The Odyssey

There are very few directors working today whose name alone is enough to guarantee I’ll be in a cinema on opening day. Christopher Nolan is one of them. I don’t need to see a trailer or read early reviews. The moment a release date is announced, I’m there. So when tickets for The Odyssey finally went on sale, I had my IMAX seat booked within minutes. There wasn’t a single part of me that was going to experience the first feature film ever shot entirely on IMAX cameras anywhere else. Having now seen it, I can confidently say IMAX is the ultimate way to experience this film, but the incredible thing is that this would still be a masterpiece on any screen. I’m urging everyone to stop what they’re doing and go and watch this film because this is cinema at its absolute finest.

I’ve said for years that Christopher Nolan simply doesn’t make bad films. In fact, I recently ranked every one of his movies, with The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar and The Prestige making up my top four, all earning a perfect 5 out of 5. I genuinely wondered whether The Odyssey could break into that elite group, and I’m delighted to say it has. By no surprise whatsoever, it slots straight into third place in my rankings. It’s another masterclass from a filmmaker who continues to raise the bar every single time he steps behind a camera.

One of the biggest questions I had before walking into the cinema wasn’t about the story, it was about the filmmaking. Christopher Nolan has built his career on capturing as much as possible in camera, relying on practical effects wherever he can and only using CGI to enhance what already exists. So how was he going to bring a story involving Greek mythology, gods and mythical creatures to life while staying true to that philosophy? Somehow, he finds the perfect balance. Every fantastical element feels grounded in reality, making the impossible feel completely believable. You never feel like you’re watching actors surrounded by computer-generated imagery. Instead, it feels as though these legends genuinely existed.

Nowhere is that more impressive than during the unforgettable encounter with the Cyclops. I honestly cannot express enough how much my brain refused to believe what I was seeing wasn’t completely real. The creature’s design is astonishing, with skin, muscle and bone textures that look frighteningly authentic. Combined with Nolan’s incredible use of lighting inside the cave, the illusion is flawless. The towering scale of the Cyclops is overwhelming, making every moment feel dangerous. Even more impressive is the environment itself. The cave sequence completely immersed me. I genuinely felt like I was standing alongside the soldiers. I could almost feel the cool breeze moving through the cave and the warmth of the fire flickering nearby. That’s how convincing every frame looked.

As visually spectacular as the sequence is, what surprised me even more was just how terrifying it became. I’ve always believed Christopher Nolan could make an incredible horror film if he ever wanted to, and this only reinforced that opinion. The location, the lighting and especially the sound design create unbearable tension. I found myself holding my breath with my eyes fixed firmly on the screen, desperately waiting to see what would happen next. There’s another unforgettable sequence involving Samantha Morton’s Circe that I won’t spoil, but let’s just say it ventures into full-blown body horror in a way I never expected from a Nolan film. It’s disturbing, shocking and brilliantly executed.

If I had to sum The Odyssey up in one word, it would simply be epic. Everything about this film feels enormous. The Trojan Horse is breathtaking, the attack on Troy is spectacular and the vast scale of the sea constantly reminds you how isolated and vulnerable Odysseus and his crew really are. The IMAX photography captures every crashing wave, endless horizon and sweeping landscape with breathtaking clarity, making you feel as though you’re travelling alongside them. Then comes the climactic battle, where Matt Damon’s Odysseus becomes a one man army, cutting his way through an entire room of enemies using swords, spears, hammers and arrows. It’s brutal, violent and absolutely exhilarating. If anyone goes into this expecting a non-stop action movie, they may initially be surprised because this is first and foremost a historical drama with action woven throughout its story. Personally, that never bothered me for a second. I was completely invested from beginning to end, never once found myself bored, and the phenomenal final act more than rewards your patience.

Ludwig Göransson once again proves why he’s one of the finest composers working today. His score is absolutely colossal, matching the film’s breathtaking scale while also beautifully capturing the emotion at the heart of Odysseus’ journey. Whether it’s accompanying huge battles or the quieter, more reflective moments, the music constantly elevates every scene without ever overwhelming it. It’s another unforgettable collaboration that deserves to be heard in the biggest cinema possible.

Going into the film, I expected Matt Damon to be the standout performance, and he absolutely delivers. Matt Damon perfectly captures both sides of Odysseus. He’s a fearless warrior when the action begins, yet never lets you forget the exhausted husband and father simply trying to find his way home. However, what impressed me most was just how incredible the entire ensemble proved to be. Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Corey Hawkins, Anne Hathaway, John Leguizamo and Jon Bernthal, despite his limited screen time, all bring something memorable to the story. There isn’t a weak performance anywhere in the cast, and every actor feels completely invested in bringing this legendary tale to life.

I think it’s fairly obvious just how much I loved this film. I left the cinema completely speechless and my first thought wasn’t about going home, it was wanting to turn around, buy another ticket and watch the whole thing again. Very few films have that effect on me, but The Odyssey absolutely did. Years from now, when people talk about the films that reminded audiences why cinema matters, I genuinely believe The Odyssey will be one of them. Christopher Nolan hasn’t just adapted one of history’s greatest stories, he’s created another modern classic. I cannot wait to experience it all over again.