Is The Odyssey Worth Seeing? A Spoiler-Free Review

When a movie is as big as The Odyssey, it gets a lot of attention. It is one of the most famous stories of all time. It features some of today's biggest acting stars. And it is helmed by perhaps the finest movie director of our time, Christopher Nolan. The film has also gotten a lot of attention for other reasons, none of which I will give time to. After all is said and done, is The Odyssey worth seeing?

A Blockbuster In The Truest Sense

The Odyssey is the year's biggest movie. It is a blockbuster that many, including myself, wanted to see if it could live up to the hype. I'm pleased to report that this is a masterful film, filled to the brim with action and emotion. Very little, if any, CGI was used. Nolan used practical special effects to tell Homer's timeless story. Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope were amazing. Tom Holland as Telemachus and Robert Pattinson as the sleazy Antinous were great. But the real stars of the movie are Nolan's direction and the amazing cinematography. There are some simply stunning shots in a movie that was filmed in six different countries!

Some of my favorite moments included flashbacks to the war in Troy and the Trojan horse, surviving the Cyclops in the cave, and Odysseus returning to reclaim his throne. Also, be prepared for a scene involving a dog that had my daughter and me sobbing.

Box Office Gold For Christopher Nolan

It turns out a lot of people wanted to see The Odyssey. The  AP reports that the opening weekend saw the film take in over $124 million at the domestic box office, giving Nolan an even better debut than his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer. Now, the question is how long can it remain on top?

The AP reports it didn't face any direct competition during its opening weekend, and won't again this weekend. The next movie to challenge it, coincidentally, features two stars featured in the movie. Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives in theaters on July 31st.