‘The Odyssey’ First Reactions: A “Jaw-Dropping” Experience
The first reactions are coming in for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, and by most accounts, it’s a stunning work of art.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…I could not be more excited for Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey. Forget the accents, because the film looks like a staggering adventure based on Greek mythology that had me in awe the moment I laid eyes on the Cyclops. The filmmaker has discussed in detail just how practical effects-heavy the film is, eschewing CG for in-camera effects whenever possible. And by all accounts, the film is living up to expectations.
Rather than screen for influencers and critics alike, as per usual these days, Universal opted for word of mouth to come from journalists following the film’s London premiere. Here’s what a few had to say.
Said Jazz Tangcay of Variety, “Christopher Nolan is a visionary, and The Odyssey is a work of art. Adapting a Homer classic is not easy, but he has done an incredible job of bringing this to the big screen and telling Odysseus’s journey. He has outdone himself. You could feel the passion in his storytelling. You feel the passion in the crafts and the acting. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema shoots to perfection, and the crafts: costume, sound, editing, and Ludwig Goransson’s score are phenomenal artistry and so visceral. The battle scenes, especially at Troy, are breathtaking. It’s an incredible epic.”
Steve Weintraub of Collider wrote, “Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is incredible. I’ve been lucky enough to watch it twice, and it gets better on the second viewing. I’m really blown away by this film. If you can, SEE IT IN IMAX 70mm. It’s a jaw-dropping experience. It’ll be great wherever you see it, but IMAX 70mm is the best option.”
THR’s Aaron Couch added, “Been seeing his movies in theaters since Memento, and after 25 years, The Odyssey gives us a first: a fleshed out horror sequence directed by Christopher Nolan.”
That last quote, of course, has me most excited. A fleshed-out horror sequence from Christopher Nolan, filmed in 70mm and on the biggest screen possible? How cruel, to live in a universe where I haven’t already seen this movie!