I’m not a big fan of the shrines. I think the journeys to them are overly long and tedious, but I have to admit some of them are just beautiful.

I do like the one at the southern tip of the giant lake, with all the water, but my favourite has to be the one on top of Mount Yotei itself. The view up there is just stunning. The way the sunlight shimmers off the snow. The way you feel you’re truly at the top of the world. Beautiful.

Any of you guys have any favourites?

Can anyone recommend any similar to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty? Really life-affirming movies that just make you smile. Bonus points if they have a bit of a road movie aspect. With a beautiful soundtrack and stunning scenery. I guess movies that are more about the beauty of life rather than just a love story.