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I've been reading Olympus by Dan Simmons, and so the Greek pantheon is on my mind at times. I've always been interested in Greek Mythology. I was talking to Niki about who which actresses and actors would play them if we were making a movie starring them. We were having good time talking about it, and decided it might be a fun hatrack thread.
Artemis: She was the virgin moon goddess of the hunt, wild animals, healing, wilderness, chastity, and childbirth. Who I would cast: Anne Hathaway. She's beautiful, and athletic looking, and I think she would look very impressive looking dressed as a huntress.
Athena: The goddess of wisdom, the practical arts, and warfare, and the protectress of cities, especially Athens. Who I would cast: Natalie Portman. She's beautiful, and is very intelligent. You'd have to give her a wig right now, of course .
Hera: The goddess of women, marriage, and childbirth; the wife and sister of Zeus. Who I would cast: Angelina Jolie. I don't think any pantheon cast list would be complete without casting her as someone. I think Hera fits her well, since the rest of the godesses I've cast are pretty young, so Hera should be a little more mature looking and she could easily pull off being Zeus' wife.
Aphrodite: The goddess of love, beauty and sexual rapture. Who I would cast: This one is probably my hardest one to cast. Like casting Helen of Troy, you really need someone more beautiful than any actress out there. Plus she's usually shown as being blond, and there aren't any young beautiful blonds actresses that come to my mind right now. The best I could do is Jessica Alba. Her acting ability is in serious doubt, but she's got a look that might be able to pull it off. I'm open to suggestings on this one, since I think its probably my weakest pick. (Oh and if you do a google image search on her name, there's a pic on the lower right of the first result page that would give you a better idea. Its a bit too risque to post a link to on hatrack though.)
This is taking too long, so I will be brief with the gods.
Apollo: the Sun God, patron god of musicians and poets. Who I would cast: Perhaps Brad Pitt ?
Hades: lord of the dead and ruler of the nether world . Who I would cast: Christain Bale.
Dionysus: The god of wine. Who I would cast: Ed Norton.
Still to be cast: Zues, Poseidon, Hephestus, Hermes, Ares, Demeter.
What about mortals though? I don't beleive there were many myths or stories about the gods that didn't have a mortal in it. If I remember correctly, the cup bearer was a mortal.
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Let me help you out with that Christian Bale photo. The mug shot you have of him does Ares no justice.
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Christian Bale as Apollo. He practically played the character between American Psycho and Shaft. Young, perfect, and with a slight disdain for humanity. Leonard DeCaprio would work, also.
Zeus - Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, George Clooney
Hera - Emma Thompson, Julieanne Moore, Susan Sarandon. Have to tell you, Hilary Clinton would be perfect. If we must, then Catharine Zeta Jones. Mary McDonnell. Now that I think about it, Hera may have been the first Desperate Housewife. What about the woman who plays Bree? Meryl Steep.
I agree with Kate Blanchett as Athena, or Gabrielle Union, or Bridget Moynihan.
Dionysus - Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Pheonix
Ares - Vin Deisel, Jayne from Firefly, DMX.
Hephestus - Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, or William H. Macy.
Aphrodite - Scarlett Johanson, Charlize Theoron, though there is something about her where she could play any of the Goddess depending on how she is styled, not that she is pretty or talented, I find her middling in both respects, but there is something dangerous about her. Almost deinon
Hermes - Ed Norton, Will Smith, Johnny Depp
Artemis - Wynona Ryder. Btw, I know that Artemis is the protector of children, but I think, I'm not positive, that there is a different Goddess of child birth. I say this because there is a myth where Hera doesn't want one of Zeus' mistress's children born and so doesn't allow the Goddess of Childbirth to visit the woman. Keira Knightley.
Prometheus - And can't think of anyone for the father of Man, forethought, self-sacrificing, tortured, criminal, compassionate. Ed Harris?Andre Braugher?
IO - Anne Hathaway
Medea - Angelina Jolie
Agamemnon - Troy did a fine job Achilles - Troy did a fine job
Hugh Jackman as Perseus. Nathan Fillion as Sysiphus. (Shame shame Nate for lying about your birth date, there is no way that guy is 33.)
How did I get so far without listing Christopher Walken. Posiedon.
The problem with Orlando Bloom as Hermes, while he is pretty enough, there is no mischeiveousness about him. Marky Mark would be a better choice, or maybe Matt Damon, or Nick Cannon, or the youngest Wayans.
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We used to spend hours (or at least minutes) casing the Iliad when I was team-teaching Greek Mythology at Penn State. It's something of a relief to know that Classical History types aren't the only nerds who do this.
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I don't agree with any of the Zeuses given so far. I don't think anyone picked so far has quite as powerful or as dangerous as Zeus is. There's also something predatorially sexual about him, and I think everyone picked so far is not quite that predator-like. They're all fatherly people, but I think there has to be another aspect that they don't have.
