Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, we’re counting down our favorite movies set in Greece! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!
2006’s 300 came at the right time, as comic books had been on a steady run in Hollywood since 2000’s X-Men. This epic, fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, directed by Zack Snyder, brought the story to life. In his wildly entertaining role, Gerard Butler’ King Leonidas takes on the powerful Persian God-King Xerxes’s (Rodrigo Santoro) army with Sparta’s 300 most outstanding and entirely ripped soldiers, including David Wenham and a then-unknown Michael Fassbender. This is an outrageous account of one of the most prominent battles in history from the beginning to the end, with captivating comic-replicating scenery and exciting performances, including Butler and Santoro. But the standout is Lena Headey as the headstrong and confident Queen Gorgo, who stands behind her husband while having a voice of her own. Her scene with the Spartan Council is one of my favorites. Even with the short time in the film, you’re rooting for the 300. Even knowing their fate, you still hope for the best. With over-the-top stylized fight scenes, rousing speeches, and quotable moments, such as, “THIS IS SPARTA!”, 300 is storytelling at its funnest. (Chantal Ashford)
There aren’t many movies like The Lost Daughter, which openly talks about selfish parents or the idea of, “what if someone who isn’t fit to become a parent becomes one anyway?” We follow Leda (in a great dual performance by Olivia Colman in the present and Jessie Buckley in the past) on holiday in Greece as her character reminisces about her life, the choices she’s made, and why she made them. And as we peel away more layers, we discover that ultimately, she made the correct choice to abandon her child…? Yes, The Lost Daughter is a hard movie to watch because there aren’t many redeeming qualities for our protagonist, but I don’t think the film is interested in a redemption arc. It merely shows us that there are many people who have children (yes, multiple), and maybe, just maybe, aren’t fit to raise them. And I think that’s a good reason to watch this movie: It doesn’t matter if you have children or not, it shows you the lives of very different people you may not like, but hey, who said the protagonist(s) must be “the good guys”? What a strong directorial debut for Maggie Gyllenhaal, who chooses to discuss this topic out of anything. I can’t wait to see what she directs next. (Luke Burian)
We all studied Greek mythology in high school, but for many millennials, our first foray into that world came in the form of the 1997 Disney film, Hercules, story of the titular character (Tate Donovan), who is stripped of his god powers and must learn how to be a real hero to become the god he was destined to be. This film is loved by so many people, and it includes an incredible voice cast with a beautiful animation style. With the likes of Danny DeVito, James Woods, Keith David, Jim Cummings, and so many others, it’s easy to see why this film is so beloved. Not only is the animation excellent, the music and singing are phenomenal. Hercules is a film that still holds up to this day. Disney is planning a live action remake, but nothing will top the original. (Austen Terry)
When it comes to movies set in Greece, it doesn’t get much better than Jason and the Argonauts. The movie follows Jason (Todd Armstrong), the rightful king of Iolcos whose throne was stolen from him as a child. In seeking vengeance, he eventually finds himself on a quest for the mythical Golden Fleece, which would bring him, his people, and his country great fortune. To do this, he recruits the greatest warriors and Olympians in all of Greece (including Hercules [Nigel Green] himself!) to aid in this journey. They’re sent all over Greece and the Aegean Sea as they commune with the Goddess Athena and God Poseidon. They battle harpies, hydra, skeletons, and even a Titan as they make their way to the land of Colchis across the Black Sea. All this to say, this is about as Greek as it gets. Combine all of this with beautiful early ‘60s cinematic aesthetics, great costumes, fun performances, hand-crafted sets, and iconic stop-motion special effects from the legendary Ray Harryhausen, and it’s no wonder why Jason and the Argonauts is considered one of the great classic Hollywood adventure films. (Heath Lynch)
When you see “directed by Yorgos Lanthimos”, you should know you are in for a ride. And when you get half an hour into Dogtooth, you will be cringing, uncomfortable, and feeling many different things at once, but… you will be too intrigued to switch it off. Dogtooth is a movie that takes the whole “nature vs. nurture” debate to another level, and puts you in the world of three siblings who have never interacted with anybody outside of their immediate circle and were raised by their authoritarian dad and mom, who enable them. And if you think that’s weird, wait for some scenes, like playing anElvis Presley record and telling the kids this was the granddad (despite him not speaking Greek), asking what the “C word” is, and being told it’s a “large lamp.” And if that doesn’t intrigue you enough, what do you think sex education looks like? Yep, everything in this movie is so weird, yet so fascinating. Lanthimos is clearly in a league of his own, and now, since he has gotten mainstream, he doesn’t seem to be stopping. I love that there are many places cinema should take you, and I am glad that he has found his, which is telling his weird stories with a bigger budget and Hollywood stars. Before you catch Poor Things, give this little Greek movie a chance to weird you out and make you feel things out of the ordinary. Or, as the youths would say, let him cook. (Luke Burian)
For as rich a history as Greek myths and tragedies have in the written form, their relatively modern cinematic adaptations have a spotty track record. One of the better examples comes from Greece itself with Iphigenia. Set around the time of the Iliad (think Troy), King Agamemnon (Kostas Kazakos) accidentally slays a sacred deer in a bid to feed his troops and is told he must sacrifice his eldest daughter, Iphigenia (Tatiana Papamoschou), to get the winds needed to set sail. Legendary Greek actress Irene Papas adds to the cast as Klytaimnistra, wife to Agamemnon and mother of Iphigenia. Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, it’s interesting to watch an actual Greek adaptation of the tragic play Iphigenia in Tauris by Euripides. As befitting the Greek tragic tradition, it’s an emotional ride and one these performers pull off beautifully. (Jake Bourgeois)
