It's called Homer's Odyssey because it's his surviving version we found. The Odyssey is however, far older than Homer and a story passed through songs and such. As such, there are no doubt several 'versions' of it even during Homer's time. So 'canon' is a bit of a misnomer unless we mean 'canon within the Homer-verse."
For example: some dude hundreds of years post Homer made a story about Odysseus and Circe's child. Total fanfic in proportion to the Homer-verse, (though the details of Odysseus' fidelity is vague, especially weighed against moral deliberation on power dynamics and coercion).
So like, we also need to remember there's all kinds of add ons to each story as well.
My point is basically: Nolan's version IS legit. It's simply "Nolan's Odyssey." I could write the entire Greek Mythos in my version by pruning the details of every myth (many contridictory) until the ideal story is made, with my headcanons, my beleifs, etc. And suddenly it would be "Orpheus' compendium of Greek Myths" (never mind Orpheus was a mythological figure)
Like there is no "real" myth. There's perhaps some more true to what the Greeks would have agreed could have happened. For example Space Odyssey is basically Space Sci-fi retelling, and is indeed a "Story of an Odyssey" but further from the Greek version.
But I highly doubt the Greeks invented concepts of long journeys. This verbal style of stories is how we get like 1000 flood stories in myths.
So is Nolan's Odyssey 'accurate' to Homer? Not fully. Is it still a valid story and intepretation because the idea anything is 'more right' kind of stupid? YES. Is there a such thing as 'more historically accurate to greek terms?" Yes. Does that equate to "more accurate of a story" or "more true of a story?" No.
Congratuations, I just introduced the concept of how myths are born.
Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters is another example of a Modern Odyssey. And Epic: The Musical (the purely concept album without an actual play, but plenty of fan animations to make full movies) is another one. I personally have such a hard time remembering the events of Greek myths because it's filtered through ENGLISH translations and my brain, which filters things through a 21st century moral and social and cultural context. I also read these myths are various life stages, which including intepretations ommiting certain unsavory detais. No doubt, Ancient Greek kids were spared from the versions where XYZ happens, and maybe told those versions later.
Now my critiques despite this:
Ciconian omission--I just wished Nolan had a larger budget and literal space to record a full Odyssey.
Lotus Eaters-Same deal
Polyphemus--Nobody scene was supposed to show his ingenius wit---SURELY he could have said like "Noel- Bawdy" or something (Supposedly Nolan said the Pun didn't translate since in Greek, he calls himself Outis, meaning and I think sounding like Greek for Nobody and is a name.) The arrow shot scene is supposed to show his arrogance, replacing the self doxxing after escaping with a fake name. But the arrow shot just depicted his idiocy as an experienced archer and lacked a reason. It also broke his 'dry fire' rule. In fact, It would be cooler if he dry fired first, alerting Polyphemus as that was established to be his 'arrogant trait' as he believes he can win even after throwing his surprise factor away. Either way, I felt this failed to convey Odysseus' utter arrogance. BUT, I also notice the theme of Nolan's Odyssey was not arrogance, but honor. So this movie requires just assuming the main theme as a whole is different.
Also, an intelligent Polyphemus, Odysseus eating food in an 'empty cave,' Polyphemus killing them after Odysseus tries apologizing, Odysseus roofie-ing Polyphemus and blinding him, etc and however those events played out adds like ten thousand ethical and legal arguments as to who violated guest rights first.
Aelous and the Wind bag. In Epic this scene helps establish Odysseus' inability to trust people and vice versa, alienating his own crew. Whatever the case, there is a ton of interesting stuff you could do with character dynamics and behavior with such a hefty moral tool. But I think this was ommitted as part of the "gods aren't real" (more on this later).
Laestrogynians-- not as giant as I'd hope, and not as primitive as I'd hope. BUT, the way they shot it was awesome so like I'm giving this to Nolan.
