Greek Heroes Represented in Cinema

Conclusion

My research into representation of Greek heroes through cinema has brought some interesting facts to light.  Films on Greece give the film maker a chance to revisit a world which was once only available through literature. In some aspects the films fail e.g. historical accuracy (though some are not attempting to be), but in regards to the representation of heroes cinema is a valuable tool. It allows the reproduction of these characters, bringing them back to life in a sense. Cinema is the perfect tool to represent them. In cinema, audiences require believable heroic characters. To make a character believable in cinema they have to have a number of traits such as; bravery, honour, strength, intelligence, and sexual attraction. When we line up this up with representations of Greek heroes then there is a great amount of correlation. Many Greek heroes fit right into the role of a cinematic hero, due to the fact that cinematic heroes carry many of the same ancient values as the ancient Greeks did.  All three of the films shown had powerful hero characters attached to them; though in Alexander’s case Farell wasn’t an actor enough to portray him, the actual character displayed the values attributed with that of a hero. Heroes then are one aspect of human life which has changed little from the past. They are still characters that people look up to, respect and wish to emulate. Cinema allows the audience to slip into worlds where anything is possible, travelling in space to back in Ancient Greece. Representation of Greek heroes through cinema is a great way of depicting characters from the past; as the cinematic style will produce characters with heroic values that are believable, and so not disrespecting their heroic status of old, instead enhancing it and reinforcing their heroic image anew.

[1] See Solomon 2001.p.3

[2] I shall also use ‘modern’ Hollywood films, e.g Die Hard 2, Fight Club.

[3] See Greenberg & Bystryn, 1982,p.1.

[4] For more on Victorian attitudes see Jenkyns 1980,p.67-73, for learning Greek see Richard, 1994,p.12.

[5] See Nisbet 2006.p.7

[6] See Nisbet, 2006.p.45

[7] See Currie,2005.p.49

[8] See Kearns, 1989.p.10.

[9] See Currie, 2005,p.123.

[10] See Higbre, 1995.p.189-191

[11] For war dead see Low, 2003,p.98-111

[12] Extraordinary feats e.g Milon’s strength, see (Pausanias,6.14.6-7)

[13] See Goldhill, 2003,p.251.

[14] See Spencer, 2002,p.19

[15] See Carlyle 1872,p.11-73

[16] Myths such as Achilles, Poets such as Homer, Men of Letters such as Plato and kingly such as Alexander.

[17] See Dyer, 1998,p.48-52

[18] See Spicer, 2003, p.75

[19] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416449/

[20] http://www.archaeology.org/online/reviews/300.html

[21] See Gibson 2004,p.177

[22] http://www.archaeology.org/online/reviews/300.html

[23] Leonidas must have been acceptable, as he was not discarded.

[24] Another occurrence is when Leonidas takes the 300 Spartans ‘taking a stroll’, he is blatantly disregarding the rules, though it is for a better cause therefore it is acceptable in audiences’ eyes.

[25] Such references are; ‘goodbye my love, no room for softness, no weakness’, ‘spartan women give birth to real men’

[26] Other such references are; ‘Persians! Come and get them”

[27] Hdt (7.127), refers to one of the many rivers being drunk dry.

[28] http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/6156065/review/13711861/300

[29] http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/6156065/review/13711861/300

[30] http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/763/763580p1.html

[31] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332452/

[32] Latacz believes the gods are present within the people see 2007,p.42.

[33] See Shahabudin 2007,p.116

[34] See Winkler 2007,p.49

[35] http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5993520/review/5993516/troy

[36] http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/05/13/troy_2004_review.shtml

[37] http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/a/troymoviereview.htm

[38] http://film.guardian.co.uk/Film_Page/0,4061,1006055,00.html

[39] http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5993520/review/5993516/troy

[40] For a similar view see Shahabuin, 2007,p.113

[41] See Harrison (forthcoming,p.1)

[42] Differing views are the ‘minimalist’ theory supported by Badian & Bosworth.

[43] See Harrison, (Forthcoming,.p.1)

[44] See Borza 2004.p.5

[45] See Borza 2000.p.4

[46] Crossing the River Granicus, doesn’t see why it should hold them up when he has crossed the Hellespont.

[47] http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/12/14/alexander_review_2004_review.shtml

[48] http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2004/12/14/alexander_review_2004_review.shtml

[49] http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/alexander-oliver-stone/#Review

[50] See Harrison,(forthcoming,p.15), also http://www.altfg.com/blog/film-reviews/alexander-oliver-stone/#Review

[51] See Harrison (forthcoming,p.14) & Borza,2004,p.5