UPDATE July 26, 2026: I have now seen The Odyssey twice, the second time in IMAX 70mm (the way God intended), and that second screening made a significant difference in what I think about the film.
Wow! to everything — particularly the cinematography, the score by Ludwig Göransson, and the storytelling. Watching the film a second time, without my sky-high expectations and anticipation, I was able to simply watch the movie and appreciate its commentary about the costs and sacrifices of war on a deeper level. That said, the scene late in the movie showing the attack on and destruction of Troy resonated with me yet again. Given the events of the last three years, I’m still thinking about whether Odysseus is a hero to be respected or a leader of bad men who has a conscience about what he unleashed. That line about turning “a fight into a hunt” says it all. He’s complicated, that’s for sure.
The IMAX 70mm presentation allowed me to be fully immersed in the action, to see how amazing the cinematography really is, and to enjoy scenes like the confrontation with the Laestrygonians even more. Those scenes on the high seas with the waves crashing and the ship rocking, and the volume turned way up so you can be overwhelmed by the sound … It’s all breathtaking. In short, if you have the chance to see this movie in IMAX 70mm, you shouldn’t miss it. Even regular IMAX is preferable. Yes, even if you’ve already seen it once before.
After seeing The Odyssey a second time, the way it was intended to be seen, I’m raising my grade to an A–. It’s still not a perfect movie, but it’s really great, and I look forward to seeing it again — but only in similarly ideal conditions.
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