mktesq

@AntSpeaks I think we disagree that Tom Holland was good. He doesn't carry any gravitas on film. His American accent sounds like he's 10 years old.

So I saw The Odyssey... (Some spoilers ahead) I'm not going to beat around the bush or spend half the review building up to my opinion. So here it is. Is it a good movie in the sense that it's entertaining, keeps you hooked, and makes you want to see how the story ends? Yes. In that sense, it is good. Are all the criticisms regarding the casting, dialogue and other creative decisions still valid despite it being "good"? Absolutely. It opens with a black rapper playing a bard telling the story, before quickly shifting to what is quite possibly the most ridiculous sequence in the entire film. It's the clip that's been doing the rounds online and gone viral, where Elliot Page's character runs like a 10 year old boy, or Woody from Toy Story, while still very clearly resembling a female, towards the Trojan Horse, only to be almost immediately impaled by Trojan soldiers. The film then shifts into the story being told through flashbacks, which is true to the original Odyssey. You quickly forget about Elliot, though the character does appear again later, as the focus shifts to the rest of the cast, many of whom do a very good job. Anne Hathaway is good as Penelope. Tom Holland is good. Robert Pattinson, playing one of the suitors occupying Odysseus' palace, probably gives one of the standout performances. Matt Damon also does very well in his portrayal of Odysseus. The story flows well, but it doesn't take long before you're constantly reminded that certain decisions were made to tick several DEI boxes. It simply cannot be disputed. There's one scene where an Indian actor and a black actor, playing warriors, approach a villager and reveal that they are "Greeks of Ithaca." That might be acceptable in a theatre production, where taking liberties with casting is far more common and accepted because you're there to watch a live performance rather than maximise historical authenticity. In a film like this, however, it should simply be more historically accurate. And yes, the same goes for Helen of Troy. It's an immediate facepalm moment because, despite what some of her fellow cast members have said in interviews, you can easily think of countless actresses who would have been more suitable for the role. And yes, by that I mean someone who fits the historical context, because Helen of Troy simply would not have been Sub Saharan African. Zendaya as Athena? Also a bad choice, and yes, I'm sorry, but it's for the same reasons. As mentioned earlier, Elliot Page's character makes a comeback, sort of, and there's a scene where Matt Damon's Odysseus describes "him" as the greatest warrior he's has ever known. Yes, what you saw in that viral clip of Elliot is supposed to be one of the greatest Greek warriors. You can't help but cringe during that scene, knowing Matt Damon is delivering those lines with a completely straight face. But I still said the movie was "good", so why am I complaining? Because it could have been great. It could have completely immersed you in that world, but because of DEI and political correctness, it never quite gets there. That's the issue. It's not because these people were the best choices for the roles. They weren't. In fact, I'll go further than that. Given Christopher Nolan's reputation and influence in Hollywood, he could have done what Mel Gibson did with some of his films. He could have hired an all Greek cast, or at least had 70 percent of the actors played by Greeks. He could even have had them speak Ancient Greek with English subtitles. In a world that valued historical authenticity and common sense, I genuinely think that film could have broken records. Instead, Nolan seems to have completely abandoned the historical authenticity he stuck to in Oppenheimer and gone full woke in pursuit of awards, excusing it as a retelling for a "modern audience", whatever that is supposed to mean. The fact there isn't a single Greek actor in this film is genuinely mind boggling. It's no wonder there wasn't even a premiere in Athens. So yes, The Odyssey is somewhat of a good watch overall, but only good. That doesn't take away from the very legitimate criticisms, and I've only touched on a few of them. There are many more, including the costume design and some of the dialogue being used. Yes the use of "dad" and other modern day phrasings of words is annoying to say the least. The scenes with Elliot Page are genuinely laughable, and some people will dismiss the entire film on that point alone. Honestly, I don't blame them. Does the movie deserve all the praise from the critics? No. Does it deserve all the 10 out of 10 ratings from a supposedly unbiased audience? Absolutely not. It's also nowhere near a 1 out of 10. But that doesn't really matter, because Nolan has made enough decisions that many people will see it that way regardless.

If Bryson slapped Rory in the face after the Tournament, what would be the ramifications for Bryson?

@seity555 @RubinReport And we can agree that it's beautifully shot. Nolan does that right in every film.

@mktesquire @RubinReport Fine is the best description. I’m bemused at people who are praising it beyond that. And it’s nothing to do with the discourse on here. The film just isn’t very good. Script is lame, most the casting is wrong, it’s mildly entertaining.

The Odyssey was an absolute masterpiece.

@JasonKrump @ClayTravis This wasnt the sequel. There was a Dumb and Dumberer in the middle.

@ClayTravis Dumb and Dumber to Dumb and Dumber To

What’s the worst drop off from great first movie to disaster sequel? This is a fun debate. Buck argues Gladiator to Gladiator 2. I say Jaws to Jaws 2.

