Product: The Odyssey [VHS] (1997)
Rating: 4.0
A Near Perfect Rendering of an Epic Tale
This particular film adaptation of Homer's epic poem, staring Armand Assante as Odysseus, and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, from the studios of Hallmark Entertainment, is more than likely the best film rendition of this grand story.King of Ithaca, Odysseus, is asked to join the Greek forces to recover the kidnapped Princes Helen, (whose face launched a thousand ships), and masterminded the famous Trojan Horse leading to the Greek victory. Odysseus thus leaves Troy to return to his kingdom but is thwarted at every turn, punished by the god Poseidon, taking ten years to finally walk the shores again of his beloved Ithaca.This tale continues to resonate over three thousand years since it was written. Why? Because it is a classic tale that illustrates all the great virtues of humankind: Loyalty, Courage, Heroism, Kindness, and unconditional Love. The story also illustrates our many vices, Lust, Greed, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, Wrath and Vanity; in fact the seven deadly sins. The Odyssey is a moral tale, and heroic tale that is still as relevant today as it was three thousand years ago.The two great episodes depicted in the film are Odysseus' encounter with the man-eating Cyclops and his imprisonment on Calypso's (Vanessa Williams) island, the land of the legendary Sea Nymphs. His encounter with the enchantress, Circe (Bernadette Peters) is also done quite well. Once Odysseus returns to Ithaca, he is given a perfect disguise of a decrepit oldman from the goddess Athena, (Isabella Rossellini) to then take revenge on the many suitor's for the hand of Queen Penelope, Odysseus' wife and true love (Greta Scacchi) and to rule the kingdom of Ithaca in Odysseus' place.What Odysseus learns at the tales end, which was Athena's purpose, was to attain wisdom, a virtue or human trait that stands above all other virtues and human traits.The Odyssey is a wonderful film and an inspiration to re-read Homer's timeless epic poem.