Everyone who has taken 9th grade English is familiar with Homer’s classic story: The Odyssey. While opinions on the academic rigor following this epic vary greatly, excitement for Christopher Nolan’s recent adaptation was high. In North America alone 7.5 million people went to see the movie on opening weekend, and even after initial fanfare died down, the movie grossed almost 2 billion dollars. Paired with a cast of stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, this film is one of the most successful movies of the year. 

While many agree that Nolan’s film is undeniably well made and has some amazing cinematic shots, reactions about the portrayal of Odysseus’ story are less unanimous. St. Stephen’s students in particular form an interesting perspective since almost all students have read (or have pretended to read) the original tale. Thus, many students’ reactions  actively call back on the text while voicing their opinion of the film’s retelling.

When casually discussing the film with some friends, I was surprised with both the varied reactions to the film and the strength of these opinions. One person spoke highly of Anne Hathaway’s performance as Penelope, Odysseus’ faithful and cunning wife, saying she emulated regality while adding depth to the character within her relationship to Telemachus, her son, played by Tom Holland. Another person had a completely different perspective, describing Hathaway’s performance as not her best work and even going on to say the movie did not explain the female characters accurately, instead using only as tools for male characters’ and especially Odysseus’s development.  

While some opinions focused on the film’s message, others focused on the actual cinematic experience. Nolan’s decision to fit the film to a 70mm IMAX screen was a bold move, one both admired and criticized. While some called it genius and innovative, others thought it was unnecessary and impractical, making it hard to see the full film and creating a more exclusive viewing experience. 

There are some opinions on this film that seem to be consistent, however. For instance, Nolan’s apparent love for practical effects is seen throughout the movie and makes for much more emotional and realistic scenes, most notable of which include Odysseus’s encounter with the Laestrygonians and the depiction of Circe’s magic. 

Overall, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a successful movie about Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca. Whether or not it can be considered an accurate representation of a nearly 3000 year old tale, however, is less clear. While opinions of other St. Stephen’s kids may help to draw conclusions, opinions can only truly be drawn from individual experience. So, by all means, go watch The Odyssey and see for yourself!