On Adaptations, or, Let Nolan Be Nolan

Dear Squawkers,

Here’s my question: if you have watched something based on something else, which was expanded or evolved or was a take on that original thing – whether The Odyssey or Lord of the Rings or Atonement or The Baby-Sitters Club – and now you are mad enough to make noise about it online…

Who are you? Like, specifically. I’m curious.

We’re here to discuss adaptations (broadly) and The Odyssey (specifically), because there’s no limit to the analysis this movie can support – and most of what’s been written are opinions. On whether Nolan’s adaptation was successful, what it means if it wasn’t, and which metrics he either met or failed to meet. Truly, this is a cottage industry and everyone has a lot to say:

But this isn’t a critique of fans, critics, or keyboard warriors. Because without those specific groups, this movie wouldn’t – couldn’t – exist. When pitching an adaptation in particular, you have to acknowledge the people who love it, who’ll speculate about when and how they’ll consume (and comment on) your art long before it ever comes out, and ideally for weeks and months afterward. That kind of engagement is the dream, although the sheer volume of opinions leads to reactions like this…