The Odyssey - Controversial Epic or Epically Controversial?

[00:00:00]All right, guys. I've watched The Odyssey finally, and I have a lot of thoughts about it. Put together this video because I have a bunch of notes that I wrote down that I wanted to discuss. So, uh, I'm going to get into it and, you know, talk about all the things that I found meaningful about this movie. First of all, I think a little bit of context is needed. Now, this is Christopher Nolan's 13th movie, and he's fresh from the success of Upanimer, which wasn't just a box office hit with nearly $900 million at the global box office, but also won him two Oscars, one as best film, one as best director, and backed the total of seven statues, which is just mind-boggling.

[00:00:45]Now, there's no need to tell you that expectations on this one were particularly high. So, it's also no surprise when I tell you that from the moment the movie was announced. It was just one controversy after the other.

[00:01:01]But we'll get into that later later on into the video. Now, the very idea of Nolan adopting a 3,000-year-old mythical poem felt preposterous because Nolan of all people, it's the guy that, you know, grounds everything in reality. And Omar's work is basically what is considered the precursor to modern-day fantasy. So he felt like he was way out of his ballpark. But I would say, and this is not just from Nolan's fan, also people who are not particularly interested in his work, they thought that he could eventually pull it off because at the end of the day, Nolan is the most trusted and respected director in Hollywood at the moment. Um and also like he's surprised that with you know with many movies they we thought you know they weren't in his ballpark like you know the Dark Knight for example. Um but so basically we were everyone was hopeful they would eventually create a global phenomena kind of like his own version of the Lord of the Rings. Now it's still too early to say if he actually managed to achieve that. We'll have to wait a little over a month to see how actually, you know, how well it does at the global box office. It's no surprise that the opening weekend has been massive with over, I think, 250 to $250,000 or something like that. No, sorry, 250 million. Um, but we'll have to see how word of mouth carries the movie in the coming weeks.

[00:02:39]Now, before I I get into the nitty and gritty of the review, I want to quickly summarize the plot of the Odyssey. And I don't think it makes any sense to say spoiler alert because we're talking about, you know, a poem that's been out for quite some time. So, it pretty much will be like spoiling the Bible. Now, the story starts shortly after the Trojan War. So the one that it's discussed in the Odyssey which is the other poem by Homer. Um so everyone is going back to back home after a victorious but bloody war. Uh and it's you know there was one thanks to the safuge of the Trojan horse. Agamenon, the king of Mis thanks Odysius, which is his best and most clever general uh for his efforts and then sells the ship back home to reunite with Clitestra which is Helen of Troy half sister. Although in this movie they're actually twins. Now because of his pride and also his thirst for adventure, Odysius decides not to follow Agamenon to get more supplies and then eventually go back to Itaka which is his kingdom but to explore uh new and you know mysterious paths.

[00:03:54]Now um what happened is that he faces uh quite few complications along the way and it took him uh a bit of time to go back home. Now, um yeah, I would say it's not just that he he's, you know, he experiences a lot of um adventures during during this time. He pretty much loses all of his men and nearly loses himself too in the process. In the meantime, Eithaka has become what is like a kingdom without a king because basically Penelope Odysius's wife is just still painfully waiting for his husband's return so he can, you know, he can get back on the throne. Uh, and she basically is trying to keep at bay and reject all of her suitors um with a clever device that we're going to discuss later. And basically all these pretenders they just uh I don't know they just enter Odicius wife every night and they feast like they own the place.

[00:05:03]Then there's Tmicus which is Odicius and Penelope's wife. Uh and you know he's the natural heir to the throne but he's still too young and mature to seek control of the island especially when many people are still longing for Odysius return. Also legends are circulating about a mysterious the mysterious sea peoples that will bring another war upon them. So let's say like the situation in IT is very um is a very frail equilibrium and you know anything can happen like in in a second that would pretty much break the equilibrium and would cause what I don't know like a war between the pretenders and also the natural hair to the throne. So it's also a little bit um reminiscing of Game of Thrones in a way which I actually really liked. Now, in the meantime, um, Odysius is pretty much facing monsters and gods, fury of nature, also supernatural elements. Uh, and you know, the the more he does it, the more he he explores these uh these places, the more he learns about himself and also the more he understand the consequences of the war he helped winning. So in a in a way he's also very um he has an internal conflict because he wants to he desperately wants to go back home to reunite with his family to go back on his throne and you know return home to Itaka but at the same time because of the consequences of the war he's also fearful of what's he going to find once he's back there.

