Loyal to Homer - Overlooked Sword and Sandal Film, The Fury Of Achilles

FURY Achilles - a film for classical mythology

Opening: FADE IN:

Image bust Homer muses call to give him the inspiration to tell the story. nine Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the ruler of the gods. "A celestial goddess, tell me of the many woes brought upon the Greeks by anger (anger) Achilles ."

CUE announcer: the narrator tells us that the Iliad of Homer begins outside the walls of Troy. "For ten long years, the Greek army was vainly besieged city, and if the Trojans suffered under this relentless attack, the Greeks too feel the hardships of war. Exhausted from many battles, and short supplies, the Greeks were camped on the shore where they live from ravaging villages . All the towns along the coast were sacked, and now the Greeks are forced to look beyond the robbery [the map shows that we are inside, away from the coast]. expeditions marching against the city Lynessos. It was led by Agamemnon, son of Atreus, Mycenaean king of Corinth, commander of all Greek Army. With him was Ulysses [Odysseus] of Ithaka, the wisest and most cunning of all Greek warriors.

"But stronger than all the others, Achilles, King Phthia, son of Peleus and Thetis [minor goddess] This famous hero made invulnerable by divine will is the Achilles with Patroclus, his best friend, .. they have fought together in a hundred battles. rather than as a series of power [sic], the city was sentenced Lynessos ."

So begins the movie is surprisingly faithful to the original Homer's Iliad, many more than the bigger-budget films such as Troy and in 1956 Helen of Troy, directed by Robert Wise and featuring a star British cast.

Writing negative reviews of these low-budget, sword-and-sandal, Italian-made oven-taculars is like shooting fish in a barrel. Unfortunately, there is much to criticize: poorly dubbed dialogue, scratching prints, faded colors, hilarious battle scenes, and the land that is little to do with history or anything mythological. These films still have their fans, and I do not mean only teachers of mythology and world literature as I do, but not enough to make something like a convention trekkie fan profitable. They are just there as the rest of the time - late 1950's and early 1960's - when these imports were flooding drive-in and others are on the market

Then along comes a small film such as the Achilles anger that remains faithful to Homer's epic poem - including attempts to play the inflated poetic language, although it is bloated as it is presented wooden actors. Just a lot more made-for-TV version of Helen of Troy trying to be as faithful to Homer, but the latter effort - from the cartoonish heavy handed use of CGI -. crashes, such as PC

army gathers, waiting until Agamemnon gives the order to attack. battle cry of the Achilles' Phthia, "he repeated his soldiers. But that Achilles is not as pretty boy Brad Pitt, and he's ugly, but the muscular actor named Gordon Mitchell, who looks like he could bench press Volkswagens. Despite his horrible act, or incapable of recording your own voice, he proposed the presence of Olympic hero type. He looks like he could bring down the hoards of people, as opposed to Brad Pitt in TROY start leaping into the air in slow-motion and plunges a sword through the body giant warrior who enters it agrees to stand still long enough to be executed.

The next morning, after the arrest Lynessos, Achilles and Patroclus are oogling women, particularly Zani [blonde with heavy makeup] and Briseis. Achilles says: "It's a pretty little girl in a yellow dress [Briseis] already know that I think about it when my turn comes, I'll pick it ."

When Patroclus says she wants her friend, Achilles says: "Unfortunately, Agamemon is the first choice, but we do not have to worry about Ulysses Who do you think that gold will go to the brazier, for example ..?"

Patroclus: "His wife does not need to worry as long as there's gold, he will be faithful to her .." As gold has to do with his being faithful to his wife, Penelope, it is not clear to me, nor is Achilles the following statement: ".. and Hermes, the god of thieves, however, his greed, I do not blame" Patroclus says that he sees what he means, I'm glad you understand, because Patroclus, but I do not

is such a dialogue through film, especially when Agamemnon starts spouting his lines, or when Hector, sometimes accompanied by the soulful music speaks to the Trojans. "Agamemnon, Odysseus, Achilles and Patroclus are away on expedition. What we've been waiting for? Without these leaders, the Greeks on the coast entirely lacking in the body, cunning, and strength ."

Hector knows that he is "going to die at the hands of Achilles ... the oracle." Paris, whose abduction of Helen caused the whole mess, trying to say something, but was cut off by the king. "If I fear the king Phthia, invulnerable, it's only because my services are useful for my country. On the day of victory, Achilles can drive your spear through my body and I put on the dogs, as promised."

