Christopher Nolan‘The Odyssey’ has finally hit theaters in stunning IMAX, and while critics have largely embraced the ambitious adaptation of Homer’s epic, social media users are more divided.Early reactions on X (formerly Twitter) paint a much different picture, than the glowing critics who flooded social media before the release of the film on Friday, July 17. With fans queuing in numbers outside theaters to catch early screenings, many took to social media to simultaneously admit that the film is ‘watchable’ but ‘polarising’. While some have called it Nolan’s latest masterpiece, others have criticized its pacing, dialogue and storytelling.
Fans praised Nolan’s vision and stunning visuals
Many viewers were amazed by the scale of the film, with some praising Nolan’s direction and the immersive IMAX experience. One fan wrote, “One of the greatest Experiences with @odysseymovie the visuals are Stunning and #ChristopherNolan is crazy about Writing and directing.”Another viewer praised the film’s immersive quality, posting, “This action-fantasy is immersive, with a spectacular look, an intense (and in my IMAX viewing, very loud: be warned) sound, and a character arc for Matt Damon:Odysseus Chris Nolan wisely allows that to happen largely by implication, relying on us to understand.Another reaction stated, “#TheOdyssey makes a compelling case for itself as the defining cinematic interpretation of Homer’s legendary saga.”Echoing the sentiment, another fan wrote, “Christopher Nolan transforms The Odyssey into a breathtaking cinematic spectacle, blending grand visuals, emotional storytelling, and his signature ambitious filmmaking.”Calling it one of Nolan’s best efforts, another review read, “A bold, exciting, and visually stunning retelling that proves Christopher Nolan can successfully tackle even one of history’s greatest epics.”
Netizens call ‘The Odyssey’ ‘overrated’
Not everyone shared the enthusiasm, with one summarizing the film saying, “THE ODYSSEY showcases Nolan’s best and worst tendencies in glorious IMAX.”One disappointed viewer wrote, “I’m officially watching The Odyssey. My review in a nutshell. It’s too much. It’s not the greatest thing the critics cabal would have you believe. It has a few moments of brilliance here and there that are dragged down by the casting and feminization of a masculine hero’s journey.”Another tweeted, “For all the underwritten side characters, questionable audio mixing choices, poor focusing, and narrative clunkiness, there’s a half-decent story of a man recounting his sins.”A separate reaction said, “#TheOdyssey struggles a little under the structure of the source material with some choppy pacing and inconsistent momentum but I enjoyed it.”Some are even stricter. One user commented, “It was a slog for most of the film. Some beautiful cinematography, but it’s only redeeming quality.”Another wrote, “The first hour of #TheOdyssey is the weakest. All the quick editing is distracting. This is a Christopher Nolan movie how it plays with time and memories in heavy ways.”Another viewer added, “Just saw The Odyssey. Unfortunately, the woke casting is far from my biggest issue with the film.”
The dialogue and performances divide the audience
Beyond the visuals and pacing, many moviegoers took issue with the dialogue and vocal performances. One user posted, “Watching The Odyssey today. For me, I can’t really hide my disbelief because all the actors have very different accents. It’s not like they’re all from the same world.”Another wrote, “The modern dialogue took me out of the immersion, and never lifted the acting performances.”A third bluntly stated, “the dialogue is terrible…the fake accents spoil the movie…”Offering a more balanced critique, another viewer observed, “The only real problem is that the same epic period often suffers: the actors are constantly contradicting themselves, with people’s faces and bodies imitating real emotions while their voices are not so much acting out the dialogue as reciting it.Anne Hathawayfor example, never resort to it), and only Tom Holland it’s really distracting.”
Matt Damon has garnered widespread acclaim
While opinions on the film remain divided, Matt Damon’s portrayal of Odysseus has emerged as one of the few points of consensus. A fan shouted, “The way nobody could have embodied the role of Odysseus like Matt Damon.. he was really my absolute FAVORITE performance in the entire movie and I NEED him to receive that well deserved Oscar for Best Actor because it is HIS.”Another wrote, “Thank goodness Damon (a difficult role) and Hathaway also delivered.”