The Odyssey - Film Reflection

When I walked into The Odyssey, I knew exactly two things: it was directed by Christopher Nolan, and I should probably prepare for a long movie. I was right about both. It was very long… and unbelievably loud. Loud enough that halfway through I started wondering if Poseidon was angry with me personally.

That said, I still had a good time.

Visually, the movie is gorgeous. I didn’t even watch it in IMAX, the format it was designed for and it still looked stunning. Endless oceans, towering cliffs, ancient cities, stormy seas. There were also countless scenes of soldiers sprinting toward their ships, which, by the end of the movie, felt like the unofficial cardio workout of Ancient Greece. Lot of reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean except the theme song was missing lol.

In terms of the Trojan War, that felt huge. And even characters with very little screen time manage to leave an impression. Agamemnon barely appeared in the film, yet every time he was on screen he carried himself like Darth Vader standing at the gates of Troy. He had undeniable aura - Mr. Auramemnon. But he still was selfish, power-hungry, and not someone you’d ever want on your side.

If you have watched the film and think about this, there were so many monsters shown in the film. The Cyclops, the Sirens, Scylla, the supernatural dangers, they were all memorable. But the character who arguably caused Odysseus the greatest harm wasn’t a monster at all. It was Calypso. Sometimes the greatest obstacles aren’t the ones trying to kill you but the convincing you to stop moving altogether.

One thing I really enjoyed after watching the movie was reading more about the original mythology. I learned that, Odysseus actually spends about a year with Circe (in the books), and they become lovers before he continues his journey. In the film, that chapter feels much shorter. I understand why….it’s already an incredibly long movie. Another thing I learned was that Circe and Calypso both had Odyssey’s kid after he left their respective islands. Circe’s son, Telegonus eventually accidently killed Odysseus when he set out a voyage to find his father years later when a storm blew Telegonus off course to Ithaca. Not realizing where he was, he raided the island for food and as Odysseus was defending his city, Telegonus accidentally killed him with a spear tipped with a venomous stingray spine, fulfilling a prophecy.

The movie also made me appreciate Penelope even more. She refuses to believe Odysseus is dead despite years passing, and she has no interest in remarrying even while surrounded by men trying to convince her otherwise. At the same time, it also made me think about how unfair history often was to women. I couldn’t help wondering how different the story might have been if queens had been allowed the same unquestioned authority as kings. Then again… in many parts of the world, maybe we’re still asking versions of that same question today.

One disappointment for me had nothing to do with the story itself. I wish there had been more Greek representation in the cast. I completely understand the goal of having an international ensemble and diversity, but when you’re adapting one of the most important works in Greek culture, it would have been meaningful to see more Greek actors represented on screen. I also found it ironic that the movie was made specifically for IMAX, yet Greece does not have a 70mm IMAX film projector setup for the movie, so screenings use high-resolution digital laser systems. It felt like celebrating a culture while making it difficult for that culture to experience the film as it was intended.

🚨 SPOILER WARNING
The following paragraphs contain specific scenes and character details from the movie, so feel free to stop here if you haven’t watched it yet.

One thing that kept making me laugh was how many of Odysseus’ problems seemed… completely avoidable. Going back home and thinking more about it afterward only made me question some of his decisions even more. Why poke the Cyclops in the eye and reveal your identity afterward, knowing full well you’d make an enemy of Poseidon? Why deliberately steer the ship in the wrong direction at certain points? For someone who had Athena(A GOD!) guiding him for much of his journey, he made some surprisingly questionable decisions. Another question was during the whirpool, why were the only 2 options going right or through the whirlpool. What about the left side of it? Seemed pretty safe there guys!

The Trojan Horse sequence, on the other hand, absolutely lived up to its reputation. I’ve known about the story for years, but seeing it brought to life was genuinely exciting. It’s still one of the greatest military deceptions ever imagined, and honestly, I’d argue it’s one of the greatest ideas ever conceived in storytelling. Honestly, I think it was a great gift in general.

Another standout moment was Odysseus’ journey into the land of the dead. Visually, it was haunting, strange, and unlike anything else in the movie. It had a mythical atmosphere to it.

Another small detail I loved was the storyteller. Having Travis Scott play the bard was an unexpectedly fun creative decision. He’s a rapper, so a modern storyteller whose craft revolves around rhythm and performance and so casting him as someone who literally tells stories through rhythm felt surprisingly fitting.

The movie also left me thinking about something beyond the plot itself. Throughout the story, the army was sailing across the Mediterranean, invading cities, conquering kingdoms, and leaving destruction behind them. It made me wonder they kinda did become the sea men by the end of their time.

🚨 SPOILER SECTION ENDS

Overall, I enjoyed The Odyssey. I just don’t think it lived up to the enormous expectations surrounding it. Maybe that’s the downside of calling something an “epic.” I expected to walk away feeling overwhelmed by one grand, unforgettable adventure. Instead, I mostly felt like I’d watched a series of fascinating episodes stitched together, beautifully made, but constantly moving from one event to the next before any single moment had enough time to breathe.

In the end, I do think it’s the kind of movie that sends you down a rabbit hole. I left the theater curious enough to read about Greek mythology and think about the people behind the legends. And honestly, any movie that gets me doing homework after the credits has probably done something right. But I don’t think The Odyssey is Nolan’s masterpiece, it is very over hyped for what it was. And Loud!