I'm thinking that if Patrick Stewart was maybe a few inches taller (according to imdb he's 5'10" and I think Zeus is at least 6') and was finally not playing a good guy, he could pull it off remarkably well. Maybe if he stood on a box or something. EDIT #2: I'm also worried about the depth of his voice, but I think he could handle it.
Nobody mentioned Demeter yet. She should be someone earthy. My best suggestion is Miranda Otto.
And Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio as Apollo? I see the whole sun god thing, but there's nothing poetic and musical about them. I think the person must not only be blonde, distainful and beautiful but also have something about them that embodies the whole musical side of Apollo. Jude Law is another blonde candidate. I don't think it's perfect, but I think he's closer to maybe, maybe having a little more poetry and prophecy to him.
I agree in general with Irami's list for Hermes, but I would add Matt Damon. EDIT: Oh, too slow. Irami and I obviously have the same ideas about Hermes.
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But Blayne, Ian McKellan is so skinny! I've no doubt that he could play the role vocally and acting-wise. But he's physically not the right body type at all: Zeus is notorious for his sleeping habits, shall we say... There is a sexual element to Zeus that cannot be denied and I don't think Ian McKellan has the correct vibe. Besides that, all statues and busts depict him as a large, muscular man. Ian McKellan is just not physically all that impressive. He's... skinny.
Zeus is not skinny.
EDIT: Sorry Theaca! I agree about Susan Sarandon, although I still prefer Miranda Otto.
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I was never very good at this game because I'm not much of a movie fan and consequently don't know a lot of actors and actresses. That said, I remember we decided that Liam Neeson would be a really good Hector--tall, distinguished, noble, a little older but still believable as a great warrior.
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Phil and I thought of him. We think at his current age of what...102? he's a little old, perhaps 30 years ago?
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quote:Originally posted by Valentine014: Phil and I thought of him. We think at his current age of what...102? he's a little old, perhaps 30 years ago?
Zeus is what, 5,000?
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quote: What the heck is wrong with Eddie Izzard? A guy shouldn't be in a kimono.
Oh, you must not know the legend of Eddie Izzard. He is the most amazing English transvestite comedian you will ever see. He's hilarious, and I love him. And I think I could see him as Dionysus, but I'll have to give it some thought.
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On a side note, I wrote a story about what the Greek Gods are doing these days. Apollo has taken on a new name, one the brings up the same dread and fear and hope that his name did in the classical days. Today its HMO. He's also head of the music industry.
Pan was behind Napster. The two don't get along.
Athena is head of a lawfirm.
The Fates have given up weaving and gone into actuary.
Demeter is bloated on preservatives and Dionysius has gotten all pretentious with his move to "the Valley".
And, to give the gist of the story, Zues is able to take control of Promethius's corporate holdings by, well as the tech guy says, "It's like lightening was dancing accross your hard drives." Zues, the posterchild for deadbeat dad's and nepotistic dictator's ends up being the master of modern data protection.
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quote:Originally posted by Dan_raven: On a side note, I wrote a story about what the Greek Gods are doing these days. Apollo has taken on a new name, one the brings up the same dread and fear and hope that his name did in the classical days. Today its HMO. He's also head of the music industry.
Pan was behind Napster. The two don't get along.
Athena is head of a lawfirm.
The Fates have given up weaving and gone into actuary.
Demeter is bloated on preservatives and Dionysius has gotten all pretentious with his move to "the Valley".
And, to give the gist of the story, Zues is able to take control of Promethius's corporate holdings by, well as the tech guy says, "It's like lightening was dancing accross your hard drives." Zues, the posterchild for deadbeat dad's and nepotistic dictator's ends up being the master of modern data protection.
How the mighty have fallen...
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James Marsters has *got* to be a god of some sort. I guess Hermes works, though it adds a whole 'nother side of Hermes for me. I could see him as a fascinating Hades as well.
Yeah, definitely not Hermes. Hermes is supposed to be smarmy, light, playful. James Marsters is *dark*.
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See, I never pictured Hermes as light and playful - I always saw him as the "not evil" side of Loki. Trickster, traveler, theif. He was also Anubis-ish, as he guided souls to Hades.
Now, in the Norse pantheon, I'd definitely have Ian McKellen as Odin and James Marsters as Loki, with Tyler Mane as Thor.
Hmm... Tyler Mane could make a decent Greek god, too, but I don't know which.
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I can totally see Eddie Izzard as Dionysus. Perfect.
And Jeesh, you're missing out if you haven't seen any of Eddie Izzard's stand up work. It's fantastic and absolutely hysterical.
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Clive Owen and Ioan Gruffudd (on the left) should both be in consideration for something. They were awesome in King Arthur.
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Okay, I really only have two casting choices as I am not all that familar with Greek Mythology.
Harrison Ford as Zeus (replacing the now ancient Sean Connery)
Alan Rickman as Hades (Can we say Snape anyone? He has already got that Lord of the Underworld feeling to him!)
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How the mighty have fallen...
