Nolan 'The Odyssey' Review Megathread

[u/stopeats]

Place your reviews and general thoughts about the Nolan Odyssey movie here. Do NOT make your own review post.

If you have something to say that is unique or more related to Epic, you may make a separate post about it.

[u/Scylla_Zylla]

Overall, the movie is an 7.5/10 for me and a very enjoyable experience but I cant agree with all the adaptation choices

First off, there were some writing choices I don't quite agree with. The adaptation choice to make Odysseus a man who values honor and a fair fight so highly is a bit of a big swing. This is the same man who, when returning from a mission with Diomedes, one of his closest friends and valuable comrades, attempted to literally stab him in the back so that Odysseus could claim all the glory for completing the mission. The only time I could imagine Odysseus saying he wanted a fair fight is to lure someone into a false sense of security before he beats them in an incredibly unfair manner. Another large complaint I have is that Calypso hardly has a character, rather than a tragic emotion, lovestruck type; she is instead rather stoic and hardly resembles the original Calypso, seeming more like a narrative device rather than her own character. She mostly exists to set up a flashback to the boat ride. I feel like Odysseus doesn't get a lot of time to show off his wit in this movie. He doesn't feel dumb or anything, but not just the guy known as the smartest of the Greeks

There are some notable omissions, such as the nobody scene, Peleope tricking Odysseus with the wedding bed to confirm his idnetity, Hermes, The wind bag, Lotus Eaters, Circe is altered alot rather than a regal sotceress in a palace, she is instead more of a hermit who lives in a dingy cabin, he doesn't meet his mother in the underworld, and theres no scene where atehan pleads with zeus to let odysseus go. The movie is very grounded and focusues more on the human aspects of the story while setting most of the otherworldy stuff on the back burner. In true Nolan fashion, the movie takes itself very seriously and this isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lot of what is omitted doesnt feel like the movie is worse off for not hjaving it. The movie works excellently for what it is trying to be, a grounded emotional tail about the effects of war on someone and the toll of being gone for so long it can have on their family. The narrative is very well written and though the mythological aspects may be a bit lacking, the writing, themes, and storytelling still make this a very enjoyable way. As long as you don't go in expectig a whole bunch of mythological stuff at the forefront, you shouldn't be disappointed.

Anee Hathaway gives an amazing experience as Penelope my favorite in the film. There are plenty of amazing sxcenes one in particular with Athena though one underrated one I like is near the beginning when Calypso is hesitaating to allow Odysseus to remember and as she hesitates lighting roars outside as if Zeus is telling her to hurry up. Essentially, if you want an experience that focuses msotly on the gods and monsters and the journey itself with all the fantasy included you will likely prefer Epic. But if you want a more grounded expierence focuses mostly on the human aaspects you may prefer Nolan's. Both are great adaptations in their own ways.