... but I don't know what that says more about, how few I've seen or how accurate this is. Running just under three full hours, this covers most of the famous and well-known poem by Homer... well, so I think, I haven't read it, and this contained many things I hadn't heard of before, but my father who've read it several times confirms that most of it is quite accurate. One thing that disappointed me was the way the Sirens were completely left out. Also, the Greek gods(with the exception of Poseidon and Athena) were barely in the film at all(contrary to most other versions I've seen). The plot is good, it covers most aspects of the original myth, with only minor details changed that shouldn't bother anyone other than the occasional scholar and/or perfectionist in the audience. The pacing is pretty good, you're rarely bored. The acting and casting is very good, with a few arguable exceptions. I partly agree with the general consensus on Armand Assante as Odysseus... he definitely brought more braun than brain to the role. Rossellini as Athena is simply a great choice. Williams as Calypso worked, though she is by no means a great actress. Lee had far too little to work with, and far too little screen-time. The writing has its moments, but rarely reaches a higher level than the usual expected for a TV-movie. The action is quite well-done, and the few battle scenes are nicely filmed and set up. The special effects are good for the time it was made and the budget it was made on. The final scene of action is such a great relief and payoff that it makes every single scene of pain and suffering for Odysseus worth it. The film has some stunning visuals, among them some very nice panning shots of locations... we don't get enough of that today. Too much CGI in visuals. One thing I just need to mention is how disappointed I was with how the 'my name is Nobody' joke was wasted... it's nicely set up, but the punchline is a bit of a dud. All in all, a pretty good and quite accurate film-version of Homer's famous story... but of course it'll never be the same as reading the poem itself. I recommend this to anyone who wants the story but don't want to read it and anyone who wants a faithful adaptation. 7/10
Review of The Odyssey