This is what I mean by poetic language. Unfortunately, we do not see Cassandra and Hecuba in this film, but even they appear in the mega-hit Troy.

Priam: "In the end, you all know what the oracle said [Apollo Oracle of Delphi, which, of course, predict the future.] It is true, and it was horrible for me as a father .." And not too happy to be Hector.

Later Briseis discovers that Achilles was hidden magical when she tries to stab him with a knife. She approached him from behind as the music swells to indicate uncertainty. She stabs him in the back, but the dagger blade melts when it contacts his body. Sparks fly. He was invulnerable except for one place, but even he does not know where it is.

Achilles is furious.? "Hector's and women we run out Lynessos dares so what do you want to do with you, break you in like a wild filly put you in my arms warrior? ?"

point dagger is a good touch, as the later scene when it materializes Minera to stop the killing of Agamemnon arrogant and rude. These scenes keep us in touch with the gods that are necessary and important aspect of Homer's epic. Briseis Achilles says that he is not invulnerable and immortal.

In one of several speeches in the film, he tells her: "Even you could have me killed by a rogue gods protect everything from me, except for one point fighting machine designed to destroy ... and ........ which can also be destroyed ... when and where they [the gods] desire. As I said, they could have killed me. It is not necessary to be a hero. a child could kill me ... the provision of hit me in the right place I do not know where fatal thing is, but I know it will not come back alive from Troy The Oracle said before I left Greece -.. that Troy will fall only after the death of Hector - Hector that must be killed by Achilles, but Achilles that I will die after the death of Hector Immediately after Thus Spake Oracle, Briseis second warriors are defending against the death of hope and survival to .......... go home, but not I. So I ask the wine as I ask for your beauty : the illusion that a person like everyone else, but when I drink too much wine, I act like animals and you rejected me, .. we deny the gift of compassion that you would have the least of my warriors ."

Apollo, unlike Achilles' mother and Minerva, had never seen, but we hear his voice echoes and see his powerful touch. Chryses was given the opportunity to deliver a powerful speech. With sci-fi music (theramin) on the soundtrack, which means that the supernatural events are occurring. He said: "Divine, Apollo, god of Silver Bow, your priest has nothing more to ask from you to the right to leave you one failed to defend their holy shrine But Apollo, as a father, I beg your help .. the father who must complain about the unjust fate of his daughter, the one that is also, 0 God, she offers you many prayers and sacrifices, and the spirit of the purest love. [Thunder on the soundtrack] Apollo. Apollo. Chryseis is at the mercy of ruthless enemy of her tenderness and her youthful beauty - . it really an honor - is dedicated to you, has now become a pleasant and Greeks as the fate of Apollo desire, protect my daughter, I pray you hear the words Chryses, your priest, i.. save my poor child ."

Apollo's voice echoes as if in an empty room to suggest his divine nature. He tells him to go to the camp of the Greeks and the wealth lay in front of King Agamemnon. When asked what Chryses wealth can offer it, lightning shares open altar stone. It is a great treasure discovered in it. Chryses examine the abundance of wealth. Then, again with theramin music in the background, the white car pulled white horses materialized in the temple - a divine gift

Through this film we find that less precious moments that are rarely found in this genre. It is a compact version of Homer, yes, but it provides the basics of the story. For students of mythology and world literature, it is a good introduction. It is not overly graphic like Troy, and is suitable for younger students. Even the inevitable culmination of man to man duel between Achilles and Hector is shown with its tragic and heroic aspects.

Despite the flaws in this DVD version - and perhaps more clearly one does not exist, because it is not good remains negative - I highly recommend it as an introduction to Greek mythology. director wisely decided not to rewrite the ending of the story with Agamemnon and Menelaus and Paris, killing the survivors to escape with Helen.

If I had time in class, I'd show this movie and the 1956 version of Helen of Troy or the Trojan horse. Given only one choice, however, I'd be tempted to lean toward the Achilles rage. Check it out myself, mythology, scientists and teachers, and see what you think.

Italian film Trojan horse with Steve Reeves as Aeneas, and John Drew Barrymore chewing the scenery as Ulysses begins almost where one ends. FURY Achilles, as Homer's Iliad, ends before the Trojan horse appears. It might not be as well built as Helen of Troy, but it can make an interesting follow-up. Expose your students to the original story, which is in itself, the Greek tragedies.

and this is what the Greeks loved.