The Odyssey film

BoadiceaJones - Rest assured Penelope has a very large part in the film.
I’ve just returned home from watching it with friends. Two of them walked out in the middle, but they had no prior knowledge of The Odyssey never having read it or any Greek myths. One stayed but hated it and the three of us who were brought up on Greek mythology loved it. It was very loud and very violent but I loved every minute and couldn’t believe how quickly three hours passed by.

Alie2Oxon

Anyone see the Dan Snow film this afternoon about following the trail Of Odysseus to Itheca?

^So - what happened to Penelope, who was left out altogether?^

What was that on?

We’re going on Wednesday lunchtime - tickets booked and will take sandwiches.

I too did an OU Greek and Roman Myths course on its first outing. My dissertation was on Persephone and the Patriarchy - my title!

We are booked to go and see it on Friday at our iMax theatre. I’m a bit of a purist but I hope I’m going in with an open mind, and I wasn’t sure about the length of the film but GS reminded me that we sat through Oppenheimer and that was as long, if not longer.
Madeline Miller’s novel ‘Circe’ is brilliant and has some interesting takes on the origins of Scylla and Charybdis as well as her encounter with Odysseus.

D'oh, ignore last comment. I see Anne Hathaway is the lady...

Anne Hathaway was excellent.

BoadiceaJones

I taught the Iliad and the Odyssey for years to senior students. In two minds about seeing the film, as film adaptations of lifetime favourites almost invariably disappoint. Is it true that Penelope does not appear AT ALL? How can that be??

As others have said upthread, Penelope does indeed feature- played by Anne Hathaway

Sarnia

I have a grandson who is studying at the Brits in London. He has been obsessed with cinema and theatre from the age of 7. He saw Odyssey last night and described it as incredible. He said the last hour is some of the best cinema he has ever seen and he's seen a lot! To those who feel 3 hours is too long; a great film won't seem like it. 5* reviews everywhere so far.

I think all the Lord Of The Rings films were three hours, and the time just whizzed by.

Just been to see it. Very good effects but not a great storyline. I enjoyed it but I did think it was a little bit too long and they could have made a lot more of the Sirens. Circe was good when she changed the men into pigs ! I reckon 7/10.

We went to see it on Friday (my husband and I). I thought it was very good but my husband did have a few problems hearing what they were saying. I have to admit that they did talk very quietly throughout and I am wondering if that is because it was filmed in IMAX and maybe the best way to see it is at an IMAX cinema. I'm not sure. As you know, usually at the cinema the sound is so loud that you would have trouble NOT hearing it. I still really enjoyed it though. It's like Jason & The Argonauts on speed!!

It was really,really loud here in South Australia ! Too loud if anything. Maybe the projectionists or whatever they are called now have a bit of control over that ? We have an iMac cinema but we just went to our local one, couldn’t be bothered travelling into the city. I reckon it would be really good in that cinema, though, with the giants and special effects all lifelike! Apparently some travelled from overseas especially though I wouldn’t go that far personally.

Don’t worry about sound. Thé cinema blasts it whether you want it or not. I suppose it’s because do baby people chatter to each other and generally behave inconsiderately. We are going on Wednesday. I haven’t seen any reviews by women!

Well I always find the sound levels in cinemas too high, so I bought some special concert earplugs which can be adjusted. I set them on the middle setting for the cinema. There is a higher setting for rock concerts! 🙉

Alie2Oxon

Anyone see the Dan Snow film this afternoon about following the trail Of Odysseus to Itheca?

^So - what happened to Penelope, who was left out altogether?^

She was left at home, weaving her shroud, wasn’t she?

One of the bits I liked best in the Odyssey was his eventual arrival back home, when his very old dog - lying on a dunghill for warmth - was so pleased to see him and managed to feebly wag his tail, but promptly died. 😰

OH and I saw it today. We took sandwiches as it was over lunchtime. We enjoyed it. I gave it an 8 and OH a 9.

Off to see it today and like llfl over lunch time so will take water and a bit to eat.

Does it start from the journey home or do we get a glimpse of the Horse?

I went to see it yesterday at an Imax cinema it was really immersive and some scenes were quite violent (closed my eyes at those).

The time just flew by and I liked the perspective of Odysseus as a flawed man not a superhero.

The wooden horse was beautifully done.

I read a review yesterday where the film was described as “Jason and the Argonauts on speed”. I don’t think it’s my kind of entertainment.

I’ve been, twice.
I went to a a showing on an “ISense” screen with my husband and it was fabulous. The huge screen and the immersive sound was amazing. Yes it’s loud but battles probably should be.
I enjoyed it so much I went back on my own 3 days later to fully appreciate it all.
The epic dramatic scene are dramatic and loud but that’s not all of the film.
The sound is good, there is not a lot of the mumbling so beloved of modern filmmakers and the scenery around the Moray Firth is amazing! The resident dolphins make a cameo appearance.
Honestly, go, make up your own mind. The three hours just flies by.

Apprently it's best seen in a I-Max cinema where the full experience is seen. But there is only 3 in the country. So it's been adapted to fit into normal cinema's.
But I hear it's amazing.
I haven't got around to seeing it, but I'm planning on seeing it.
Love to see it in an I-Max format but my nearest one is in London and they are booked out until September.

I'm still pondering on the thought of 3 hours, will I fall asleep? Following a conversation with my son on the subject, in his opinion, not that humble, Matt Damon was miscast "too suburban dad for Odysseus" allegedly! having read The Odyssey "Mads Mikkelson would have been far better in the role" I'm informed. "well you're not Christopher Nolan or the casting agent involved I thought but didn't say

I'm sure this is a film where only a wide screen will do it justice, even better an Imax. Not so many of those now, but when my children were young we went to a few performances usually featuring dinosaurs. I always regretted not getting to see Gladiator on the big screen for some reason or other.

Just booked the film for next Wednesday. If I fall asleep so be it. 😔

My son got tickets for the IMAX cinema.I looked up a brief online synopsis before going this afternoon. Much to my surprise I found it easy to understand and altogether a fantastic movie.

Saw it yesterday.

Well - as blockbusters go I think it was middling. I would rather the story line had been more linear as Homer intended. The trouble these days that film makers seem obsessed with blood and gore and not so much with what the author was trying to convey - in this case life’s journey, how wit wins over violence (you’d never have known) and the value of treating strangers etc as welcome guests - I think you got a bit of that from seeing all the suitors gorging at Penelope’s table- but I don’t think anyone unfamiliar with the story would have come away understanding that.

Perhaps I’m being too picky?

For my money other blockbusters like Ben Hur knocks it into a cocked hat. And seeing Ben Hur for the first time in the 50s? Or 60s? Was a real cinematic experience. Every character’s diction was crystal clear, and although very bloody in places the story line was good and you came away feeling that you had experienced one of the all time greats.

Odyssey is not one of them imo.

A really good review Whitewave thank you very much.

It has solidified my decision not to bother with it! 😁