Is The Odyssey Any Good Despite Reddit Hate? | Honest Review

WARNING: HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD.

Is The Odyssey any good?

Going into the film, I’d only heard negative criticism, with Reddit forums popping up in my emails talking about how the script was awful, the acting was lackluster, and the plot lacked cohesion.

I’d also heard from friends that the audio was too loud, the movie was too long, and no one gave the film glowing adoration but rather a dismissive, “It was good.” 

So my expectations were low when I entered the IMAX theatre. I noticed the loud audio, the hard-to-follow dialogue, and I was disappointed to see Travis Scott there (I still can’t forget the Astroworld concert). 

15 minutes into the film, I was content with the fact that I probably won’t enjoy this film, and I completely removed myself from the task of trying to figure out what the characters were talking about and what plot point I was supposed to be following, but then —

— The Trojan horse scene.

Warriors cramped in a hollow, towering wooden horse, kicking each other, starving, casualties rotting among them. What a vivid portrait of the popular legend!

At night, the men spill out of the horse and quietly slaughter the enemy, making their way to open the previously impenetrable gates of the city. As the gates open, we see the most majestic, statuesque, black-and-gold armor adorned on a warrior who is oozing with the utmost authority and power.  

That’s when I woke up. 

And then, when the cyclops entered the picture not long after — baby, I was HOOKED. 

Now you’re bringing fantastical elements into what I thought was a historical piece. I’m sold. 

I just told on myself by letting you know I don’t know much about Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. That was not the selling point of the movie for me. 

Instead, I heard a bunch of popular names attached to the film, felt the hype and expectation in the atmosphere, and followed the call.

The Odyssey is indeed an epic experience that I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on. 

Once my apathy was interrupted by those more exciting moments, these three elements describe what kept me locked in for the remaining runtime. So if I were to sum it up, here’s what makes The Odyssey so AMAZING. 

Is The Odyssey Any Good? 3 Reasons It’s EPIC

1. The Fantastical Elements

The Odyssey completely engulfs you in a whole new world — putting you on the front lines of war, having you meet with the strangest of witches, conjuring up multitudes of the dead, and wooing you with an ocean of sirens. 

What makes it even better is the fact that director Christopher Nolan minimized the amount of CGI used to bring these mythical moments to life. In the age of AI, they still took the time to build a 60-foot model of the cyclops for the sake of making this story feel as real as possible.

Watching it in IMAX heightens the immersion of the experience as you feel the waves crashing against your ears while the seas rage. Each moment hits a little harder and makes more of an impact. After a while, you forget you’re still sitting in a theater. 

The Odyssey effectively transports you to a different time with different laws of nature and makes it feel real in a believable way. You’re able to suspend your disbelief without hesitation. 

2. The Puzzle Piece Plot

In the beginning, especially if you’re unfamiliar with The Odyssey’s original story like I am, it takes some time to grasp the plot direction. 

The Odyssey is a non-linear film, which is a popular approach for Nolan. Because of this, there is an adjustment period where you have to figure out which is the past and which is the present. 

Once a flow is established and the tension builds within the plot, I know for myself that I began to become more and more invested in Odysseus making it home to his wife, Penelope. 

The more I became invested, the more afraid I was that he was going to lose his life on this journey and that Penelope would end up with the scumbag, Antinous. 

Some naysayers believed that Odysseus was a bulletproof character whose constant triumphs caused them not to be invested in his ultimate victory, because he was never going to lose anyway. 

But me, I was so scared that he was going to die. Even when he triumphed in the end with a spear through his chest, I thought we were going to lose him. 

The happy ending felt so satisfying and like we, as an audience who journeyed with him, got to join in the relief and victory with him. 

3. Go Big or Go Home

If Fantastical Elements are the “what” and The Puzzle Piece Plot is the “how,” this is the “how much,” because The Odyssey does it big. 

Big names in the entertainment industry like director Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Travis Scott, etc.

It’s one thing to have a film with one or two A-list actors, but to have practically the entire A-list in one movie — that is a big feat, and it’s evident in every frame.

I will say the same for the scenes of grandeur. It wasn’t just one or two epic voyages to mystical new lands; we got back-to-back weird, wild, fascinating, and enveloping scenes with barely a breath in between.

Big screen. Big sound. Big expectations. Big shoes to fill. And you know what? The Odyssey lived up to every bit of it. 

In Conclusion

If you’re wondering, “Is The Odyssey any good?”, the short answer is yes. The long answer is The Odyssey is so good because it takes everything that makes a film epic and elevates it. In production quality, talent quality, and narrative quality, it tops it all. 

It’s a film that I would actually want to watch twice, and I barely ever say that about any film. 

Don’t let the negative opinions dissuade you; The Odyssey is a FANTASTIC film and the reason why the cinematic experience is still worth it over streaming.  

Rating: 9.8/10

What did you think? Is The Odyssey any good? Let me know in the comments below!

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Peace, love, and lots of popcorn,

IMO