The Odyssey (2026)

Surprisingly good; it exceeded my (very low) expectations, fueled by internet hate.

SPOILERS

Matt Damon looks great, and I really liked him as Odysseus. The visual effects were impressive and fully immersive; the giant cyclops was terrifying, and it all felt real and scary. In the spirit of Homer's writings, violence was all-encompassing and an inseparable part of the adventures. One small mistake cost them dearly. Many scenes were gut-wrenching, like that cyclops fight or men getting turned into pigs; they definitely made me clench, which means it achieved its purpose. The storytelling was linear enough, with some flashbacks and Odysseus regaining his memory being the only exception. The Trojan horse was epic, and I liked the anticipation, the realism of how uncomfortable it must have been to sit inside that giant wooden structure, and all the fighting that ensued. When they opened the gates and soldiers poured into the city, it made me aroused indeed. The moral ambiguity of the situation and that bittersweetness of victory through deceit were captured well. Lupita Nyong'o as Helen and Elliot/Ellen Page were obvious miscasts, but honestly didn't detract from the story that much. And for every 5 seconds of their screen time, we got 1 minute of Matt Damon. I genuinely liked Tom Holland, and Robert Pattinson's performance was the first one I enjoyed since Twilight. Zendaya's Athena was average at best and her range limited, but I am just a hater, of course.
Honestly, it was enjoyable. They caught the spirit of what The Odyssey was supposed to be like. Good movie, average Nolan movie.