Yes, I’m an expert now. 😆 Did you see The Odyssey?
We saw it at the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on their ginormous IMAX screen and it was an absolutely EPIC experience.
NO SPOILERS from me, but just some thoughts:
1️⃣ Just give Christopher Nolan an Oscar now.
2️⃣ The soundtrack is perfection. The way it builds the tension and then just POUNDS…WOW!
3️⃣ The film is gorgeous. The iconic shots of beaches and the Trojan horse and battles are visually stunning. I couldn’t tell you what was real or computer-generated (was any of it CGI?) but it looked real and beautiful. I did, however, watch many of the violent scenes with my hands over my eyes.
4️⃣ As a STAR WARS fan, I do tend to see it in a lot of things—and certainly Luke Skywalker was on his own hero’s journey—but there were moments in this film where I felt like Odysseus was giving Obi-Wan and the bad guys reminded me of Stormtroopers. And speaking of bad guys…
5️⃣ You might have a healthy debate after the film about who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. And get ready to ponder fate vs. free will.
6️⃣ I am amazed—but also not amazed after studying ancient philosophers in college—at how sharp Homer’s story and characters are thousands of years after The Odyssey was written (the experts think he wrote it between 750 and 650 BC).
7️⃣ Homer is not “that dude from The Simpsons” as my eleven-year-old daughter thought when we first saw the previews 😆
8️⃣ By the time you add in previews, you’ll be in the theater for over three hours. So, hydrate and make sure you have plenty of snacks However, the movie did not feel long, and I was so immersed in the Ancient Greek world that it was almost a shock to stumble out into the sunshine of Hollywood Boulevard after it ended.
Watching The Odyssey on the IMAX screen at the TCL Chinese Theatre was truly a remarkable experience that brought the epic tale to life like never before. The combination of immersive visuals and the pounding soundtrack heightened every scene’s emotional impact, making even the intense battle sequences palpable, though I found myself instinctively shielding my eyes during the most graphic moments. What struck me most was how Christopher Nolan managed to modernize Homer’s ancient story without losing its timeless relevance — it still sparks deep questions about morality, fate, and heroism. As someone who enjoys blending pop culture with classical stories, I couldn’t help but notice parallels to other legendary narratives, like Star Wars. For instance, Odysseus’s hero’s journey echoed elements of Luke Skywalker’s saga, and the antagonists reminded me of Stormtroopers. This intertextuality added another layer of enjoyment, especially for fans of epic storytelling. The representations of Greek mythology, including the iconic Trojan Horse, felt incredibly real—blurring the line between CGI and practical effects. This visual authenticity drew me into Ancient Greece’s rich world, making the three-hour runtime fly by. I also appreciated the intellectual depth, recalling lessons from ancient philosophers that add sharpness to Homer’s characters and themes. For anyone planning to see the film, a quick tip: expect to spend over three hours including previews, so come prepared with water and snacks. The experience is well worth it, offering a cinematic journey that engages both the mind and the senses. After leaving the theater and stepping onto Hollywood Boulevard, the contrast between the mythical world and the sunny modern cityscape felt surreal — a testament to how powerfully the film transports its audience. Finally, a humorous moment came from my own family’s enthusiasm: I was ready to become the most annoying theatergoer, armed with tidbits from my son’s LEGO Greek mythology book, eager to share trivia about the saga. It goes to show how engaging The Odyssey can be, sparking curiosity and conversation across generations.
