Top 10 Greek Gods and Goddesses in Movies

all right Lords of Olympus we're ready for your close-ups welcome to watchmojo.com Ovie's for this list we're looking at ancient Greek deities who made an impact on the big screen we're looking only at fully fledged gods sorry Hercules who are recognizable as such in the film number 10 Zeus Percy Jackson and the Olympians the lightning thief Thunder clouds there's no lightning stolen put simply Sean Bean Zeus is a badass which is really a must when part of your job is to keep all the other gods in line and besides being as a right to be angry someone has made off with his precious lightning bolt which is like taking Thor's magic hammer let's face it beam has the physical presence required to play a magisterial god give me the bonus lightning thief intense and fierce anyone bold enough to steal a lightning bolt from him is signing their own death warrant beam screen time is limited but his Zeus fills the room whenever he's in it number nine Dionysus Fantasia [Music] okay so Walt Disney's version of Dionysus may not satisfy purists after all he's played for Laughs in the pastoral section of the classic Fantasia and most Greek depictions of the god of wine do give him a robust if not so portly physique but there are many things that the film does get right including the presence of centaurs and Cedars as companions Dionysus has a me ability and sense of joie de vivre also shine through not to mention the central role that wine plays in any tale involving him true the sequence lacks the bakken alien frenzy associated with the god this is Disney after all but it does hint at the sensuality inherent in the character number eight Hermes Hercules miami's yeah you know I had oarfish do the arrangement in that too and nutty Disney similarly played fast and loose with the gods and Hercules but it still included several memorable depictions adopting a self-aware postmodern tone the film's take was refreshing my Lord and Lady the Titans of escape but they're practically at our gates dick Hermes for instance the messenger of the gods was always considered quick and cunning yet somehow and Paul Shaffers interpretation he finds a way to incorporate a laid-back style into all his Swift movements Schafer makes Hermes hip which seems strangely appropriate after all he was also the god of transitions so being up-to-date on what's happening fits his personality number 7 Zeus Clash of the Titans release the car hit Zeus again and it won't be his last appearance on our list he's the king of the gods the ruler of the skies the dude with the Thunderbolts but he also seems unable to keep his privates inside his toga which is part of what sets this film in motion insolence as a price like children they need to be reminded of the order of things there's an example brother you see in addition to being our hero Perseus is also Zeus's illegitimate son Liam Neeson makes a memorable Zeus capturing the Regal air that's part of being both a king and a God but Neeson is also adapted hinting at the burden that goes with being a ruler crucially he makes it believable that this often somber sometimes raging God could fall victim to the plotting of his brother Hades Paris the demigod in Argos number six Zeus Clash of the Titans release the Kraken okay same gods same story but different film and different actor and what an actor the role of Zeus may not have been the most challenging that the immortal Sir Laurence Olivier ever undertook but he's still made it memorable the 1981 telling of the Perseus story is a bit ham-fisted and Campion style but silver screen legend Olivier makes it work hundred good deeds cannot atone for what murder Olivier thunders appropriately and knows how to take hold of a scene and command center stage watching him grab a scene by the horns there is no doubt that this Zeus is the rightful king of Olympus I forbid any revenge against pursues he has number five eros Sinbad legend of the seven seas oh this is going to be fun as the goddess of strife and discord eros is not one of your better known Olympians because face it she's really a big pain to have around but that didn't stop Michelle Pfeiffer and the DreamWorks animators from making her into a top-notch mystical presence in the Sinbad adventure as cunning as she is beautiful and enticing eros is also spiteful and vindictive and holds a pretty cynical view of humanity so I'm going to let you live but there's just one little thing you have to do get the book of peace and bring it to me she's a depth at plotting and at manipulating others to get what she wants as a devotee of discord she also delights in creating situations that have people at each other's throats not a nice lady but she makes an indelible impression oh all right you have my word as a goddess number four Aries Wonder Woman but Souza's son grew envious of mankind and suit to corrupt his father's creation what would it be like to live forever as Sir Patrick Morgan also known as Aries David Thewlis gives us an all too convincing answer cynical jaded and shrewd his aries is definitely a glass half empty kind of guy he despises we humans for our vices seeing only the worst in our nature and history for that reason he orchestrates World War one to wipe us out I did I don't want to fight you but if I must the God of War according to him he's actually the God of truth Feliz delivers a masterfully sinister performance boozing bitter pessimism and power once his character is outed as Ares thank goodness gal gadot to Wonder Woman thinks we still deserve a chance what kind of God number three that'ss Clash of the Titans the child Perseus is the son of Zeus that is why he is to be saved although in mythology Thetis was a minor water goddess when Dame Maggie Smith plays her she gets promoted to the Olympian Pantheon and why not that'ss may not allow Smith the opportunity to really exercise her considerable acting chops but that doesn't stop this actress from making the character come to life even when it's just her face poorly superimposed over a fallen statue head Smith's status is as imperious as they come yet audiences feel some sympathy for tetiz whose vengeful motives are rooted in her love for her mistreated son no I beg you be merciful number two Hades Clash of the Titans face and now for a completely different take on Hades sure this hades also has a grudge against his brother Zeus and similarly tries to get back at him through one of his sons but there is no jocularity or mumbling wisecracks for this hades ian ray finds lethally vengeful interpretation this is a Hades who's been wronged for too long and will stop at nothing for revenge this is to win Zeus to live of your father he's dank and malevolent losing sourness even when at rest and he captures the character sly cunning equally well this is one Hades you don't want to turn your back on until I possess my full power you will be my weapon it's interesting how many characters we've seen repeat on this list because there are so many different ways to play these gods and goddesses it looks like we're on a roll here but before we get to see which godly film depiction tops our list we'll take a look at these honorable mentions I'm not expecting you to forgive me but I want you to know that I'm grateful you win my lord that is the battle not the war he belongs in the underworld not here you do not tell me where I belong let them enjoy a calm sea a fresh breeze and each other the girl is pretty and I was always sentimental before we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one Hades Hercules how sentimental you know I haven't been this choked up since I got a hunk of moussaka caught in my throat skated before the Disney Hercules takes a fresh and irreverent approach to the gods and this is especially true in the unforgettable performance of James Woods as Hades the god of the underworld is indisputably the villain here yet he's also far and away the most entertaining character in the film's words tumble out of a mouth that is a perpetual sneer woods vocal performance is as dry as they come maybe I haven't been throwing the right curves at him meg my sweet he makes jokes and wisecracks constantly but they only serve to distract from just how deadly serious his scheming is and when Woods turns off the humor and goes for the jugular the effect is all the more powerful for the contrast I'm about to rearrange the cosmos do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from watch mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos [Music] you [Music]

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Id: lftugNGtkvc

Length: 11min 7sec (667 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 09 2019