Roles that require perfect form: 10 best movies about the heroes of Ancient Greece

Old Hollywood loved to screen myths and legends of Ancient Greece. But in modern cinema such movies have reached a new and better level. Almighty gods, terrible monsters, cunning villains and, of course, superheroes ready to challenge all of the above.

“Hercules,” USA, Hungary, 2014

Genre: action-adventure

Director: Brett Ratner

Main actors: Dwayne Johnson, Axel Henney, Ian McShane

Age Limit: 12+

Dwayne Johnson, you could say, was setting himself up for the role of Hercules, and it was only a matter of time before he was cast. Despite the fact that Dwayne was in great physical shape, he still decided to perfect his body. More than half a year he trained on a strengthened system. But the beard to grow an actor categorically refused. As a result, the makeup artists had to make a beard of yak wool.

But the creators have saved on the understudy – all the complex stunts Dwayne performed himself. In the story – Hercules is not a mythical superhero, but an ordinary man, however, with incredible strength, courage and endurance. And all sung feats about him a little embellished and flavored with mysticism by his companions. Hercules is a legend, he is adored by the people. But the hero has enemies. One of them is King Eurystheus, who is ready to go to any lengths to denigrate Heracles.

When Heracles returns from another battlefield, he is met by his favorite family – the beautiful wife Megara (played by Irina Sheik) and children. But the family idyll does not last long. Waking up in the morning, the hero finds his loved ones murdered. Convinced that this is his handiwork, Hercules tries to find solace in bloody battles.

“Clash of the Titans”, USA, UK, Australia, 2010

Genre: fantasy

Director: Louis Leterrier

Main actors: Sam Worthington, Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton

Age Limit: 12+

Sam Worthington as Perseus might not have gotten the lead role. If he hadn’t pumped himself up thoroughly for his previous career hit Avatar. Musculature is very useful in casting the role of the ancient Greek hero.

Perseus, the son of Zeus, brought up by a simple family, he does not know about his origin. At the same time, intrigues are being woven on Olympus – the god of the underground kingdom Hades is doing everything to start a war between gods and people. And he succeeds (here Zeus, played by Liam Neeson, gives out a phrase that became one of the popular memes – “Release the Kraken!”). And Perseus in the company of his companions is eager to take revenge for his adoptive parents killed by Hades and to stop the monster ready to rise from the depths and destroy Athens.

By the way, one of the memorable roles – Medusa Gorgon – performed by another Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova. After the success of the first part in 2012 came the sequel “Wrath of the Titans”. This time the widower Perseus alone raises his son and again enters into battle with the rebellious gods and the father of all gods – Kronos.

“The Minotaur,” UK, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, 2006

Genre: fantasy, horror

Director: Jonathan English

Main actors: Tom Hardy, Michelle Van Der Water, Tony Todd

Age limit: 18+

We’ll note right off the bat that the movie is worth seeing solely because of 28-year-old Tom Hardy, who was just beginning his career in Hollywood. And perhaps “The Minotaur” is not the most successful milestone in the actor’s filmography, but thanks to this mythological horror film Hardy was recognized and talked about.

The picture is based on the famous ancient Greek legend of the Cretan monster Minotaur and the labyrinth, which sent unfortunate young men and girls. Every nine years 14 young men were sacrificed to the bloodthirsty monster. And Theseus (in the movie he is Theo) – the only one who was able to fight back the Minotaur.

True, in the picture, the hero does not get on the sacrificial list, but sneaks into the labyrinth to save his beloved. And it’s not Ariadne. This character in the movie, alas, does not exist at all. And it was the royal daughter, according to legend, who helped Theseus to get out of the labyrinth.

“Percy Jackson and the Lightning Snatcher”, USA, 2010.

Genre: fantasy

Director: Chris Columbus

Main Actors: Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario

Age Limit: 12+

The movie is based on the story of Rick Riordan’s series of books about the adventures of Percy, a half-breed, and his equally half-divine friends. Percy is the son of Poseidon, but he grows up in an ordinary family in not the best conditions. One day he is attacked by a fury, and suddenly the boy discovers incredible abilities. Percy learns about his origins and meets Athena’s daughter Annabeth, Hermes’ son Luca and the satyr Grover. Together they must find the stolen lightning bolts of Zeus himself.

The first part repaid the spent 100-million-dollar budget, and despite the displeasure of writer Riordan (he was outraged that his script was heavily revised) in 2013 came out the second – “Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters”. But the sequel, unfortunately, failed at the box office, and the creators abandoned the third adaptation “Percy Jackson and the Curse of the Titan”. However, last year “Disney” launched the series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, which has already been renewed for a second season.

“Hercules: the beginning of a legend”, USA, Bulgaria, 2014

Genre: action-adventure film

Director: Renny Harlin

Main actors: Kellan Lutz, Scott Adkins, Liam McIntyre

Age Limit: 12+

Once again the unsuspecting Heracles leads a humble life. His mother, Queen Alcmene, gave birth to Heracles by Zeus. According to legend, it is he who must overthrow the tyrant king Amphitryon. At the palace Heracles occupies an unenviable position, he is an outcast. But he is well-built, intelligent and brave.

Heracles falls in love with the princess of Crete, Geba. His feelings are mutual, but the girl is promised in marriage to Heracles’ half-brother, the sneaky and cowardly Iphicles. To remove the rival, the king sends the hero to war. Here Heracles is taken prisoner, then to the gladiatorial arena. But all this time he tries to find his way home to return to his beloved and avenge his exile.

Unfortunately, the movie failed at the box office. Producers risked releasing the picture almost simultaneously with another “Hercules”. But Kellan Latsu and Dwayne Johnson?!

