My review
After what felt like months (was actually just a few weeks) I finally went to see Nolan's newest masterpiece. Sadly I had to "settle" for "regular" IMAX. As there's only 41 IMAX 70mm locations worldwide, only 3 in central Europe, and only 1 in the BENELUX, but it has been completely booked until midway September.
Review
Greek Mythology
To be honest I wasn't really familiar with Greek mythology. I knew that Zeus was the God of gods, and that Poseidon was the God of the seas. However Greek mythology knowledge is really not required. Zeus' law is explained multiple times, and all other characters you simply discover by viewing the movie.
Story
Break it all down and it's simply: visit island thinking they are friendly -> come running back to the ships
However, the way this was put together that doesn't really bother you at all. I did NOT expect a giant cyclops. It's screams were straight-up nightmare material. Speaking of nightmare material: the witch turning the soldiers into pigs was absolute horror.
I also love the conclusion; that the plundering, murdering "Sea People", was actually Odysseus and his men all this time... The way he felt bad betraying Zeus' law by hiding inside a "gift".
For a moment I was disappointed to See Odysseus dying, then -small plot twist-, he's just being exiled.
Other
The soundtrack... The sound mixing... The IMAX setup... 10/10
Cinematography. Beautiful. 11/10
The Cast
Matt Damon deserves an Oscar, holy shit. That siren scene when he's attached to the ship-mast... Unbelievable. Was also impressed by Tom Holland's performance. Hathaway also strong performance. I didn't get the Elliot Page hate? Then again people were saying that he played somebody totally different in the movie...
Almost forget to mention Pattinson, nailed his coward role.
Scenes
My favorite scenes were:
- Everything Trojan Horse related
That horse felt real, much better than when movies depicted it as having massive wheels. The wait inside the horse for days, while your mates drown, natural disposal happens,... It all felt so genuine.
- Rough Seas
Felt like I was in a nightclub with the screen flashing and insane bass catapulting inside the theater.
Quotes
Polites: [observing the Cyclops' cries to Poseidon] He can talk. Why didn't he talk before?
Odysseus: Do you talk to ants?
Menelaus: Perhaps you've heard of Helen? Face that launched a thousand ships.
[Shows her scarred face.]
Menelaus: Maybe now just five hundred.
Sinon: If I never make it home, take this back to my father. Tell him everything I did.
[pause]
Sinon: Odysseus! Feel free to add some stuff.
Antinous: Bring me part of Telemachus as proof. His nose!
Irus: Would you know him only by his nose?
Antinous: ... His ears, too.
*SWORDS*
*SHIELDS*
*SPEARS*
- Antinous
I love that with some of these quotes Nolan managed to bring some humor in this otherwise pretty serious movie.
Also bonus mention: the blind guy asking whether Odysseus is still alive after the big end-fight.
Extra
Some other things I noticed:
- This movie is based on a story so old the mentor guy is actually named “Mentor”
- Dog scene hits right in the feels, I'm talking Futurama level of dog feels. The good boy waited for him with his dying breath, wagging his tail one more time.
- Agamemnon aura is off the charts
- The "twang" of the bow synced up with the music was amazing
- Young Pattinson looked spot-on
- Odysseus saying “we've followed Agamemnon quite enough” and not taking the known route makes so much more sense after seeing how guilty he felt at Troy
- Antinous said to Eusmaeus “Does she even know your name?” when questioning his loyalty.
Later on, Penelope calls him by his name when giving him the bow
- Getting Matt Damon home
Running away with Anne Hathaway
-> You think the hero is dead at the end, but he just ran away with Anne Hathaway: Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar, The Odyssey
-> Matt Damon getting home: Elysium, Saving Private Ryan, The Martian, Interstellar, The Odyssey
Conclusion
One of Nolan's best. Go watch this thing, in the best quality you can.
My rating
10/10
