One of the most anticipated Bollywood movies of the year, Brahmastra has been in the news well before its release. A movie about Hindu mythology, the movie stars Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy, most of whom play the role of sages and warriors trusted with divine, powerful weapons several aeons ago. The movie’s special effects, which took almost ten years to create, are one of the few things that audiences truly enjoyed. While Brahmastra has not been released on OTT platforms just as yet, here are some of the celebrated creations in the mythology genre that are a must-watch.
300
Photo Courtesy: IMDb
Frank Miller’s adaptation of the popular comic book — 300might be far from historical accuracy, but it is one of the most exciting movies nonetheless. The movie is primarily based on the Battle of Thermopylae between Sparta and Persia, and stars Gerard Butler as King Leonidas of Sparta, and Rodrigo Santoro as King Xerxes of Persia. Taking place in around 480 B.C., King Leonidas leads 300 Spartans into battle against the Persian “God-King” Xerxes and his invading army of more than 300,000 soldiers. As the battle rages, Queen Gorgo attempts to rally support in Sparta for her husband. However, the Spartans face insurmountable odds when they are betrayed by a Spartan reject.
Watch online on Netflix and Amazon Prime
Clash of the Titans
Photo Courtesy: IMDb
A remake of the 1981 movie, Clash of the Titans is based on the myth of Perseus, the child of Zeus, and a mortal mother named Danae. Unhappy about the disrespect given to Olympian gods, Zeus persuaded by his brother Hades, orders him to destroy the city of Argos to set an example. However, Perseus along with a group of brave warriors decide to put a stop to him but are challenged by Hades who threatens to release the monstrous Kraken on Earth if his demands are not met. Enhanced with 3D technology, visual effects and plenty of clay-mation, the remake has a much more diversified, slightly over-the-top concept, that is still a great watch nonetheless.
Watch online on Amazon Prime
Hercules
Photo Courtesy: IMDb
One of the most widely recognized movies, Herculesis a fine example of a mythological movie that takes inspiration from ancient Greece. The movie focuses on one particular Greek god, Hercules, the god of strength and heroes. While the movie has been remade several times in both live-action and animation, the 2014 version is the most memorable. The 2014 version stars Dwayne Johnson essaying the role of the Greek demigod Hercules. Having endured his legendary twelve labours, Hercules must now prove his abilities when the king of Thrace and his daughter come to him for shelter, threatened by a warlord to destroy his kingdom. Hercules travels to Greece with his five loyal companions to sell his services for gold. While Johnson’s portrayal of Hercules has been questioned, one cannot ignore the sincere enthusiasm he puts into his character, elevating the story.
Watch online on Apple TV
Immortals
Photo Courtesy: IMDb
Immortalsdirected by Tarsem Singh is loosely based on the Ancient Greek mythology stories of Theseus and The Minotaur, the Return of the Heraclids and the Titanomachy. The story focuses on a mortal man named Theseus who is chosen by the gods to fight King Hyperion. Power-hungry and ruthless, King Hyperion along with his army march across Greece, leaving burned-out villages and the corpses of the innocent in their wake. Hyperion’s goal is to find the long-lost Bow of Epirus, an invincible weapon, that can be used to cast the gods out of Mount Olympus and make Hyperion the master of the world. A stonemason named Theseus heeds the words of the sibylline oracle who convinces him that he is the key to stopping the bloodthirsty king.
Watch online on Amazon Prime
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Photo Courtesy: IMDb
One of the most beloved Greek mythologies, the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan was a favourite for many. While unable to best the books, the Percy Jackson movies were still an amicable watch, the first one — Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief being the most memorable one. It focuses on Percy a student with dyslexia who discovers that he is a demigod and the descendant of Poseidon. When he is accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, Percy along with Annabeth, daughter of Athena and Grover a satyr and a Lord of the Wild. The trio set off to find the bolt while overcoming dangers and attempting to stop the fight between the gods.
Watch online on Apple TV
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