Product Description
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Reacquaint yourself with myths so powerful that they
remain woven into the fabric of the present world, resonating
with real-life relevance.
Thousands of years ago, they were used to help frame the world of
the ancients, and dictate the guidelines of their societies.
Today, they are often the first stories we learn as children,
iconic tales in which good and evil clash, and humanity and
fantasy collide. But what is the reality behind these stories?
From the epic tragedy of Medusa, Greek mythology s most infamous
female fiend, to Hercules, its greatest action hero, and Hades,
master of the land of the dead and a god so feared no one would
speak his name, explore these myths and the legendary figures who
inspired them in CLASH OF THE GODS. Each episode connects ancient
myths to actual historical events, as well as to events in the
Bible and other cultures mythologies, gaining important
historical in from renowned scholars in search of the truth
behind the legends.
This 10-part series on two discs travels back in time to reveal
the stories behind some of history s most infamous mythological
figures and legends including:
Zeus
Hercules
Hades
The Minotaur
Medusa
Odysseus: Curse of the Sea
Beowulf
Tolkien s Monsters
Thor
And more
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It's paradoxical that the most heavily invented and
imagined parts in this 10-episode Clash of the Gods series are so
much less riveting than the simple storytelling by scholars cast
to recap the myths in classroom-lecture style. In these hour-long
episodes, myths are dramatized with acting that borders on farce.
Men pumping their muscles and grunting or monsters' eyes glowing
flaccidly into the camera lens are marked periodically by CG
blood splatters and modern primitive tattoo designs blazing
across the screen that do nothing for Greek myth except make it
feel oafish. Even narrator Stan Bernard's rowdy, punctuated
speaking style reminds one of narration for a detective show or a
wrestling match instead of an educational documentary
highlighting history's greatest mythic heroes. While modernizing
ancient myth is a controversial topic, there are many reasons a
television show visually explicating the classics to reach new
generations is a great idea. But the erratic, hectic visual style
of this series does a disservice to already-exciting stories
that, according to the show's mission, explain the ancient
world's belief that nature was subject to the gods. Clash of the
Gods' other premise, more in keeping with its sensationalistic
tone, is to expose hidden truths behind the myths.
The majority of the series devotes episodes to the rise of the
Olympian gods, beginning with Zeus's battle with his her,
Kronos, and the Titans. Images of Zeus with a ridiculous white
lightning bolt painted across his face repeat ad m
throughout to supposedly show how Zeus took control of mortal
earth until consumed by his "uncontrollable sex drive." Likewise,
the episode "Hercules" depicts a well-oiled man in tight
underwear roaming the desert to elucidate how he is the world's
"ultimate superhero." Only scholars like Tom Stone, who
humorously likens Hercules to Babe Ruth, or Michael Fontaine from
Cornell University, do any justice to the exploration of
metaphorical connections between Hercules's 12-challenge quest
and the ordeals humans were experiencing when the myth was
popular. "Minotaur" better achieves its to link truths to the
myth, by linking historical wars between the Cretans and
Athenians to the horrific tale of the man-eating Cretan beast,
deemed Athenian propaganda by historians like David George at
Saint Anselm College. Also meaningful is the narrative thread in
this episode about Theseus's dual hers, one mortal and one
god, and the fantastic connection between historical politicians,
such as Alexander the Great, who believed that they too were
conceived of two men. While "Medusa," the two-episode "Odysseus,"
and "Beowulf" do zilch to enlighten beyond basic redundant
storytelling, the lamest episode of all is "Tolkien's Monsters,"
a heavy-handed look at how J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth was
inspired by his days in the trenches during World War I. While
the information in this series is informative and interesting,
simulated drama and footage that repeats as if the History
Channel ran out of material to edit in makes for possibly the
worst series on mythology out there. Save your money and read the
books instead. --Trinie Dalton