[00:06:48]Now this is the pretty much the gist of it. If you need to know more details about the plot just go on Wikipedia or you know if you read it even better because I would say like most people know more or less what you know what the Odyssey is about. So that's why I don't want to linger too much on this. Now I want to get into the themes of the movie which is what I think a far more interesting conversation.

[00:07:15]This is in no particular order, but I want to start with one of the most overarching themes of the movie, which is the law of Zeus. Now, gods are often mentioned in this movie. Um, and they clearly act in the background, but at the same time, the fact that you don't physically see them, it makes them not just more fascinating, but also more menacing because you never know if you know they actually going to do something or not, if they're real or not. So, you had to be brave in a way because you don't know if you want to challenge them. So the law of Zeus is pretty much about treating other people the same way you'd want to be treated because you never know if the person you're mistreating is a god in disguise. So if you mistreat them then you have to face their rough. Now this aligned perfectly with how fearful uh people were of gods back then. So this was a way to control them and make sure they didn't misbehave and you know people would go to extreme length to win the god's favor even you know making uh gifts to to the gods or even human sacrifices.

[00:08:30]Um, I don't know. Like it's it's actually crazy how people would place their entire faith, their entire life in the hands of something they cannot even see. In a way, this is the the Greek version of karma. And at the end of the movie, it pays off brilliantly when Odysius reveals that during the destruction of Troy. He really understood the magnitude and the horror of what they were doing to one another, you know, stealing and raping and and capturing or and killing and breaking the the law of Zeus many times in pursuit of what is basically just power and vain glory. The beautiful parallelism between the beheading of the Atheina statue and the young woman who eventually follows Odicius along the journey proves the impact the war had on on his consciousness and how deeply he was shaken by what he saw and to the length that his fellow men would go in order to win the war. Athena in a way is more manifestation of his guilt rather than you know the the goddess of wisdom and she only disappears once Odysius makes peace with himself. The the ending sequence also was very very moving. You know, as Odysius knows that he can stay in Itaka uh as you know by slaughtering all of Penelope's pretenders, he's broken Zeus's law one more time and that's way beyond any forgiveness. So he has to leave the island and he decides that he can finally sail with his beloved wife on his fastest boats towards the settling sun and he and Tmacus is finally ready. is finally mature enough to ruin the island as a king, finally bringing some peace to the island. Now, this is actually foreshadowed during the movie when it's sea that although he misses his wife and son terribly, deep down he doesn't really want to go back to it because you know the his deepest most burning desire in his heart is actually to travel the unknown. And this I would say is the core essence of Odysius. Then there's the theme of waiting which is actually the very essence of Penelope. A faithful and patient woman who never loses the hope of reuniting with her husband. But Eitha has become pretty much what's a snake's nest since Odysius left. And uh you know many years have has passed have passed since his supposed uh return. So naturally a lot of men start curting Penelopey and eventually Penelopey too start you know fearing the worst. We know that Odysius is dead and start realizing that maybe it is time to get married again. Now to hold them at bay as I mentioned she devised a clever uh trick to buy some time which is basically uh knitting some sort of thing that she would dismantle at night. So she would say to the suitors that once his her project was was done she would find uh someone to to marry. Now Antinus which is the the laziest and most evil of the pretenders uncovers her plan and tell her it's time to get married again and lose any hope of Odysius return.

