The ODYSSSEY - 5 Min. Review - Is It Worth Watching?

[00:00:00]The film everyone has been waiting for is finally here.

[00:00:03]There is a specific scene in this movie 
 that deeply moved me which I will mention.

[00:00:08]But Before that, “The Odyssey" has been highlighted 
 for months due to its technical features.

[00:00:13]For example, the IMAX cameras you see on screen were used.

[00:00:16]Much like the great films of the 20th century, it was shot with technology capable of 70mm screenings in proper theaters, and so on.

[00:00:25]While its format is rightfully praised, the heart of this film is what matters most.

[00:00:31]The point it makes is also relevant for today.

[00:00:34]Christopher Nolan, who adapted 
 “The Odyssey" from Homer's epic, has created a narrative that personally left a strong impression on me.

[00:00:42]He layers the story with mortal ambition, betrayal of one's own kind, and regret.

[00:00:47]Adapted “The Odyssey" begins right where the Iliad, which covers the end of the Trojan War, leaves off.

[00:00:53]King Odysseus of Ithaca begins a long journey home following their victory in Troy.

[00:00:59]However, along the way, he faces gods and mythological creatures.

[00:01:03]In truth, he is actually reckoning with himself.

[00:01:06]As he loses his crew of soldiers and his ships, what he did in Troy starts to weigh heavily on King Odysseus's soul.

[00:01:14]His wife Penelope and son Telemachus, meanwhile, face their own trials.

[00:01:19]Suitors eyeing the throne have surrounded his home, trying to seize the kingdom through deceit.

[00:01:25]Though I introduced it in just a few sentences, director Nolan has covered this epic as broadly and thoroughly as possible.

[00:01:33]But let's be honest, adapting this 
 121,000-word epic to the big screen must be one of the hardest jobs in the world.

[00:01:41]This is exactly where the director's vision 
 and interpretation shine.

[00:01:45]Christopher Nolan portrays how the journey 
 changes King Odysseus, step by step, in his stubborn drive 
 to return to his home and his essence.

[00:01:54]He delicately captures his aging, his maturity, and how his memory keeps him standing... When King Odysseus finally returns home, he is no longer the same man.

[00:02:05]His physical strength and combat skills are now wrapped in wisdom and conscience... Before setting off on a new journey westward to honor his fallen soldiers, he must first save his home from occupation... Throughout the film, Nolan highlights the price paid by humans who succumb to their weaknesses on the playing fields of the gods.

[00:02:25]He points to the struggle of those walking between tragedy and hope, who continue to fight even while knowing they will die.

[00:02:33]In fact, he emphasizes how they fall victim to their own arrogance and rage.

[00:02:38]He also reminds us once more that they lead to irreversible acts of cruelty.

[00:02:43]As I mentioned earlier, one scene in the film was very significant to me.

[00:02:48]It was the scene where Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, speaks to his wife before she recognizes him, and confesses the guilty conscience 
he carries for what happened in Troy.

[00:02:58]Sending a massive wooden horse as a gift to another people and attacking them from the inside was a stroke of pure genius.

[00:03:06]But it led to unimaginable evil.

[00:03:09]Man is the only creature that betrays the goodness and purity within his own nature... The film accurately describes our modern world, backstabbing, treachery, and ruthlessness.

[00:03:20]Christopher Nolan has directed 
 and edited scenes in such a way that, as the seconds tick by, your heart rate as an audience member will surely rise.

[00:03:29]In Troy, in Ithaca, and at every stop between these two places, you feel as if you have stepped into the Late Bronze Age 
where the epic takes place.

[00:03:38]The raw intensity and adventure, along with the magic of the ancient Greek world, completely captivate the viewer.

[00:03:46]Beyond the studios, the director filmed in a series of Mediterranean countries and many different locations ranging from Iceland to Scotland.

[00:03:54]Aside from the necessary digital effects, let's emphasize that every element used is authentic to reality.

[00:04:01]The international crews behind and in front of the camera deserve endless praise.

[00:04:06]To give examples: Starting with Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, every actor endured the difficult filming conditions.

[00:04:14]The cinematographer, Swiss Oscar-winner Hoyte van Hoytema, is like a wizard of light... And composer Ludwig Göransson, who ensures Nolan, strikes our hearts with his music, let's remember, is a Swedish talent born in 1984 with 3 Oscars to his name.

[00:04:31]Some criticism of the film focuses on the language.

[00:04:34]The language is English, of course. This film is an 
interpretation of the epic. I think it's normal that it's in English... After all, not everyone can be as wild as Mel Gibson, who shoots in the languages of the eras his stories take place.

[00:04:48]Yet, despite being shot in English, Nolan tries something interesting.

[00:04:53]To convey Odysseus's desperation and feeling of alienation, in one scene, he has a foreigner from the islands speak in an unintelligible language and has one of the soldiers translate it.

[00:05:05]Ultimately, I want you to know that 
we are dealing with one of the masterpieces of cinema.

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[00:05:15]Enjoy the movie.