[Movie] The Odyssey: Journey, Return, Exile

Journey, Return, Exile

The Odyssey is an adaptation and retelling of a story thousands of years old filled with monsters, magic and heroes, but stripped away for the modern audience. The main premise is the son of Odysseus searching for his father who has been missing for decades after winning the battle at Troy. In his absence, Ithaca has fallen under the control of suitors vying for the hand of Penelope, Odysseus' wife, while the son is yet to come of age and take the throne himself. The Journey and return to Ithaca of Odysseus is viewed through flashbacks to the trials faced.

Director: Christopher Nolan Key Cast: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson Release: July, 2026 Run time: 2h52m

Elements

The film is long at almost three hours, but in order to keep it from running much longer, the retelling has been pared down and limited, stripping away much of the themes of the original story. Yet in doing so, Nolan has been able to better align the story to give a critic of the current condition of the world.

Through the flashbacks, the audience is taken into what has led to the situation of Odysseus and Penelope, and the trials faced seem to have purposely been made somewhat unwieldy and awkward. For instance, the cyclops is not the smart creature of the original story, but more of a brute relying on force, but being slow and clumsy in movement. This allows for the trials of Odysseus to be told quickly, without having to delve into the depths of situational development.

The character of players is where the focus is put, with Odysseus' (Matt Damon) inner turmoil and PTSD being key factors. The naivety of his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) is also played upon, as is his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) as the struggling female power who is powerless due to her being female. And then there is Athena (Zendaya) a god who has largely been stripped of her powers and exists only in the mind of Odysseus.

The score is suitably grand due the story being the epitome of adventure and challenge, but does not give way to positivity. It is melancholic and speaks more toward failure and the degrading situation in the society of the time, a parable to the reality of today.

My Take

Like the majority of movies today and especially the epic blockbusters, there is commentary on the state of society now. The three core messages I feel were broadcast through this retelling fall into themes I often write about myself.

Greed

Unlike the original story, the attack on Troy wasn't about saving Helena, but about keeping trade routes open and creating wealth. And the successful attack using the Trojan horse was one that undermined the law of the gods, breaking a social contract for personal gain, leading to the very trials and tribulations that Odysseus faced in the future. It has been placed as the nail in the coffin of society, where self-interest overpowers moral code.

Morality

During the attack on Troy, Odysseus realises what he has done and how it has brought in a new order to the fabric of society, where greed and self-interest take precedence. When he sets out on his journey home, he tries to ignore the signs, to ignore the gods, but finds himself unable to heal from the trauma of his decisions. He keeps seeing Athena, a guide, but one who is unable to give guidance for he no longer believes. He has lost his sense of morality, and it is through the trials of pain and sacrifice that he starts to regain perspective.

Tolerance

The largest and clearest theme perhaps is the acceptance of strangers in society. The ancient rule of Xenia is raised often in Ithaca and Penelope explicitly says that if society stops accepting travellers and protecting strangers, civilization will fall. This is of course is an unguarded critique of the anti-immigration sentiment that is sweeping the world, and the film keeps hammering the nail home that without acceptance and growth, greed and immorality will rule.

My Verdict

Having read the original story some thirty-odd years ago, it is not fresh in my mind. However, I wasn't expecting this story to fit too closely to the original anyway. I was expecting the social commentary however and while I am not a fan of it usually, I think the story itself is still well-told for the audience. However, I also think that there are many gaps in the story to save time, and for some viewers this will leave them feeling a little lost or, a little unsatisfied. For instance, when Odysseus places himself on a raft at the mercy of Poseidon and then it cuts to him awaking in Ithaca with no context of the journey between.

Overall though, I think the film is satisfying to watch, but I think would benefit from rewatching and discussion of the themes and scenes, and the meanings behind. What I think should also be noted is that despite this story being three thousand years old or more, it is still relevant today when it comes to the structure of society, the challenges of the individual, the purpose of action, and the consequences of the decisions we make. We all face trials, our own personal monsters, and trying to find our place in the world.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

Taraz [ Gen1: Hive ]

Rating: 90/100

Comments · 14

@seattlea(78)· 16h
It is cool to see a movie review from you, you should do more of these!

My son really liked this movie and despite seeing it several times in the movie theater really wants to watch it with us at home during one of his visits. We have not seen this movie yet...
@saydie(76)· 19h
I always like Nolan's work, and I really appreciate how the movie used a lot of practical effects and real props instead of CGI. It's nice to see Matt Damon in a movie again, and I think he did what he needed to do for his character, same with Robert Pattinson as one of the villains.
@janitzearratia(73)· 19h
It really is a good movie Mr. Tarazkp. The song of the sirens is the perfect symbol of that which we desire. It shows us everything we can want as if it were at our fingertips, but right there, at that moment when we launched ourselves to have everything, we were left with nothing.

Odysseus, aware of this, faces the song of the sirens with great courage. He knows himself to be vulnerable, he is not a superhuman, and yet he chooses not to run away, but to face his own desire. In this he reveals a path for true growth... not to run away, to face from the awareness of our vulnerability.

Mermaids are a symbol, of temptations (with many forms) is not reduced only to beauty, nor to the relationship between men and women. Every human being has desires and must consider how to face them.
@videoaddiction(72)· 1d
I think greed, morality, the treatment of strangers and the consequences of our decisions are probably timeless human issues.
@emmanuel50(69)· 1d
I haven’t watched the movie yet, but I like the idea that our choices can come back to us later. Sometimes one decision can change a lot of things in our lives.
@zoe01(71)· 1d
Well, I haven't watched it yet so I can't judge it. But from your pov it seems to be a good one. They are so huge that picture gave me goosebumps lol.
@chinito(73)· 1d
yea.. it had some good parts, but kinda dragged on IMO. it was cool to see Matt Damon in a movie again. but they should've had more of those giant soldiers..
@militadigital01(66)· 1d
es grandiosa, tiene buena historia
@angeluxx(74)· 1d
Hi! It was recommended to me, though I haven't watched it yet because I prefer to immerse myself a bit more in the historical context so I can understand it better. That said, I do have a general idea of the background, so I wouldn't be too lost if I decided to watch it. I loved your review; I’d really love to see the movie, especially since it seems to offer some food for thought.
@mortezayousefi(68)· 1d
I like that you focused on greed morality and tolerance instead of only talking about the acting
@owasco(73)· 1d
Oh yummy yummy yummy. I can't wait to watch this!

Have you read Song of Achilles? Excellent! I'm reading the author's second book, Circes, now. Odysseus ought to show his face in this one as well.

the consequences of the decisions we make. We all face trials, our own personal monsters, and trying to find our place in the world.

Even if you're a god!
@wiseagent(82)· 1d
This certainly a great movie, but Christopher Nolan missed the opportunity to make something even better with what he had at his hands.
@fieryfootprints(74)· 1d
A movie review from you was unexpected surprise. Also it is nice to see that even some modern movies can be quite good.
@bozz(83)· 1d
Wow, still a 90 out of 100. That's not too bad. Especially given now critically I know you probably look at stuff. I probably won't bother watching this one. I think part of the draw is people just want to see the effects. They don't care about the story as much which is probably why it might still do well at the box office. Also why they can get away with just retelling the same story over and over.