[00:12:06]That's when Penelope's faith starts wavering a little bit, but she delays her choice as much as possible, dreading the day she left to choose one of these horrible men. She also poses Tmacus's uh desire to become king because she fears for his safety already threatened by the many pretenders who who wants to pretty much eliminate any natural hair to the throne. Now what is remarkable about Penelope is that is how strong his faith in Odysius is. And even when everyone else had pretty much lost hope, she still clinged to the faint hope that you know it would suddenly reappear. She was rewarded in the end obviously where she could finally reunite with her beloved husband and happily go into exile with him removing the curse from Itaka and their son. So in a way even though they were together not for long with you know the whole family with Tmacus is still in a way a happy ending because you know everyone gets what they want. Tmicus becomes king. uh Penelope is reunited with Odysius and Odysius sails for new adventure. So I would say that in the end it's very wholesome ending. Now uh all these years of dangerous adventure and you know painful waitings are perfectly symbolized by the gold pin Penelopey gifts Odysius which is basically a a token with Athena's features that shall bring wisdom to Odysius during his journey and hope and patience to Penelopey while he's away and she's waiting for him. Again, this is another moment that is beautifully u paid off in the end when Penelope recognizes Odicius as you know as the re as her real uh husband uh because well first of all he you know even if he was disguised as a beggar he was holding on to that gold pin for dear life and he could describe perfectly what was the pin like now I could talk for hour about you know the emotional moment moments in this movie. But the last one I wanted to mention which I think is is actually really really cool and really touching moment is of course Argo Odysius dog which is the best dog anymore any man could ever have. Now Odysius chose him as a puppy uh to help him hunting and Argo obviously adored his master. So like everyone else was heartbroken when he didn't return home and you know he waited and waited and he was mistreated by many people. Everyone thought he was going to die any time but he survived 20 years which is mindboggling for a dog just to see his master back. Then he wigged his tail one last time happy to see that his master was back home and then he just died. Now that was really beautiful and I have to say I shed few tears at the moment. Now this was the in a way the easy part of the review because these are the things that I really liked about this movie.

[00:15:24]Now I need to get into the tough part of the review which is you know which is also obvious because it's not all sunshine and rainbows. I briefly mentioned that upon the movie announcement there were many controversies which is important to address. Some of them are justified and some of them I think they were blown way out of proportion but let's let's go in order. Now I want to start with the ones that I think they were completely blown out of proportion which again is no particular order. Uh, the race swap of Elena Troy, I don't think it was particularly meaningful to the story, though I still found her characters and the actress playing her quite unsufferable, but that's not important in this review.

[00:16:13]Uh now I'll cut some slack to this decision. Uh because you know considering what she's been through and also the reason I don't think it was it wasn't that big a deal is because you can also think of Greece as a big hub you know with people coming from different places like from Europe from North Africa Asia etc. So the fact that she's black, although it's probably not the way Homer imagined her, but it's not completely out of question. Uh that's why also it didn't really take took me out of the movie. Now um about another controversy which was Travis Scott as the bard. Um because ancient poetry in Nolan's words is analogous to rap. Sure.

[00:17:00]Um, I fancy such like a small inoffensive presence in the movie that you barely notice him. So again, like it's not something that really took me out of the movie. Travis Scott looked generally happy to be there like in a Nolan movie. So I don't know. I I kind of like his part. Like it's it's fine.

[00:17:19]Like it's no big deal. Now the other critique I heard was that the movie was a slug. Uh actually many critics said that that was you know it was boring.

[00:17:30]they fell asleep, whatever. I actually disagree. I thought, you know, I was immersed into the movie straight away.

[00:17:38]And I didn't find myself bored, you know, you know, wanting to reach for my phone or anything. I think Nolan masterfully blended uh dialogue, slow moments of, you know, reflection and also exciting action. So, I didn't think the pacing was actually a big issue in in the movie. Now, standout scenes I would say um were definitely the one with Cersei which I thought it was very very creepy although it was resolved a bit too quickly but still like it's the kind of scene that it will give nightmares to a lot of people. Uh the memories of the Trojan War also add great context to Odysius uh motivations and also the way he matured and transformed as a person. And also the reunion, you know, between the king and queen of Ethaca was very emotional, emotionally dense. Many also mentioned the sound mixing of Nolan, which apparently is one of his greatest weaknesses as a director. Now, I to be fair here, guys, my ears are not really that refined that I can pick up on these things. I I thought the sound was fine.

[00:18:47]Like, I didn't notice anything weird like, you know, in the dialogue being too low or the action scenes being too high.

[00:18:54]So, I can't really speak about that. So, if you have any insight on that, please leave it in the comments so I can look into it. Now, uh about the color and tone of the movie. Uh now, I agree that this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but like if you go watch a Nolan's movie, you should know what you're getting yourself into because that was exactly what I was expecting.