The past decade has been a renaissance for the detective-driven murder mystery genre, with great revivals of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Perry Mason captivating film and television audiences. However, the oft-regarded best of these modern detectives is not an iteration of a classic, but a newcomer: Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. First appearing in Rian Johnson’s smash hit Knives Out in 2019, Detective Blanc returned in Glass Onion, with a fresh cast of supporting characters and a new mystery to solve. Set (and filmed) on a Greek island, Blanc is invited to attend a murder mystery retreat with billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) and several of his powerful friends. The mystery that unfolds from there on out is well-written and engaging, with unforeseen twists and turns at every corner. The supporting cast, featuring the likes of Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, and Leslie Odom Jr., is superb, each having some standout moments of their own but also laying down the runway to allow Craig to fly with Blanc’s quirky, Southern charm. I don’t think Glass Onion is quite as good as Knives Out,and given the expectations I don’t know if it ever could have been, but it is still a fantastic film with great comedy and a riveting mystery. (Jake Hjort)
The scope of modern spy thrillers was changed in 2002 with the release of The Bourne Identity, as was the trajectory of Matt Damon’s career. Damon was already an established star with credits like Good Will Hunting, Rounders, and Oceans 11 under his belt, but The Bourne Identity revealed more layers and showed he was capable of anchoring an action thriller. The closing scene in Greece provides a beautiful backdrop to contrast the grit and grime that precede it in this spy thriller where Damon’s Jason Bourne is found adrift in the Mediterranean Sea with no recollection of his identity. Uncovering the mystery through the eyes of the protagonist is an effective plot device. The script is tight, the storyline is gripping, and the fight sequences were revolutionary. The rapid and precise style has since been mimicked in countless other action movies, including the improvisational style utilizing the environment where a pen can become a brutally deadly weapon. Damon sells the role of amnesiac quickly discovering his elite assassin skills so well, and the twists and turns are intelligently executed and unpredictable. (Jason Mack)
The Guns of Navarone was far ahead of its time regarding action, effects, and even the story’s pacing. It hits all the beats of modern action flicks, with a slow build to the climax where it just lets rip. At the same time, it doesn’t fall into the trap of a lot of action by trying to build tension with an over-the-top musical score. Many of these scenes have little or no dialogue, as they allow the images to show the uncertainty of the situation. But that’s not to say there aren’t scenes with a large amount of dialogue bringing the magnitude of the situation to the forefront. These scenes showcase particular standout performances by David Niven and Gregory Peck as they struggle to understand the best thing to do for their mission to save the lives of 2,000 British soldiers, while also conflicting with the morality of what they have to do to ensure the mission is successful. With this film being more than 50 years old, and over two and a half hours, you might think the effects and pacing would seem outdated, with the plot dragging in the middle. But at no point did I feel the special effects looked fake, and if I had only read the screenplay, I would swear it was a modern film; there is something different happening in every scene, and there are an abundance of twists and turns in the plot. (John Tillyard)
What is the greatest trilogy in film? There are only a few trilogies left intact which also keep great quality throughout all three films. Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy is certainly on the shortlist. It’s an immaculate tale of two young people who fall in love over one night, years later reconnect, and finally are living their lives together with their own problems. Before Midnight was a greatly anticipated third piece to the tale and it did not disappoint. With its newfound maturity and complexity, it is arguably the best entry. It is not about young people falling for each other — it is about a couple who have been together for years and confront the complexities of their global lives. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are all in as they bring their characters to life. They take a trip to Greece, and the beautiful setting is a wonderful addition to this story. Their love is aging. Their frustrations are mounting. Their lives are complicated. The drama mounts and builds and leaves all the audience begging for more. Hopefully we will be getting Before Tea Time at some point in the future. (Shane Conto)
Troy
When I was in college, I took a myth and culture literature class where we read The Odyssey and The Iliad. While we read The Iliad, my professor went out of his way to say, “don’t watch Troy,because it’s a bad adaptation.” Setting aside that he’s right about the adaptation, you can’t deny it’s a great blockbuster movie with stunning spectacle. The story of Achilles (Brad Pitt) almost overshadows Hector (Eric Bana) and Paris (Orlando Bloom) as the battle between Greece and Troy takes shape. The fight choreography, particularly between Hector and Achilles, is off the charts, with tension building until its epic conclusion. Although it was in the trailer, the scene of all the ships in the Aegean Sea coming for Troy after Helen (Diane Krueger) “flees” is jaw-dropping. All the battle sequences in Troy, from the landing to the beach to the Trojan Horse, do the epic poem justice. Troy may not be a faithful adaptation, but it certainly is a popcorn summer flick through and through! (Mike Hilty)
Mamma Mia!
Jukebox musicals are tricky work. Finding a way to fit already known and beloved songs into a narrative can be more difficult than just writing new pieces. But when it pays off, it can be a memorable experience for your audience. Mamma Mia! is beloved worldwide for being exactly that. Stars Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters bring to life a wonderful story about family, parenthood, and love. It is an incredible time for all in the audience as they watch these stars of the screen dance and sing to ABBA’s classic hits. Personally, I remember when this movie was released and how it was all my mom and her friends could talk about for some time, and that bothered me. Iron Man and The Dark Knight had just come out! Superheroes were the thing! My juvenile mind couldn’t understand how they could care more about this song-and-dance number than Batman! But as I got older, I realized the escapist aspect this movie brings to the table. For two hours, you get to just enjoy yourself watching the dramedy unfold in some of the beautiful Greek settings one can imagine. It makes you want to take a vacation while giving you a vacation from reality itself. (Sam Nichols)