The Odyssey (1997)

Andrei Konchalovsky's expansive television mini-series production of Homer's epic poem gets off to clumsy start as he tries to squeeze the Trojan War into a mere half hour, but once the arrogant but honorable Odysseus (strikingly played by Armand Assante) and his loyal crew begin their doomed voyage home, this film turns into a fantastical adventure. Integrating often-stunning special effects with inventive art design, Konchalovsky achieves a beautiful look on a limited budget as he follows the 10-year ordeal of Odysseus from his battles with the Cyclops and the magical Circe (Bernadette Peters) to his secret homecoming and his confrontation with the treacherous Eurymachus (Eric Roberts). Isabella Rossellini appears as his spiritual guide, the goddess Athena, with Greta Scacchi as Odysseus's faithful wife and Vanessa Williams as the seductive Calypso. The rest of the cast includes Geraldine Chaplin, Jeroen Krabbé, Christopher Lee, and Irene Papas. The production was shot on location in and around the Mediterranean, making for a lush, lovely visual experience. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Where's the soundtrack?

I loved this movie/mini series. I've watched it time and again. I've always wondered about the soundtrack..I just CANNOT find it anywhere. (There is a link on amazon music..waiting for the seller to respond if what he/she has is the real thing) If anyone knows where to get the soundtrack, pls do send me a mail.
Thanks
Chet October 10, 2008

The Odyssey

This is a beautiful three hour film version of Homer's 'Odyssey'. The film captures the essence of Odysseus's adventures and misadventures following the end of the Trojan War. I enjoyed watching it with my four and a half year old grandson who loved every moment of it. We have watched the film several times, discussed it and have now begun to read the book. October 1, 2008

GREAT MOVIE. HORRIBLE TRANSFER!

RELEASE IN A WIDE SCREEN FORMAT AND I WILL GIVE IT 5 STARS. IT IS A GREAT MOVIE BUT YOU LOSE SO MUCH WITH A FULL SCREEN VERSION. July 30, 2008

A Big Disappointment

I teach Homer's "The Odyssey" to high school students, and I also teach at Rutgers University in the Modern Greek Studies Program. Using this movie as a teaching aid to the reading of Homer's epic story is frustrating. There are countless errors between the epic and the movie. Apparently, those that worked on the script of this film thought they could improve upon an epic piece of literature that has stood the test of time for 3000 years. What arrogance! I used this film to have discussions with my students about why they thought the film makers changed so many things from the book. It is appalling to see how erroneous this film is from Homer's glorious epic. For example, Anticleia, the mother of Odysseus, is depicted as committing suicide in the film. The book says she died from her sorrow of waiting for Odysseus' return. The scene with Telemachos, Odysseus' son, visiting King Menelaos in Sparta in the film has Menelaos telling Telemachos that his father is dead and that he should go home. In the book, Telemachos finds out from Menelaos that his father is alive and held as a prisoner on Calypso's island. Telemachos also does not go home from Sparta until the goddess Athena goes to Sparta to tell him to go home in Book 15. In the slaughter of the suitors scene in the film, Telemachos kills the suitor Antinoos first. No! Odysseus kills Antinoos first. Also, during the slaughter of the suitors, Penelope is upstairs sleeping in the book, but in the film she is awake waiting in another room. These are just four examples of many from a film that deviates blatantly from the original. Anyone who gives this film a high rating simply does not know the Odyssey epic well enough to realize just how horrendously inaccurate this movie is. It is a shame that with all the special effects and the talented actors and actresses in this film (including the great Irene Papas) that the film fails so miserably. July 9, 2008

Good movie - Unavailable

This was an EXCELLENT movie, enjoyed it tremendously. But now that I try to find the DVD, nobody has it for less than some rediculous Marketplace price of $50 or more (one seller has it for $175!). Amazon had it for $12.99 but that was before I realized it was going to be so hard to find, should've bought it when I had the chance...

Is this movie out of print? If so, WHY??? -kd5- June 29, 2008

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