[00:19:20]So, I was not surprised. Again, that doesn't mean that I liked it the whole time, but it was it didn't come as a shock. The bleak grounded reality also like the the ground the grounded storytelling, the analytical storytelling is is trademark of of Nolan. So, it was no surprise there. And also, it kind of suited his rendition of the Odyssey. like it would have been weird uh seeing Nolan doing a heartwarming lighthearted and colorful version of the Odyssey.

[00:19:57]Last but not least, uh the lack of grip people argument. I thought it was very weak to begin with is an international production made for everyone to enjoy.

[00:20:09]So if you in this case you just want the best actors for the job, you know, chosen on merit, not nationality.

[00:20:16]Although Nolan's choices in this case are a bit of a hit or miss. So I'll give you that. The fact is that an actor is just a vessel for the story. So you want, you know, if they're really good actors, they understand how to capture the essence of a character, even if they don't look like it.

[00:20:39]And you know in every movie like the fact is that today you almost see like more attention to pick up the right name. So it's almost like you just want the biggest name in the industry rather than actors who can actually do the job the best.

[00:20:56]Uh but I don't know like you want someone who can actually disappear behind the role and which again is not always achieved there I think because it's such a starstudded cast that sometimes you just see I don't know like M Damon being M Damon Tom Holland being Tom Holland or rather Peter Parker and and so on. Um, yeah. I don't know. I feel like the the argument about only having Greek people in the movie was actually very limiting because they're not necessarily the best parts of the job. Sure, they would pass as Greek 100%. Uh, definitely more than medamon, which is of Nordic Extraction and, you know, Travis Scott or whatever. So at least the the I would say the resemblance would be uh more uh effective but that's not the that's not the thing that took me out of the story.

[00:21:51]Now uh that was about you know this section. So those are the controversies that I think were blown out out of proportion. So they totally didn't deserve the hate they got. Now let's get into the controversies which I think were completely justified.

[00:22:10]Of course I had to start with Elliot Page. You know it was coming. I had to address it. Now I would say Elliot Page is embarrassingly miscast as Sinnan. Not because not just because Sinnan is not even part of the Odyssey because it's a character that appears in a completely different poem, but because basically he he acts as a proxy for Achilles. So not just, you know, they they introduced a character that wasn't even in the original story, but we were also robbed of the Achilles scenes.

[00:22:47]Plus, I would say it was embarrassing and a bit cringe to watch Elliot Page uh running in an armor that's like twice the size. And you know, we have to believe that this person is like the the best soldier that Odysius had and is the bravest warrior whatever.

[00:23:11]I don't know. Like I would say that my suspension of this belief has limits and this choice really challenged it. Like honestly like just make the comparison between Elliot Page and Brad Pit as Achilles in Troy like the the difference is so stark that is painful to watch.

[00:23:34]But again like I would just wanted to quickly mention this aspect u but I have few more things to talk about in this review. So, I'm going to skip to the next one. The other controversy, which is one of the most talked about, and I was actually I wasn't surprised that he uh it bother me that much was the dialogue.

[00:23:55]Now, that's one thing that nearly took me out of it. Uh, of course, like I wouldn't expect everyone to speak Greek or with a Greek accent. Um, but you know, at least using the traditional Oxford English, you know, the Shakespearean uh verb that was used in other mythological movies like uh Troy or the Gladiator that would have helped to give gravitas and grandeur to the movie. Um but you know using words like daddy, dad, let's go. Also swearing in the movie honestly it was it was painful to watch and I really had to focus myself on the parts of the movie that I was that I was liking. Now, another major issue regarding this movie was the fact that it was adapted from a modern translation of the Odyssey by Emily Wilson, which is known in the space as a raging feminist.

[00:24:57]To clear any doubt, this is the typical rendition from, you know, for modern audience that challenge patriarchal values and empowers women. You know, the kind of uh the kind of work that we all love and cherish.

