Redefining Hercules: Modern Heroism Explored

The myth of Heracles has never stayed the same; each reiteration molds his character to align with different

cultural expectations. Between Barry Powell’s violent and aggressive account of Heracles and Brett Ratner’s

humble and emotionally mature depiction of Hercules, although vastly different,

each version was appropriate for its time. Hercules (2014), an action/fantasy

film directed by Brett Ratner, reinterprets and excludes crucial elements of the

familiar Heracles myth to better fit the modern “hero” definition and expectations of a larger audience

by dialing down Hercules’ lust for reckless violence and highlighting the 2010s value

of morality over corruption, removing Heracles’ Greek lineage and cultural significance,