The 1997 television adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey' is now available to stream for free on YouTube through Popcornflix. This three-hour epic, originally broadcast on NBC in two parts, stars Armand Assante as Odysseus and features an impressive cast including Gerald Chaplin, Christopher Lee, Eric Roberts, and Vanessa Williams.
Award-Winning Adaptation
The miniseries won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Special. The Rotten Tomatoes consensus describes it as 'exhilarating, visually spectacular retelling of Homer's epic, buoyed by a committed international cast and a brisk sense of adventure.' The monster effects were created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, adding a distinctive 1990s charm.
Context and Availability
This adaptation covers more of the story than recent films like 'The Return' starring Ralph Fiennes, which only depicts the conclusion. The 1997 version stays true to the fantastical elements of the original myth. Three years later, NBC adapted 'Jason and the Argonauts,' which is also available for free on YouTube.
