[Review] A 172-minute masterpiece of awe: 'The Odyssey' reaches the pinnacle of Nolan's epic saga

*This content was translated by AI.

Director Christopher Nolan has brought humanity's greatest classic, 'The Odyssey', back to life on the screen. With an overwhelming scale that justifies its production cost of 350 billion won, powerful performances by the cast, and a profound message, 'The Odyssey' showcases a new peak in Nolan's epic storytelling.

'The Odyssey' is an epic tale of Odysseus, the hero who led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War, as he fights against the wrath of the gods to return home.

Director Christopher Nolan actively utilized the flashback structure of the original work to construct a non-linear narrative that seamlessly moves between the present and the past. The film centers on Odysseus, king of Ithaca (played by Matt Damon), and his son Telemachus (played by Tom Holland).

After the end of the Trojan War, the journey of Odysseus, who sets sail for home amidst relentless storms, intertwines closely with that of Telemachus, who searches for traces of his missing father while confronting suitors threatening the royal family alongside his mother Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway).

The film instantly draws audiences into a world where a fantasy realm populated by gods coexists with grounded realism. Beneath Zeus's sky and above Poseidon's seas, the presence of the gods is overwhelming throughout Odysseus's journey, yet they never appear directly on screen.

Odysseus's voyage, marked by his dream of returning home but plagued by repeated misfortunes that leave him adrift, unfolds against a backdrop of breathtaking visuals and inescapable tension. In particular, the scene where Odysseus and his crew fall victim to the witch Circe's magic creates an eerie and chilling atmosphere that holds viewers' eyes without letting them look away—a moment that could be considered the most terrifying in Nolan's filmography.

Audiences experience a sensation akin to sailing across the vast ocean alongside Odysseus. Before they realize it, they find themselves praying for his safe return and begging the gods for forgiveness before Zeus's merciless judgment, which no human power can withstand. The scene of waiting within the giant Trojan Horse until the right moment to breach the city is also an indispensable highlight of the film. There is no doubt that this movie must be experienced on the largest screen possible.

Matt Damon's performance plays a significant role in drawing audiences into the story. He moves beyond the typical image of a 'war hero' to convincingly portray complex emotions, including guilt, human anguish, and an indomitable will that drives him to cast himself into the sea in his desperate quest to reunite with his family.

While Matt Damon carries the weight of an endless journey across the boundless ocean on his shoulders, Anne Hathaway anchors the story from the opposite side. She vividly expresses Penelope's reality—her anxiety over not knowing whether her beloved husband is alive or dead, the pressure from suitors, and the desperate situation where even her son's life is threatened—thereby completing Penelope as a deeply realistic character. This is why Odysseus's heartbreaking return feels all the more urgent. Adding to this, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron inject vitality into the film with their powerful presence, regardless of their screen time.

'The Odyssey' is not merely a film filled with spectacular visuals and Matt Damon's struggles. Director Nolan also illuminates the guilt and moral dilemmas Odysseus bears after the victory in the Trojan War, along with the brutality of war. While depicting the return of a war hero, the film tells a story of the wounds left by war and the path to atonement, thereby expanding the meaning of the classic in a modern context.

The greatest strength of Nolan's reinterpretation of 'The Odyssey' is that audiences can follow the story without difficulty even if they have never read humanity's greatest classic, 'The Iliad'.

Above all, the scale unfolding on the screen is simply jaw-dropping. 'The Odyssey' is reported to have a production budget of approximately $250 million (about 350 billion won), and every single scene makes that massive investment feel justified. It is truly a movie worth its price.

Meanwhile, 'The Odyssey' will be released on August 5. Running time: 172 minutes. Rated for viewers aged 15 and over.

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*This content was translated by AI.