Circe---left out the year long stint, and I also have heard Circe embodies feminine rage over social collapse and masculinity (as the movie is clearly a callout on today's collapse of proper social decorum) But I reject this. Because honestly Circe was kind of just being a jerk. She did what she did out of fear of the sea people---which they kind of were. But by the theme of the story, she decided to survive she had to abandon Zeus' law as well. So the idea this represents women today and is some morally rightous character is dumb. Circe is sometimes depicted as the embodiement of women's (somewhat justified) disdain for uncouth men trying to take advantage of women. So at best, this version shows even people on morally right sides, are often jerks. Now I personally like the Circe from Epic, aka a witch who's genuinely protecting her people (all women seeking refuge from traumatic experiences with men) and also reasonable. That Circe tries seducing Odysseus after losing a fight to him. He rejects her, proving he won't take advantage of her and is loyal to his wife. So she lets him go. The Homer version is more she coerces him to sleep with her to free his men, a debatable topic of SA for men. Circe is a toss-up, I think Nolan's version leaves much interesting debate on who she is. I personally just HAPPEN to like Epic's Circe as a person better when it comes to representing proper moral feminism and understanable anti-male hostilty. I do think they shoulda stayed a year there to make the timeline accurate. I also think the scene where that one sailor gets drunk, possibly tries assaulting one of Circe's nymphs (which don't exist here) and falls off a roof and dies but everyone kind of agrees its for the best should have been adapted bc it's a funny asf detail.
Underworld--this was interesting, I don't actually remember HOW it was done in the originals. But yeah. I like the Orestes mention, So many myths are in the iliad-verse
Sirens---that one dude jumping off was an interesting take to show how dangerous they were, I also like they weren't mermaids. SIRENS ARE BIRD-LIKE. A scene showing the man getting eaten by bird-women after would be cool though. BUT realistically not possible since the OG myth said if a man survived the song, the sirens would die. But I do like Odysseus' reason (pure hubris) for Nolan. As opposed to the Homer reason (to kill them or something).
Scylla and Charybdis---yeah that's pretty accurate. Could have been a bit more "horror" aspect.
Helios/Apollo's Island---who's island is it? ehhh kinda vague since the sun god thing is weird. I like the 'you guys did this to yourselves' scene. I think his crew knew their fates and chose to drown.
the storm/Zeus' judgement---I like this one
Calyspo---I hated this, I wish we delved more into Calyspo's punishment, her love for him, etc etc. I also think she's shown too much as a nurturing and 'good' person. I prefer the 'possessive and desperate' take. I don't think we NEED Nolan's version to have uncomfotrable yk. But some sorta reference to the unsavory implications of his time there would have been nice. At least they added the lotus being basically a roofie to replace that.
Hermes--In the movie, a thunderclap convinces her to release him. I just think Hermes is a goat. But I know why they left him out.
Phaecian's helping him---ehh, it's ok they dropped that, idc how he got home atp.
Odysseus is home---the sneaking around was interesting, the compeititon was interesting. In the homer story I swear Antonious gets shot in the neck. I think maybe Odysseus shoots him through the 12 axes even, just absolute aura farm moment. I do like the idea Antinous also has to WATCH and marinate in the horror he is screwed though. So maybe if he gets shock in the neck, and is just slowly bleeding as he tries running away the gets stabbed. I think the way the cellar was left unlocked so to speak was interesting. I wish he didn't spare anyone and the fight was more one sided and Telemachus was stronger and the dog-herder helped (Homer's version he does. Mentor might have also been there idk) The attempt on Telemachus' life WAS very interesting though. It showed the 'screw the gods' theme. Also I like how the suitors are depicted and the politics of why Telemachus is in trouble and how Ithaca is still ruled by a group of strong families, not just a single King. (as in the book). Also wished we saw Odysseus kill the servants who slept with the suitors.
Onto other details:
Sea people: that was creative, I'll give him that.
