The Odyssey has left me speechless. I’m still trying to find the right words to describe it, so I’ll let my rating speak first. It is a 5 out of 5-star movie.
I had my reservations about The Odyssey. I wanted it to be great, but I also wanted to manage my expectations. I trust Christopher Nolan’s vision as a filmmaker, and once again, he exceeded my expectations. The Odyssey isn’t just another movie I think you should watch in the cinema; it’s a film you should experience in IMAX.
I can talk about all the technical aspects of the film. I can tell you about the amazing score and sound design. I can talk about the practicality of it all and all the amazing on-site locations. I can praise the whole cast’s performances. I can even talk about the story or how Nolan’s vision for cinema is something magical, but first I want to talk about how this movie made me feel.
As a film lover, I can’t think of a better theatre experience than this. And while Project Hail Mary comes close, it’s nowhere near as epic as The Odyssey. This is an epic fantasy story, after all. The story also finds a way to make every single character relevant. Every single one of the characters adds value to the story, and each one’s journey is something special. I’m just going to say it: this is now officially my favourite movie of the year, and it’s going to take a lot to top it.
I have nothing but praise for the whole cast. Matt Damon perfectly portrays Odysseus as strong-willed, yet heroic. Odysseus isn’t just a man on a mission or a hero of the Trojan War. He is a man who carries the weight of all his actions while he just wants to get home. Damon really put himself through hell to perfectly portray the character during the different phases of his journey.
Tom Holland is great as Telemachus, and he delivers one of his best performances ever. Anne Hathaway is always amazing, and I love her as Penelope. Robert Pattinson really did great as the scumbag Antinous. I left the cinema hating him. The rest of the cast is phenomenal. I can’t think of a single person who didn’t leave their heart on the screen. I know people have their reservations about some of the casting choices, but I think everyone deserves to be there.
When it comes to the production and technical aspects of this movie, no one can be disappointed. It’s the first film fully shot with IMAX 70mm cameras, and every part of it transports you to the ancient world of Greece. If you can watch this movie in IMAX, then you should. I know there aren’t any 70mm IMAX theatres in South Africa or Namibia, but what we have is good enough.
What can I say about the production, except it’s the best a fantasy epic has ever looked? I want you to remember this is fantasy, not fact. I love the costumes, and the real-world locations really pull you in. It all just pops off the screen at the same time. The little bit of CGI in the movie also looks more real than in any other big-budget film.
Nolan’s movies are known to fill out the world on screen with a great score, and this is once again the case. The music and the sound bring the world to life. I could actually feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up during the third act. The music builds tension, brings hope and, most importantly, ties the whole story together.
Everything in The Odyssey works because Christopher Nolan stuck to his vision and accomplished it by surrounding himself with a great cast and crew. This movie isn’t just my favourite movie of the year; it might be one of my favourite movies of all time, and I know for a fact that, as of now, it is my favourite fantasy movie of all time.
I don’t just recommend it. I think everyone should go watch it. It’s not just a new building block in cinema history, but also something that can redefine films as we know them. There’s not a single part of this film that I didn’t like. There’s still so much I can say about it because I loved every single minute of the 173 minutes I spent in the cinema.