[00:25:11]Luckily Nolan I would say doesn't linger a lot on this kind of aspects. So I think like it was greatly exaggerated this aspect like it is there. You can feel it in a way especially like it's very subtle. You can see it but it's not like in your face too much. So I didn't find it like overly woke or overly feminist and like some choices I'm like nah all right. But, you know, it didn't really took me out of the movie that much. Now, in terms of being historically accurate, 100% I agree with that uh in some regards actually because some parts are actually very grounded in reality in the reality of the time at least. But yeah, that's true. Um, like I don't know things like uh I don't know like the ships, the armors, you know, they they were not the way they were supposed to be at the time. But I have to say it looked pretty cool. Like especially Agamenon's armor. Like he has such an aura with the black armor, you know, that looks straight out of the dark knight. So it looked pretty cool to me. So, like I'm not like a big history buff, so I don't care like if it's not the the one that's exactly that has to be exactly like that. No, I don't care.

[00:26:33]As long as it look cool, it fits the story, I'm fine with that. Now, uh same goes for the music.

[00:26:43]Sure, like Nolan is right in saying that, you know, orchestras isn't didn't exist back then, so that's why he only uses drums. But at the same time there were no synthesizer either. So I don't know like a bit of consistency with your logic. Well again this is this is going to be I think a major issue for people that are history buffs. Uh people that care about I would say the lack of consistency in movies.

[00:27:14]So that's why I addressed it in this part of the review because it's going to be a problem for a lot of people. For me personally, not so much because I thought everything was on point. Now, if I had to pick one problem above all about about the Odyssey that left a really bitter taste in my mouth is the acting. Now except few exceptions who really capture the essence of their characters I would say everyone else was either me or I don't know they tried I guess but their performance felt completely flat and again like it felt like some people were just there you know reading the lines playing themselves so that that's one of the things that actually took me out of the movie a little bit now I wanted to mention anway uh no surprise she's a standout she's a wonderful actress. Uh she was great at Penelope and you could really you know you really see her shine and you know you really feel her pain and frustration. U John Leazamo despite him being a bit insufferable and you know his take on politics which sometimes a bit um absurd but you know I think he did a wonderful job as Yumus.

[00:28:30]Uh Samantha Morton again like I'm I'm trying to judge the acting uh despite the actor. So I'm trying to separate the art from the artist here. Um Samantha Morton was very creepy as Cersei. Robert Patterinson as Antinus was another standout and you know he really played very well the part of the menacing and despicable villain and in the end he got exactly what he deserved. Now, uh, everyone else, including Matt Damon, was all right, I would say, or decent. Like Med Demon is not the worst guy for the job, but at the same time, he doesn't really scream epic hero. So I don't know like if you have anyone in mind which you know you thought that it could have played the part better please let me know in the comment because yeah I cannot think of anyone at the moment but at the same time m just I don't know sometimes you feel like it was just being made demon now if I had to say uh that there's been one specific performance that blew my mind uh yeah I don't think I can say that like Even the ones that were really really good, none of them were really like worth the price of the ticket. So, in a way, this ties in also with the tone of the movie because, you know, with you have the muted colors, the somber soundtrack, the realistic setting. To be fair, it don't it doesn't really feel like um like an epic adventure. It feels more like a psychological thriller set in ancient times where, you know, with a lot of people pretty much dealing with PS PTSD after the Trojan War. And apparently, you know, sometimes you feel like it's a movie that's deprived of every joy.

[00:30:22]Yeah. I don't know. This is something that I didn't like it. It was a choice.

[00:30:27]And again, it aligns with how Nolan uh envisions his movies, but I don't think it was maybe the best choice for this particularly bo particular body of work.

[00:30:39]By all means, so again, we're talking about Nolan. So, it really doesn't come as a surprise, but it just kind of makes you wonder like, couldn't they have chosen maybe another director? Someone was more aligned with Omar's sensibilities, with ancient epic sensibilities. Who knows? Now, after all these considerations, how do I rank this movie? Well, it's complicated. So I'd say 100% it's worth watching even if you're you know the most purest historian nonhater person out there because it is essentially to form your own opinion about something and not just take your opinion from online critics but you know forming your own opinion after you've actually watched the movie.

[00:31:28]So follow the critics you know of that I've that you watched maybe they were a big turn off for you. So just don't don't listen to them just go watch the movie anyways. Now if all the critiques that I me that I mentioned in the review uh those were actually a big deal for you again go watch the movie but I can't imagine you enjoying the movie very much because some of the things that were a big were not a big deal for me are going to be a big deal for you plus things that 100% are going to be a big deal for you. So yeah, it I can imagine you liking this movie, but who knows? You might actually still surprise you. Now, if you're a Nolan boy, obviously um you know, believe me, nothing wrong here.