@BarstoolHubbs I was sitting in those 4D seats during that clip and it jolted me right back to sleeping with the lights on. That movie looks insane.

My biggest takeaway from The Odyssey isn’t anything about The Odyssey itself. It’s the horror movie trailer that they showed right before for ‘Other Mommy’ that won’t allow me to sleep for the foreseeable future

@Numpty_D @ClarksonsFarm1 I may have. Did you see it? I'm very conservative but I was less distracted by the woke crap but more by Tom Holland's acting and the absence of the gods.

@mktesquire @ClarksonsFarm1 I think you miss my point, was an example of the woke Hollywood shit messing with reality to appease a minority with mental health conditions

Have you seen The Odyssey? Is it worth a visit to the cinema?

@jake_theviking It was fine imo. Tom Holland was the weakest link for me. Won't see it again, but I thought it was ok.

So I saw The Odyssey. I really wanted to like it, but man I just didn’t. I never felt like I was watching an Epic. The acting wasn’t there for me. The dialogue wasn’t there for me. The set design wasn’t there for me. The story telling wasn’t there for me. Feels like Nolan’s worst film, for me.

@matthewdmarsden The people who hate it didn't see it. The people who love it have an agenda. The agnostic people that see it like me thinks it's good, not great.

The reaction to the Odyssey typifies society right now. It is either the best movie ever made, or the worst. People feel like they need to take a side. No nuance.

@pureMetatron 6.5. Not great. Fine. Beautiful, but has some flaws. Tom Holland was the weakest link for me.

So did you watch Nolan’s Odyssey? What’s your score from 0 - 10?

@rajatsuri It was fine. Not great.

Love Christopher Nolan’s work and watched most of his movies 3+ times in theaters. But the Odyssey is a relatively poor entry by his own high standards Overall poorly written and edited, and unevenly sequenced. Probably should be 60 mins shorter since it was plain boring at times. Emotional beats do not hit at all. Matt Damon is perfectly cast and some other actors do a spectacular job 2-3 amazing visual set pieces that are worth the entry price but not worth a rewatch. Love the ambition of the movie but this one belongs at the bottom of Nolan’s oeuvre just above Tenet. I think Denis Villeneuve would have done a much better job at this story

@matthewdmarsden It wasn't terrible. It was good. I enjoyed it. The casting wasn't a problem.

Imagine how massive the Odyssey would have been if it didn’t have woke casting, shitty dialogue and a decent marketing campaign?

@pureMetatron It was fine. 3.5/5. Tom Holland was the weakest part of the movie. Elliot Page not much better. But typical Nolan feast for the eyes.

If you gave Nolan's Odyssey a 10/10 you need professional help.

@Numpty_D @ClarksonsFarm1 Elliot Page was not Achilles. Achilles was not in the movie at all.

@ClarksonsFarm1 If you have a thing for Helen of Troy, a Spartan, being African and definitely breaking the illusion also if you want your Achilles 5 foot tall with a vagina it's a must watch

@ClarksonsFarm1 It's beautiful, a bit plodding, very good third act. 3.5/5.

I watched The Odyssey and it's not great but it's not bad. A perfectly fine summer movie. The casting wasn't a distraction. The biggest issue acting wise is more Tom Holland and less Elliot Page, but not great either.

@LIVGolfNation Don't heckle. Ignore the little narcissist.

Rory McIlroy deserves to be heckled at every single golf tournament on US soil for the rest of his miserable career. I can’t think of a more unlikable athlete in professional sports today.

Dear @brunoog97 - you are a good man and I'm happy you are on Newcastle. Please rise above the noise and be the best man, husband, father, and son you can be.

@TheMatchdayHQ @DailyMail 146 Million and he's yours.

🚨🚨 | 𝐍𝐄𝐖: Aston Villa are CONSIDERING a move for Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes this summer. [@DailyMail]

@usmntonly I would explore a complete overhaul of the adult soccer system as well.

U.S. Soccer is exploring a complete overhaul of the youth soccer system amid renewed scrutiny of pay-to-play following the USMNT's Round of 16 World Cup exit — with the goal of making the game more accessible and affordable 🇺🇸⚽️ U.S. Soccer COO Dan Helfrich: “We are not seeking to make the current system more affordable. We’re trying to create a new system that then we make highly affordable. It’s a really important distinction.” Arsène Wenger, speaking alongside Helfrich at U.S. Soccer’s headquarters outside Atlanta: “From outside, I felt that people from a poor background had no access to the game. That is quite a big part of the population that usually in Europe, the best football players come from poor backgrounds. We want maybe a job to do as well to make it possible and available for everybody and after to be consistent because it’s not a short-term fix.” The discussion centered on how the federation can continue growing the sport after what U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson called an “incredibly successful” World Cup that “has fundamentally changed the trajectory of the sport in the United States.”