nrsadoff After reading the Odysessy, I decided to watch this painfully 90's two episode series out of curiosity. Some parts of the film are partway decent, with a few talented actors and interesting scenes here and there. Unfortunately, the majority of the acting was sub-par and many scenes were written so poorly it was utterly laughable. I guess if you must watch a film adaptation of the odessey for a class or whatever it'll do, but I wouldn't watch it otherwise.

deideiblueeyez The depiction of Greek life during the end of the Mycenaean era was accurate (as far as I've read and researched), and the costumes were exemplary. Odysseus, Anticlea, and Penelope's actors nailed their parts with nearly perfect consistence.Some parts of the movie felt a little awkward or stilted for me in regards to the delivery of the lines, such as Circe's character. Hermes was also a bit...odd. My personal image of him is that of a cheeky teenager, not the September issue for Hot Daddies Monthly, but what can you do.Much like Odysseus, I wanted the journey to just end already, and only 10% of that feeling was derived from the film's length. I was emotionally invested in his quest to return home and was overjoyed when he and Penelope finally reunited. It does succeed in breathing life into these characters and if you had to entertain your college students with a film that ties into Greek mythology, let it be this one.

Robert This is an Odyssey for people who were weaned on network TV and are incapable of reading. Director Konchalovskiy is, apparently, one such person, given the way he utterly eschews any subtlety or nuance, overloading every scene with sweeping, syrupy music that insists you _feel_ very deeply what he insists you feel, as well as over-the-top special effects and scenery-chewing from nearly every actor.Armand Assante is, of course, incapable of anything but scenery-chewing, as are most of his fellow cast members. It's as if Konchalovskiy said "OK, now everybody turn it up to eleven!" Homer's epic story is rendered "super-ultra-mega-epic!" for TV. Every plot turn, every character, has to be introduced with declamation or voice-over. Bereft of anything but Hollywood blather, this is a pathetic waste of money and effort.Save your time and read the original story.

drystyx If you thought the Kird Douglas version was bad, don't even bother with this one, which makes the Kirk Douglas version look like a classic in comparison. That may be why they made the movie. Homer's books (I've read the Iliad and the Odyssey) are extremely poorly written to begin with. Homer was a hack, and today would be considered a ludicrously excessive sycophant and butt kisser. He did nothing but praise kings and people in power. The more powerful you were, the more he praised you. That is all he did. His characters have no different qualities about them other than some are stronger and more powerful. It took later writers and directors to give character to these names. Through the ages, Ulysses has come to mean a more intelligent form of the character of Odysseus. This name embodied wisdom mixed with strength. This film gives him absolutely no wisdom at all. He is merely a murderous fiend with no saving grace, and no reason for anyone to like. Indeed, it is an ordeal to sit through, knowing that he will be victorious, and you don't care a bit about what happens to him. The other characters are given some attention, but we know they will die, and we await some saving grace from the "hero" which never appears. This film takes all the worst from the book and all the worst from todays films. It is truly a bomb.