Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has become the summer's biggest film, adapting Homer's nearly 3,000-year-old epic poem. Guardian readers offered a range of opinions, from glowing praise to sharp criticism, highlighting the film's technical brilliance, casting choices, and narrative liberties.
Technical Achievement vs. Emotional Depth
Samiul Kamal-Uddin, 49, from London, praised the film as an 'immense technical achievement' with vast scale, beautiful cinematography, and an absorbing soundscape, especially on Imax. However, he felt it lacked emotional resonance compared to Nolan's other works. 'For a film reaching for something deep and mythic, I’m not sure it felt quite as profound as it wanted to be,' he said, adding that the star-studded cast sometimes overshadowed the characters. He singled out Samantha Morton as excellent, but found Matt Damon reminiscent of his early Bourne performances, Charlize Theron underused, and Tom Holland unconvincing in conflicted moments.
Redemption and Healing
Carmen from St. Louis appreciated the film's focus on Odysseus's reckoning with his past. 'What I found was a poignant and painful story of a man who has to reckon with all the death and destruction he was personally responsible for,' she wrote, noting that Nolan crafted a 'beautiful, moving story of redemption and healing.'
A Very American Version
Victoria Panagiotaki, 23, from Athens, Greece, anticipated the film with curiosity despite controversy over casting a Black actor as Helen. She found it a 'good movie' with a solid screenplay and strong performances, but felt it was 'a very American version with little connection to Homer’s creation.' She noted that while cuts and changes are expected in adaptations, the film failed to capture Odysseus's dual nature as both very bad and very good.
Gutting the Character
John Grgurich, 60, from Maryland, was disappointed, feeling Nolan 'gutted both the main character and the story,' turning Odysseus into a 'modern-age, two-dimensional good guy.' He cited the suitors' fight in the poem as a slaughter, not a fair fight, and admitted that his familiarity with Robert Fitzgerald's translation made the film less enjoyable.
James Bond Comparison
April McCarthy, 38, from London, compared Odysseus's character update to modern James Bond – a thoughtful, conflicted man using violence reluctantly. She praised Tom Holland's Telemachus as a nuanced version of masculinity and noted Nolan's focus on the Bronze Age collapse, including references to 'sea peoples.' However, she criticized Penelope's passive role, saying, 'the act of waiting for a man for 20 years is so antiquated it took me out of it a bit.'
Political and Ethical Concerns
Alexander from Chicago objected to the film shooting in Western Sahara, an occupied territory. 'In a time of rising fascism, it’s incumbent for creative people to acknowledge that power incongruence,' he said, urging Nolan to have chosen a different location.
A Positive Outing
Emily Hardouin-Cox, 42, from Dijon, France, took her 14-year-old son to see the film and both loved it, though for different reasons. She expected gruesome battles but found alternating thoughtful dialogue and action. 'Frankly, if more movies were like The Odyssey, I would pay for tickets to go to the cinema more often,' she said, viewing it as a parable questioning armed conflict and common humanity.
Thriller-Like Suspense
Kristian, 41, from Brisbane, Australia, enjoyed the thriller-like suspense and strong interpretation of Homer's story without constant spectacle. His main criticism was the use of American accents and modern phrases like 'Dad!', which pulled him out of the experience. He advocated for casting actors from the cultures portrayed, noting Greece's talented acting community.
Earplugs in Imax
Alan, 58, from Edinburgh, UK, hated the Imax experience due to excessive loudness, requiring foam earplugs to hear dialogue. He found moments of greatness but also flat spots, especially in the lack of chemistry between Matt Damon and Charlize Theron as Calypso. The final 30 minutes, however, moved him to tears as Odysseus recalls the sack of Troy and confronts his shame.
Deviations from the Original
Christina, 46, from Regensburg, Germany, who studied Ancient Greek, struggled with the liberties taken. She noted the omission of the Phaeacians, Circe turned into a 'weird witch,' Athena sidelined as fragile, blind Eumaios, armed suitors surviving, and Penelope not testing Odysseus. 'Homer’s epic has its own magic and still speaks to modern readers in a way no film adaptation can,' she said, adding that the film made her want to revisit the original text.
Formulaic Tendencies
Nick Hughes, 50, from Lancashire, UK, found the film akin to a theme park ride with set pieces lacking connective tissue. He felt Nolan is becoming formulaic, with a soundscape similar to Dunkirk. He struggled to suspend disbelief with American accents, preferring Received Pronunciation as in Gladiator.
A Proper Summertime Blockbuster
Patrick from Seattle praised the film as a 'great, epic, mythical sea adventure' with awesome fights and a clever script. He noted drawbacks typical of Nolan: desaturated palette, stark interiors, and barely audible dialogue. 'Nolan just does not seem very materialistically imaginative – that’s why it’s weird he created such an amazing fantasy movie,' he concluded.
