The Odyssey
released 2026
www.ink2quill.com

“The Odyssey” is an action, fantasy film taken after the epic poem by Homer of the same name. It was produced by Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Thomas Hayslip, Zakaria Alaoui, Hjortur Gretarsson, Erik Paoletti, Kostas Raftopoulos and drirected and written by Christopher Nolan himself. It stars a gigantic cast of some of the most talented people in the film world with names that include Lupita Nyong’o, Maurice Compte, Benny Safdie, Kate Fuglei, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Corey Hawkins, Travis Scott, Jarreth J. Merz, Tom Holland, Elliot Page, Niko Nicotera, Rafi Gavron, Anne Hathaway, Shiloh Fernandez, Elyes Gabel, Iddo Goldberg, Jamie Harris, John Ales, Raimy Lang, Mason Cufari, John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Ryan Hurst, Adam Croasdell, Mickey Shilowich, Katerina Antemelpa, Himesh Patel, Jovan Adepo, Andrew Howard, Josh Stewart, Logan Marshall-Green, Samantha Morton, Bill Irwin, Yannis Kokiasmenos, Sean Avery, Ian Casselberry, Matt Lasky, Stephen Murphy, Anthony Molinari, Will Yun Lee, Ryan de Quintal, Jesse Garcia, Jimmy Gonzales, Jon Bernthal, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Nick E. Tarabay and both dogs Sawyer and Nod as Argus the dog and so many more great talents.

This is a monumental production employing an army of the most talented people in Hollywood. This has to be said because the Art Directors, Set decorators, very huge Make-Up Department and very huge Production Team, Sound Department and Special Effects, Visual Effects Teams, the Stunt Teams, Camera and Electrical Departments, Animation and Casting Departments along with the huge Costume and Wardrobe Departments are just some of the very long list of people who contributed their skills and talents into the making of this film. So, the people I mention above are a very small part of all the people who worked in this film.

The Odyssey IMDb webpage

“The Odyssey” is the epic poem written by the late and great Homer about the life of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, played by Matt Damon, (who BTW does a very good job in the role of Odysseus). The story is about the Trojan War veteran Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War with all the gods he has angered and those who support him influencing the outcome of his journey and the hardships he must overcome. During the Trojan War Odysseus he was the top general and is responsible for the Greeks’ victory after a many year siege of the city of Troy. Some people, mostly historians and other people who know what they are talking about, say that Odysseus is a clever and wily man. He finds clever solutions to so many of the problems he finds himself in. For example, when the Greeks are unable to enter the city of Troy he devises a plan to trick the adversary into letting them in. And that is where the famous story of the the Trojan Horse comes from. That is very clever. And it works.

For starters, he violates the laws of Zeus more than once. Oops. His trials and hardships include escaping and defeating a giant named cyclops, who turned out to be the son of Poseidon, god of the sea and oceans. Oops. Odysseus and his men are trapped in the cave of the Cyclops and must escape before he eats them. They put out his single eye when he sleeps and get away out of the cave and to their ships and away. But. Like I said, Poseidon is not much pleased with them.

Another trial is when they encounter Circe the witch, played by Samantha Morton, on her island. The scene is brilliant. They reach an island and ask Odysseus to stay behind while they go and look for food. Odysseus is shocked and offended by what is close to being a mutiny. His men meet Circe who agrees to feed them but asks them to leave their armor and weapons outside her house before they enter for food. I’m not going to give away any spoilers but the men of Odysseus barely escape the island with their lives.

There is a great theme at the heart of this scene and one which is omnipresent in the story. That theme is that people, most people, are not good. Circe tells Odysseus that the pigs she changed his men into are what they really are inside, meaning they are greedy and stupid and that there is nothing Odysseus can do about it, and for that simple reason they are doomed. This theme permeates the entire film and is a very convincing argument in favor of fate.

John Ink2Quill

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