[00:32:21]Like, no shades. You probably purchased the tickets for this movie like a year ago. And you know, you enjoyed it every second of it. Probably watched them uh more than once naturally in all its IMAX glory, which is exactly as Nolan intended.

[00:32:38]I personally enjoyed this movie. Um, not enough to watch it a second time, but you know, the nearly three-hour mark also doesn't help, but as a cinema fan who also um enjoys this kind of like event movies. So, the the quality of the production is extremely high. Okay?

[00:32:59]Again, like we're talking about no one here. So don't don't go into this movie thinking that you're going to be watching some kind of slop because that's that's not the case. He's very well put together. Uh he's brilliant with the practical effect as as you might as you're going to see in the polymer scene. Um and you know and so on. So the again like the quality of the production is incredibly high even for Nolan standards. Um, but I would say it lacks the magic of the ancient epic stories. So I would say it should have felt grand. It should have felt in inspiring. It should have I don't know like something along the lines of the gladiator. But the problem is that the whole cast combined doesn't have an ounce of the aura of Russell Crowe. But also like the gladiator had the right tone and you know the right atmosphere, the right music for Russer Cro to shine as the gladiator.

[00:34:03]Uh also again like just like in Troy we have no real gods here. Even Athena in the end we find out that is not really Athena. He's just a kid.

[00:34:13]So they were basically substituted by the gods u by the forces of nature. It's uh also like there's no visible excitement for for the adventure. Uh I don't know like Odicius didn't really feel like the real Odysius which is clever, cunning. He makes sneezy remarks like the the famous like polyamous scenes of you know the wui wuhichu nobody like that was absent for the movie and I thought it should have actually like 100% been there. Uh, I would say even the passionate moments like they're completely absent. Like all the women that Odysius has slept with, you know, like Cersei, like um what's it called? Like the the priestess that he's trapped on the on the beach with.

[00:35:04]Anyway, let me know in the comment. I completely forgot. Like they're all played by Charon.

[00:35:09]Uh anyway, um if I had to explain uh how I how I feel about this movie, it's almost it's almost like they they built the correct structure. Okay. Um but you know, so basically it looks and sound like the Odyssey should feel like, but at the same time, it completely lacks the soul of Homer's poem. Now the mistake I think was indulging way too much into Hollywood's obsession of deconstructing the classic mythos and also corrupting with modern sensitivities that really don't reflect so vision and actually I would say that intent it's clear like if you watched any interviews especially with Lupita Nyongo and other actresses that really uh brag on about the fact that Nolan gave way more face to the women. Uh this is not told from a masculine perspective. You know, the the women really shines blah blah blah. Which actually I think it was a silly argument to begin with because actually Homer like gave a lot of time to the women in this like the women are a fundamental part of the story. So it's a stupid critic to to begin with. Also like it's like everyone is glazing on Nolan but then we [ __ ] on Homer. Like unbelievable.

[00:36:34]Now, uh, with that being said, I again, like as I mentioned before, I didn't find it overly, uh, woke or, um, I don't know, like feminist. Basically, it just I'd say it's it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie that that deals with deep themes, which is adventure, is PTSD, it's the team of waiting, the Yeah. the regret for horrible actions. So there the action scenes also I would say they're mostly pretty good. I would say the one in the end where Odysius uh slayed all the pretenders it's a bit clunky but it was okay. I've seen way way worse. Um, I don't know. Like there's also parts that are kind of creepy which I actually pretty like, especially the part uh, you know, the beginning of the scene with Polyphimas or the part where Cersei turns men into pigs, which it was horrifying. Um, the cinematography is obviously and the practical effect are excellent as you'd expect from a Nolan movie. I just I would just say like it's the overall vibe and uh and look of the movie also paired with the modern dialogue that really didn't do it for me. However, and this is this the final score, I'd still give it a 7.5 out of 10 because no doubt it's worth watching and talking about it. Now, let me know in the comments what you thought of the movie.

[00:38:12]Uh, if you agree with me, what are the parts that you disagree with me? Hit the like button, subscribe to the channel for more pop culture content, and I see you all in the next one.