"An action-heavy take on the epic poem centered on the war in heaven between archangels Michael and Lucifer." (IMBb)
Above is the short, yet succinct synopsis which the movie website IMDb offers regarding the film adaptation of the Miltonian epic, 'Paradise Lost'. This brief description for the unknowing pleasantly summarises an action/ fantasy film which movie-buffs will wholly enjoy. However, I am not one of those people. I spent much of my final year at university analysing and scrutinising the text as part of my dissertation. Hours and days spent absorbing every verse in the hope it would somehow revolutionise what was being written. All this time was dedicated to one particular facet of the text, the figure of Satan.
The text openly interchanges between the names Satan and Lucifer, where the latter is used when describing events around the pre-fall scenario. Therefore, the synopsis is implying that the film will be limited to a section of the greater text. It is disregarding the founding of Hell and the events involving Satan in Eden. The part of the text in question, that which is found in Book 5 and 6, relates the celestial conflict which took place between G-d and his faithful angels, and the rebellious host led by the Archangel Lucifer (Satan). It is similar to Scriptural texts where G_d is greatly challenged by a force, generally in the form of the Devil, who is overconfident in the face of true omnipotence. The conclusion is already known to the reader as Paradise Lost commences immediately after the fall of Lucifer (now Satan) and his followers. It would seem that Director Alex Proyas (i, Robot; Knowing; The Crow; etc), and the numerous script writers involved in the creation of this film have decided to ignore the greater story and focus on an event set prior to human existence.
The use of greater story is not to claim that I somehow arrogantly claim to know the text better than those involved in the film's production. However, it would seem that they have had a lapsis mentis with regards to what is said at the beginning of Book 1. Here Milton states that he is writing with the intention to "justify the ways of God to men" (Book 1, Line 26). The conflict which takes place in the text is but a means to an end with regards to explaining G_d's manner and purpose. Satan, though quite central to the events of all ten books which comprise Paradise Lost, is a conduit within the network of divine intention. The War itself would be so easily dealt with by G_d, however He always it to continue as a means express the power of the Son (Jesus Christ). Lucifer's rebellion is solely against the creation and authority placed upon the Son. This could potentially create an issue for the film producers. They can either; downplay the fact that if Jesus wasn't there then the fall of Angels and humankind would have been prevented; or they emphasise the evil which Lucifer was embodying in his rebellion. Either path will create tension within religious and academic communities alike.
This will all be the result of a misunderstanding of the text itself. The film may herald a revival of Miltonian literature and raise it would of the dread-filled lecture theatres of University English Departments. Yet it may cause another degrading of a classical English text, one which is often placed as highly as Shakespearean literature. The conclusion, the hope, which I am trying to express here is that no matter how visually stunning the feature film may be, it should endeavour not to degrade the original text. I, for a lack of a better word, love Paradise Lost. It is a text which one can completely loose themselves in. The description helps to engulf a person's imagination in Biblical and mythological ideas and notions. However, whether Proyas and his team can convey this is still to be decided. All that I and fellow Miltonians can hope for is that as little damage as possible is done to the reputation of the text and its author. Let's hope it does John Milton proud, and that Paradise Lost is not thrown into the abyss of bargain bin hell.
