With my back still healing (sitting isn’t good for it), I was reluctant to go to a movie theater to see The Odyssey. But then I realized that you can recline nearly to a lay-flat position at the Alamo, so we bought tickets for a Sunday lunchtime show. (My back was a little stiff by the end, but I did some extra stretches after we got home and it was fine.)
Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey is one of the most impressive films I’ve seen in a while, and I’m absolutely glad I saw it in the theater. I’m particularly amazed by how real it is, both in terms of how it looks (due to filming on location and with mostly practical effects) and how it feels (for such a grand story, the focus is almost entirely on the characters).
I was a little worried early in the movie that it would be over-stylized, as there are lots of very quick, abstract clips of imagery. But they’re there for a reason–Odysseus has lost his memory and is attempting to regain it–and the rest of the movie is told with much more coherent visuals.
I loved the lighting and sound design. The scenes at dusk and at night look amazing, with only firelight to illuminate faces. And there’s an amazing use of directional sound to put the audience in the siren scene.
The Odyssey is a more brutal film than I expected. For example, if you envision the people inside the Trojan horse, you might think of them as crowded and uncomfortable. You might not, however, think about how the rising tide would drown those at the base of the horse or the human excrement that would accumulate over several days in such a small space. You probably didn’t want to think about those things, but The Odyssey doesn’t ignore the horrors of war.
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was how much time the film spends back in Ithaca with Penelope, Telemachus, and the suitors. It felt like around 30 minutes spread throughout the movie, plus the final 30 minutes. It was just an interesting choice to spend so much time not on the journey–the odyssey–itself. Though it also seems like a really smart choice, as it gives the audience a home base while Odysseus’ location was constantly changing.
I’m amazed and impressed by the achievement that is The Odyssey. I hope Christopher Nolan (and other directors) keep making movies like this. What did you think?
I was in awe of it felt both EPIC and yet amazingly intimate at the same time.
It really did!
I always imagined the trojan horse on wheels. The Trojan horse was built at the military camp and it was “left behind”. Is the beach a defensible military camp?
It’s been years since I read the Odyssey, but if the trojan horse was at the beach…wouldn’t it have sunk in? And if people died from drowning inside the Trojan horse…it doesn’t make sense for a military strategy.
We tried watching a new Robin Hood tv series. Every 5 minutes, it’s mentioned how the Saxons aren’t Christian. I know, because my husband cries out in frustration every time it’s mentioned. I know more about Saxons and Normans than I ever wanted to learn previously.
Great question to ask on date night to really know if someone is for you: what do you think about Normans and Saxons?
In the movie, the horse doesn’t have wheels, and it does indeed sink into the beach. I think the idea is that they were trying to trick the Trojans into thinking it was a gift from the sea.
I like hearing there was time spent with Penelope. That is definitely part of the original epic. (The full epic was the summer read for a class I taught for years) Hopefully I’ll get to see this in theaters, though I struggle with long movies in theaters. – Carol
I’m curious to hear your thoughts when you see it. 🙂
I had a great time at the Odyssey. What are your top 3 Nolan movies?
I would probably say The Prestige, Memento, and The Dark Knight, but it’s possible The Odyssey could be in there too. What about you?
Dark Knight, Inception, and Odyssey are mine. Prestige and Memento are both in the competition though. He’s a pretty consistent director, which considering how good his movies are, is pretty impressive.
Inception is in my top 5–I love the visuals in it.
I have seen some, not all of Nolan’s movies. I recall making fun of the first Odyssey trailer seen well over a year ago before an IMAX movie thinking – WTF!
Well, color me impressed with this movie. The Odyssey is #1B for me in 2026 (Project Hail Mary being #1A). It is more artisitc and a historical epic story, while PHM was more entertaining and an original story (I had not read the recent book).
I didn’t expect the movie to be as much of a horror movie as it was, but that might be on me not remembering the stories along the journey as well as I should – been 35 + years since I read anything Odyssey related.
Will I see it again? As an AMC A-lister, probably. Rarely do we hear so much discussion about the FORMAT in which to see movie. Often – see it on the biggest screen possible, but now we are being directed to 70mm IMAX. Well, I saw it on “lie-MAX”, or regular IMAX. Once things settle down a little after a week or two I’ll likely see it again as part of my subscription. Will I pay money to see again in 70mm IMAX? Maybe just out of curiosity. Probably not.
I’m glad you got to see it on IMAX! We have a domed IMAX at the science center here, and we considered seeing it there, but with my back still recovering I went with the lay-flat seats at the Alamo on a smaller screen.