“Odysseus”, UK, Italy, Germany, Turkey, USA, 1997.

Genre: Adventure

Director: Andrei Konchalovsky

Main actors: Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini.

Age limit: 12+

Director Andrei Konchalovsky has adapted two of Homer’s poems at once – The Iliad and The Odyssey. Over the course of two episodes, Odysseus tries to return home to his beloved wife Penelope. First, for 10 years they were separated by the Trojan War, in which, thanks to Odysseus’ wit and cunning, his army won.

In triumphant euphoria, the warrior threw a mocking cry to the gods – say, he won without their omnipotent help. Enraged by ingratitude, Poseidon, god of the seas, brings such a powerful storm on Odysseus’ ship that he goes astray. Odysseus’s wanderings and trials last for another 10 years. And Penelope, faithful to him, continues to wait for her husband.

Konchalovsky’s project won the award for “Best Director of a mini-series”, also appreciated and special effects (and, by the way, for the late 90’s they look quite good and spectacular).

“War of the Gods: Immortals”, USA, Canada, UK, 2011.

Genre: fantasy

Director: Tarsem Singh

Main actors: Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Frida Pinto.

Age Limit: 18+

Another interpretation of the legend of Theseus (played by Henry Cavill), but a very loose one. Theseus lives the life of a mere mortal until he becomes involved in a war between the gods and the titans. King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) gets hold of the Epirus Bow and frees the Titans from Tartarus. Hyperion longs for them to exterminate the entire divine race, which he blames for the death of his family. But the bargaining chip in this bloody battle is humanity. And the world needs a hero.

Henry Cavill is a big sports fan, and, perhaps, he has no other choice. After all, all his roles are superheroic, requiring excellent form. Superman, the witch doctor Heralt, and now the ancient Greek warrior. But still for greater convincing Henry strengthened training, added more iron and Crossfit. To give the actor’s skin bronze shade, makeup artists poured his body liters of auto-tanner.

“Jason and the Argonauts,” UK, USA, 1963.

Genre: fantasy

Director: Don Chaffey

Main actors: Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovac, Gary Raymond.

Age Limit: 0+

King Aristo is killed by his own brother Pelias. He now sits on the throne. But according to the oracle’s prophecy, Pelias’ reign is about to come to an end, and the king himself will fall at the hands of the chosen one. The chosen one turns out to be Pelias’ nephew Jason.

The treacherous king cannot kill Jason for fear of incurring the wrath of the people who are tired of the tyranny of the new ruler. Then he sends the young man in search of the mysterious Golden Fleece, hoping that Jason will not survive the dangerous journey. But the hero has a powerful assistant – the goddess Hera.

“300 Spartans”, USA, Canada, Bulgaria, 2007

Genre: action-adventure

Director: Zack Snyder

Main actors: Gerard Butler, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Regan.

Age Limit: 18+

A spectacular action film adaptation of the comic book by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley, which is based on a real historical fact – the Battle of Thermopylae. During the Greco-Persian War of 480-479 B.C., some eight thousand Greeks gathered in the gorge of Thermopylae, ready to repel an attack by an upwardly mobile Persian army. Historians claim that the Persian forces numbered as many as 250,000 men. During the battle the Greeks lost most of the army, about 300 warriors led by the Spartan king Leonidas survived.

A movie of this scale was made surprisingly quickly – in just 60 days. More time was spent on the preparation of scenery, making shields and weapons, sewing costumes. The rest was filmed with the help of computer special effects (for this reason, the actors’ drawn perfect relief presses were subjected to jokes). Even the animals were created thanks to animatronics. But it was this technique that became the special trick of the movie – everything looked in the style of a comic book, as if roughly drawn, but at the same time realistic.

The picture was successful at the box office, but not without a spoonful of tartar. The film caused fierce indignation Iranians, who were very offended by the way the Persians were portrayed – especially King Xerxes. “300 Spartans” was banned from screening in Iran.

In 2014, the sequel “300 Spartans: The Rise of an Empire” was released, based on the fictional story of the Greek commander Themistocles, who led the fleet in the war against the Persians. The second part turned out to be more bloody and frank (by the way, Eva Green, who played the role of the warrior Artemisia, refused to understudy).

“The Amazing Wanderings of Hercules”, USA, 1995-1999.

Genre: adventure series

Directed by: Bruce Campbell, Charlie Haskell, Charles Sibert.

Main Actors: Kevin Sorbo, Michael Hirst, Kevin Smith

Age Limit: 12+

On par with “Xena: Warrior Princess”, this series can bring a nostalgic tear to your eye. Hercules and his faithful friend and companion Iolaus travel the world, slay monsters, rescue beauties and fight the gods. The series stretched for as many as six seasons. And it was preceded by five pilot full-length TV movies about Hercules.

Making sure that the story liked the viewer, the producers swung on a long-playing project. By the way, in the first movie “Hercules and the Amazons” Kevin Sorbo played together with Lucy Lawless. Both actors so liked the TV producers that they also launched a solo project for Lucy about “Xena”.

For Kevin Sorbo image of Hercules became a calling card and a real success. But filming turned out to be for the actor and a difficult test. Closer to the final seasons Kevin began to rapidly lose weight, he began to have problems with memory. After examination it turned out that Sorbo suffered three strokes!

The actor had to years of therapy to recover, but the lost time was not to return. Fame left, and his place was taken by other heroes. However, on the set of “Hercules” Sorbo found his love. Actress Sandra Jenkins played the dead wife of Hercules, and if in the frame she shone for a short time, then in the life of Kevin remained forever. The couple married in 1998, they had three children.