12 Herculean Myth and Monster Movies, Part I
Hollywood has long had a love affair with mythological deities, creatures and stories. From the "The Thief of Bagdad" in 1940 to "sword-and-sandal" epics of the late '50s and early '60s such as "Jason and the Argonauts," Hollywood has relied on the rich trove of heroes, drama and romance that ancient myth has to offer. And why not? Mythology embodies stories that have a timeless appeal, stories that men and women have been drawn to instinctively for centuries. As mythologist Joseph Campbell, the man whose writings on the "hero's journey" and fantasy archetypes inspired George Lucas' development of "Star Wars," once said: "Mythology shows itself to be as amenable as life itself to the obsessions and requirements of the individual, the race, the age."
In other words, everyone can relate to myths, so it's no surprise that Hollywood keeps coming back to them. This Friday, "Hercules" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson opens nationwide, so in honor of the fabled 12 Labors of Hercules, The Film Yap takes a look at twelve memorable movies that adapted mythology to entertain audiences.
12. "Hercules" (1997) - The Hydra
The many-headed Hydra is one of the most familiar of the mythical monsters of ancient Greece, and no retelling of the Hercules myth is complete without this deadly foe. The Hydra is basically a dragon. If one of its serpentine heads is cut off, it grows two more in its place, becoming more powerful the longer the fight lasts. The legendary beast makes an appearance in the upcoming Hercules movie and was featured in a memorable fight sequence from Disney's "Hercules" back in 1997. The Hydra in that film was notable at the time because it was created using CGI rather than the traditional animation used throughout the rest of the film.
11. "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958) - The Cyclops
Stop-motion model animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen worked on so many creatures for fantasy films over the decades that we literally could have picked 12 of his monsters alone for this article. The Cyclops, a savage one-eyed giant, was one of Harryhausen's most effective and memorable creatures partly because "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" was the first film he worked on in color and also because of his superb use of rear-projection to blend the animation with the live action.
10. "Legend" (1985) - The Unicorn
A staple of European folklore and American fairy tales alike, the unicorn was believed by the Ancient Greeks to actually exist and for centuries was listed in as such in their books on natural history. Tales describe the unicorn as a rare and wild woodland animal possessed of grace and beauty that could only be tamed by a maiden of purity (i.e., a virgin). Director Ridley Scott's "Legend" is an original fairytale that combines many classical elements of the genre, so it was not surprising that the unicorn was a key plot element in this story of two virtuous lovers played by Mia Sara and Tom Cruise.
9. "TrollHunter" (2010) - Trolls
Trolls are giant-like creatures from Norse and Scandinavian mythology. Oftentimes depicted as ugly, misshapen, stupid and ill-tempered, they have featured in many fantasy films over the years as generic monsters and mindless soldiers such as those seen in the "Lord of the Rings" films. Norwegian director Andre Ovredal's found-footage mockumentary "TrollHunter" is perhaps the most "authentic" representation of these legendary creatures in cinema, drawing heavily upon Norwegian mythology and folklore.
8. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (2008) - Centaurs
Half-man and half-horse, the centaurs of Ancient Greek mythology were little more than wild animals — violent, lusty and often drunken. The centaurs of popular literature however, are more often depicted as intelligent and wise. This is true of the centaurs of C.S. Lewis' book "The Chronicles of Narnia; Price Caspian" as well. Lewis' centaurs had more in common with the elves of his good friend J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy: mysterious, majestic and noble.
7. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002) - The Phoenix
The phoenix is a mythical firebird that dies when it is consumed by its own flames only to be reborn from the ashes. The firebird is a very primal archetype, and variations of it can be found in many cultures, including the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and even very early Christianity. The theme of redemption and renewal symbolized by the phoenix is a popular and powerful one. so it is no surprise that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling decided to make this noble creature the companion of Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwart's.