The Odyssey film

dotpocka

3hrs not enough
It is divided into 24 books and follows Odysseus,

Yes, over about 20 years in fact!

I think it's called précis.

3hrs not enough
It is divided into 24 books and follows Odysseus,

I don't mind American accents in classical or Biblical epics. British English sounds better to us but is no more logical than American in those contexts. (The English language didn't even exist then!)

It was authentic enough for me and for my family and countless other people who have queued to see it the “lesser” IMax format up and down the country since it was released. Why rob yourself of the experience because you can’t see it in London - or Manchester?

Apprently there is a difference in Imax... The film should be seen in authentic IMAX cinema only 3 the UK which features a massive near-square 1.43:1 aspect ratio screen and high-end dual-laser or 15-perf 70mm film projection. The primary locations capable of this full experience are the BFI IMAX in London, the Science Museum IMAX in London, and Vue Printworks in Manchester.
Thought I heard this right.

Ps the American accents were totally out of place tbh.

The accents did tend to rob the whole thing of whatever gravitas it might have had.

I think I worked out years ago that American accents didn't seem quite right in anything biblical, or ancient civilization related. That was brought home to me as a child when watching The Greatest Story Ever Told and John Wayne had a nano second appearance, still too long, when he stood at the foot of the cross and drawled Texan style "he truly was the son of God" oh get back on your horse somehow it didn't sound quite right

Susieq62

Ps the American accents were totally out of place tbh.

Ancient Greek might have been hard to understand for the majority though.

Ps the American accents were totally out of place tbh.

Three of us went and thought that the sound was awful, so we missed some of the dialogue. No we aren’t deaf either. It was very distorted so we were a bit confused at the beginning.
It was a self indulgent, spectacular epic in my view. But it did make us think that maybe Nolan was pointing the finger of the destruction of civilisation at Trump and his cronies.
I did jump a lot and it didn’t seem like three hours to be fair.

Well - as blockbusters go I think it was middling. I would rather the story line had been more linear as Homer intended

I don’t agree - it wasn’t written in a linear fashion but used oddly modern cinematic flashback techniques - often a back story within a back story.
The Present Books 1–8
The story opens in Ithaca with Telemachus and Penelope, then shifts to Odysseus trapped on Calypso’s island before he washes ashore in Phaeacia
Books 9–12- flashback
Odysseus reveals his identity and narrates his past adventures The Cicones and the Lotus-Eaters, the Cyclops PolyphemusAeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe, the Underworld (Necyia) to see Tiresias, the Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and the Cattle of Helios
Books 13–24 - a return to the present
The Phaeacians transport Odysseus back to Ithaca, where the rest of the timeline moves forward in a linear fashion to his revenge on the suitors and reunion with Penelope.

I went to see this film this afternoon at our iMax cinema - a new experience for me - and I have to say that the special effects were amazing, some of the best I’ve seen anywhere. Samantha Morton’s scenes as Circe were remarkable (more of her backstory would have been good), as was the Cyclops.

Even at three hours (flew by), the whole thing felt squashed into too small a space. It was relentless. Whitewave was spot on when she said that the whole thing needed to be more linear. I had a huge problem with the dialogue, and I found it hard to get past that - it was almost a spoiler for me.

I could do a whole lot more nitpicking on details that jarred but it would be niggardly in the face of a terrific piece of film making. Whether you’ve read Homer or not, go and see it for the sheer spectacle.

Visgir1

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.

Are you in a different country Visgirl ?
Certainly more than 3 iMax cinemas in the UK!
The UK has numerous IMAx cinemas , including the country's largest screen at the BFI IMAX in London. There are dozens of locations operated by major chains and independent museums across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Some notable venues include:
BFI IMAX (London): Britain’s largest cinema screen and one of the few globally capable of showing films in the 70mm IMAX format.
Science Museum (London): Features an IMAX: The Ronson Theatre with state-of-the-art immersive projection.
Cineworld & ODEON Cinemas: Major chains operate a combined total of over 40 IMAX-equipped venues in cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Cardiff.
You can find the nearest location and book tickets directly through the IMAX Theatre finder.

I think Homer would have approved of Odysseus' (Ulysses') characterisation in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida as the slyest of the Greeks - especially as played by Michael Hordern at the RSC in the early 60's.

Was anyone else lucky enough to see it, with Dorothy Tutin as Cressida?

My nearest IMAX is about an hour away by public transport. Is it worth making the. Journey or should I go to my local cinema?

Visgir1

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.

Cineworld has 26 IMAX screens and Odeon have 15

That’s without the independents which. Ring the IMAX screens up to 50 in the UK

A really good review Whitewave thank you very much.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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’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.

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 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.