The Odyssey (2026)

I didn’t think it would ever be possible but I guess luck just has a way of finding us sometimes, as I have finally managed to snag a ticket to The Odyssey. If my 4K brain had been more aware of how insanely packed this movie would get no matter what day it’s playing, I would have bought a ticket a long time ago. And it’s been out for a month now. When a film has this kind of power over the audience, that’s saying a lot. Now that I’ve seen what all the buzz is about, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve had one of, if not the best movie theater experiences of my entire life. I have to start off by saying that I saw this film the way it was meant to be seen: on the IMAX. I can see why everyone wants to see it this way now, because with the loud surround sound, the sharper clarity, and being able to witness the power of the 70mm IMAX film cameras that were used to shoot this, it was one hell of a ride from beginning to end. I have more to say to about this epic journey, so let’s travel across the Mediterranean into a world full of active Greek gods, mythical monsters, and magical transformations, and see how they’re all brought to life.

     Based on Homer’s poem, the story follows Odysseus (Matt Damon), the King of Ithaca, as he struggles to get home on a ten-year voyage after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters many classic obstacles, like the giant Cyclops, dangerous Sirens, and powerful Greek gods who meddle with his fate. There is so much to appreciate about this movie, like the stellar cast for starters. I feel like there’s so many familiar faces and they all played their parts exceptionally. To name some would include the ones on the poster like Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. The others include Jon Bernthal, Travis Scott, Elliot Page, Corey Hawkins, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Samantha Morton, and anyone else I may have missed. I’d like to list out everyone else in the cast but knowing me, I’d probably bore you if I kept blabbering on about this specific topic. The music was also legendary. Composer Ludwig Göransson totally knocked it out of the park here. He always has a different kind of style in his films and it’s amazing what the man was able to accomplish. It’s also incredible how the movie uses practical effects like full-scale puppets, physical elements, and on-location filming. Now it comes down to the man whose films I’ve enjoyed watching since I was a kid and brought out another monumental and tremendous piece: writer and director Christopher Nolan. I can’t praise him enough for what he did here. He’s always done films on a grand scale and I thought he absolutely pushed it to the limit with this one. He brought this imaginative and dangerous world to life and I can’t remember the last time I’ve been awestruck by something like that. I guess that would also have to do with the fact that I saw this on the IMAX, so there you go. I’ve seen people say that this film is the reason why we love movies so much and why we love going to the theaters to see them. I’d call that a huge understatement. To me, this was the ultimate movie-going experience.

     I can’t even begin to describe how great I felt after watching this flick. It’s just something you need to see to believe and I think anyone will impressed throughout its 2hr and 52min running time. Having said that, I would have to give this movie a solid 10 out of 10. So, if you like Christopher Nolan, big adventures, or if you feel like you’re missing out, then I would highly recommend you do what I did and snag the next best seat if possible, especially if that means you get to see it on the biggest screen there is. A colossal Greek tale of entertaining proportions.