Bronze age--dumb, today we're somewhat self aware and self label ourselves all kinds of terms, will they be accurate to what the future books say? who knows. I like to think Odysseus WOULD say "age of heroes is over" (as Homer and others called this mythical age) as to say the honor of heroes is over. Though the Greek term hero is not the modern term for hero but who cares. It also feels like something in universe Greeks would say since they would no doubt think themselves the coolest stuff ever.
Penelope--I get the commentary on women being sidelined, but this was not wild stuff at this point. Menelaus was King of Sparta because Helen was Princess of Sparta and the line passed to her despite having brothers. I also think showing her as this jerk to her own son is dumb. A concerned mother, limiting him? yes. But to depict her as being scared that her son is usurping her is nuts. In contrast to my prior point, Ithaca seems to be patriarchal, and as a Spartan like Helen (Helen is actually her cousin) she'd be against that. But like nah, it's dumb she's so mean to her son for envious intent.
Marriage bed scene---shoulda kept it.
Archery scene--just a fun fact, Odysseus used a special reverse-esque bow or something, so everyone was stringing it wrong in general lol.
The gods--I think the gods are purposely ommited lest it be vague signs like thunder for Calyspo is to make it feel more realisitic. Minus the magic and giants.
On Athena: some theories. 1. the priestess his men kill was actually Athena in disguise, so she haunts him later on and eventually forgives him. 2. The priestess was human, she haunts him in the same image as her priestess, she forgives him. also Athena blessed Odysseus during the trojan war, so perhaps the 'common gods' was to parrot that idea and so it's a mix of her helping him still but punishing him. 3. he's schizophrenic, and it's a manifestation of his guilt---whether he thinks its athena or the priestess, idk. But I think the 'ghost' being the priestess in some way is nice because the ghost crying makes more sense for a young (preistesses I think were young maidens back then, idk) girl who was murked to be crying at the heartfelt apology from Odysseus. Athena feels more of a heartless logical god.
on dry firing: cool to show his arrogance, it's kind of like how he screams "I'm odysseus of Ithaca" to polyphemus (as I mentioned) before leaving. This is screaming "i'm attacking and I still think I'll win." I just wished it cost him more when he did do it. Thus why I wish he dry fired on Polyphemus. I guess he did get boar-gored (which in homer's version, and the old lady indeed recognizing him by a scar was as well) so yeah. But srs, dry firing was painful to watch, like as an archer he should know not to do that. But I guess double arrogant points
Helen and menelaus: in Homer's version they sorta forgive each other. I wished more leeway to leave whether she ran to troy or was kidnapped was more vague. Some say Aphrodite roofied her to be in love with Paris, some say he kidnapped her, some say she left willingly. The Trojans were told she was here on her accord and vouched for her, thus they aren't evil. Paris is to blame if any trojan.
BUT she does make up with Menelaus peacefully I think. I wish we got to see that instead of abusive menelaus. BUT I also think we shouldn't have seen her at all. Idgaf who Nolan chooses as his hottest human out there. BUT, if I had to adapt Helen, adding the theme of 'locked in a tower for the entire war and being more of an idea and trophy than a person' would be a must. Aka she's always hidden from camera and never allowed to speak.
on Mentor: no joke, that was his name in the homer-story. It's where we GET the term Mentor. Mentor was Telemachus' mentor. Tantulus was cursed to never get what he wanted despite being so close (tantalizing) Sisyphean task is a perpetually impossible but seemingly easy task. Heculean is like obscenely hard. Achilles heel/tendon---we know this.
everything else was intresting. too bored to fully dissect Agammemnon's armor being a meta-satire on his bum behavior and ultimately how he's more on image than actual fighting, while his brother and odysseus fight. (both being Kings, all bc aggy is like the strongest king) and aggy just being this kinda scrawny guy compared to his armor. But there is SO much more.
Finally: Ima bsfr, I never actually read the adult-translations of the odyssey. I lived off of Percy Jackson, children stories, google, etc. I DID read the illiad in school though. I think they sometimes taught the odyssey but didn't my year.
