The Odyssey (1997)

• Year: 1997
• Released: 18 May 1997
• Country: United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Turkey, United States
• Adwords: Won 2 Primetime Emmys. 3 wins & 26 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118414/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_odyssey
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 480p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: PG-13
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
• Runtime: 176 min
• Writer: N/A
• Director: N/A
• Cast: Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini
• Keywords:

7.0/10

The Odyssey Storyline

The warrior King Odysseus leaves his idyllic life in the kingdom of Ithaca to fight in the Trojan War. After winning the war, he now must endure a lengthy, ten-year journey to return, and with all his wits, Odysseus must overcome deadly monsters, powerful forces of nature, seductive enchantresses, and even journey into the bowels of the Underworld.

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The Odyssey Movie Reviews

Excellent Television Miniseries

“The Odyssey” is an excellent adaptation of Homer’s classic epic in which show the journey of Odysseus, who is trying to get home after the battle of Troy.

Odysseus (Armand Assante)has fought the Trojan war for many years, and after the Gods helped him (Courtesy of The Trojan Horse), he decides not to give thanks.

Bad move.

If we’ve learned anything from Greek mythology, it’s that you can’t anger the gods. So as punishment, they make it practically impossible for Odysseus to get home, sending him and his faithful crew on journeys, meeting cyclops and sirens and even going on a journey through Hades. Meanwhile, his ever-faithful wife Penelope (Greta Scacchi) waits for his return while dealing with rather pushy suitors, including Eurymachus (Eric Roberts), who want Penelope and Odysseus’s throne.

For those who don’t want to read the book, this is a pretty faithful (using that word a lot in this review, aren’t I?)adaptation. Visually stunning (especially Hades), and great locations. I especially love the Island that Calypso (Vanessa Williams)and her subjects live (And where Odysseus is held prisoner). The performances are great and you feel Odysseus’s despair as he tries desperately to get home.

A must have in your collection.

Riveting. Will make one want to re-read The Odyssey.

This is probably the best TV movie of all time. Odysseus is the perfect hero for the aging 1st world population, with his use of guile to triumph when strength is not enough. Despite the fact that one of my favorite parts of The Odyssey is left out, when Odysseus returns home after 20 years, his faithful pet Argus awaiting him, only to die after one greeting; I think this is an incredibly arresting film. Armand Assante is surprising terrific as Odysseus. He conveys with his expressions the depth of thought and emotion which characterized Odysseus. All the more amazing when one considers that Odysseus was an Achaean, a tall, fair race of people, though Odysseus was, himself, described by Homer as one of middle stature, for an Achaean, no doubt. This movie makes the tales of Homer seem more real than any film I have ever seen. The emotions of all are complex and real. The mutual love and devotion of Odysseus and Penelope are portrayed in a beautiful and believable way by the actors. The scene in which Odysseus returns to take back his kingdom is brutally and believably real. I cannot say enough good things about this movie. It should be required in the schools.

Worth seeing as a companion to Homer’s book/poem.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book of the epic, which I read recently, and was pleasantly surprised to find this on video.

Obviously, there are significant omissions, edits and rewrites from the original – and quite long – text, not to mention the change to a standard timescale (rather than using constant flashbacks and anecdotes as in Homer’s tale). Having said that, a surprising amount of detail did make it into this film, and the locations especially were almost all perfect – just as I’d imagined them. I even ‘recognised’ places before they were mentioned by name. Kudos to the production team.

Where the story is simplified, it is done carefully and logically, and leaves in virtually all of Odysseus’s more fantastic adventures – dispensing with most of the hospitality, minor characters’ subplots – Telemachus’ journey is over in seconds – and (unfortunately) with any scenes on Mount Olympus. The net effect is of the story told entirely from Odysseus’ viewpoint, while keeping an eye on events back at his palace in Ithaca.

I’ll not go too far into the story – since that is why you’ll be watching in the first place – but I will say that the special effects are mostly quite good, and don’t detract in any way. Of the entire cast I only found Telemachus to be somewhat whiney & annoying, but you manage. Casting is generally very good (especially Calypso – wow).

If there is a problem with this film, it is that by cutting out so much of the rituals, travel and more complicated deceptions, it takes away much of the scale, grandeur and ‘epic’ness of it all – while still taking 3 hours to watch. A lot of the ritual and repetition of the original text is actually a large part of its charm (as well as an entirely necessary story-telling mechanic), and I think it could be adapted in full if turned into a short series.

In summary, this is a decent version, but you’ll get the most enjoyment out of this film if you’ve already read The Odyssey (which, as with most book/film adaptations, is significantly better). If you’re thinking of watching this instead of reading The Odyssey – please don’t. You’ll have trouble getting into the text if you think you know what’s coming next.

And for the cast & crew of this film – well done. I wish there were a bit more ambition amongst TV and film companies these days.