Myths are the original movies. Only they were told orally and there was no popcorn to munch on in most of the world at the height of their purpose. Whether in a religious function or mere entertainment, they were the primary media for storytelling for millennia. It only makes sense for them to be fodder now for cinematic retellings.
But there aren't as many movies based on ancient mythology as there could be given the amount of tales available. And the majority seem to be specifically taken from the adventures of Hercules. This year we're even getting two more such adaptations: this week's release of The Legend of Hercules, starring Kellan Lutz in the role of the hero, and this summer's Hercules, which stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Most of the Hercules movies of the past, outside of Disney's 1997 animated feature, have been cheesy B movies cast with leading men known more for their muscles than acting talent, such as Lou Ferrigno, Mickey Hargitay and a young Arnold Schwarzenegger. They somewhat overlap with the Ray Harryhausen classics of old-fashioned special effects spectacle. Jason and the Argonauts, for instance, features Hercules as a supporting role.
Not all movies based on myths are sword-and-sandals epics. Let's not forget that Thor is a superhero movie about the figures of Norse myths. Even less direct, tons of blockbusters, most nostably Star Wars, are at least founded in mythology. Mannequin, meanwhile, is a modernization of the Pygmalion myth. The Hunger Games is said to have had some origins in the story of Theseus.
European mythology is most common to Hollywood, but if you look to foreign cinema, you'll find a good amount of Hindu mythology in Indian films and Japanese mythology in the animated features of Hayao Miyazaki, such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.
Occasionally those myths turn up in American stories, too, as in the Aztec god Quetzalcoatll being a monster invading New York City in Q: The Winged Serpent and the Chinese mogwai being a part of Gremlins.
Earlier this week we polled users on Twitter for their picks of the best movie based on mythology, and the most popular answer was the Coen brothers' O Brother, Where Art Though?, which is a very loose and updated version of the Odysseus story. Another person mentioned The Mask, which is inspired by Norse mythology.
What do you think is the right answer? Clash of the Titans? Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief? Beowulf? Black Orpheus? Tell us your favorite below.
