Mosi Palo

I waited for it to find a rhthym, but it never came. When it started with Odysseus in Ithaca I knew the movie would be adding elements (since it's the very end of the book), but I didn't think they would change so much of the original storyline. I liked some of the detangling of the myth as the movie explored war-related trauma Odysseus experienced, explaining his resistance and anxiety of wanting to return home. But it wasn't enough. I kinda hoped at some point it would just get schticky and turn into the film, Sisu, and Odysseus and Telemachus would go on an over-the-top killing spree. Which honestly isn't the typical movie I go for. I just wanted some sort of interesting pace. The writing didn't give the actors much fodder. Some scenes just feel very perfunctory and/or unnecessary. Telemachus' quick sail to "the city" to finally ask if anyone has heard from his father (after 10 years of not doing any sort of investigation) and apparently after asking the first merchant Telemachus finds, he quickly and conveniently learns that Odysseus has been on some island sleeping with another woman for years...drivel, drivel, drivel. That's not how it was in the book, but, more importantly, just sloppy, unbelievable writing. The suitor massacre scene was also lacking something, maybe just a semblance of a proper tension leading up to said scene. And the Penelope/Odysseus resolution felt underwhelming. It has moments. But, dang. I feel like this movie got green-lit, then word got out that Nolan was going to do the Odyssey and The Return received a terrible budget. Or, maybe this is the movie they wanted.

Pure. Innovative. Greatest story in video game history!