Beginning with text on screen explaining “In a time of apparent magic…” we are then on a beach where a large, wooden horse lies in the shallows. In Ithaca, Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) kingdom is overrun by a mob of would-be suitors who aggressively court Odysseus’ wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) to claim the throne in his absence. On another beach, the aged Odysseus spends his days with the beautiful Calypso (Charlize Theron) where he starts to remember who he is and the events of the Trojan War.

The Odyssey is the foundational bedrock of genre film and other media. The structure, characters, creatures, conflicts, and themes have been retold over thousands of years, to the point that the story is ingrained in our collective consciousness. The movie is definitively told through the minimalist and restrained viewpoint of its director, taking a tale of high fantasy and grounding it to the perspective of a fallible soldier who must reconcile his actions in war during the long journey home and back to himself.

Packed with an ensemble cast known for playing comic book characters derived from Greek mythical archetypes, Matt Damon’s Odysseus confidently steers the ship and leads the charge. Robert Pattinson chews the scenery as the dastardly leader of the suitors, and Tom Holland is suitably cast as the ambitious but inexperienced king-in-waiting. Director Christopher Nolan’s usual muffled sound mix and muddy action sequences are unfortunately present here.

Verdict: A refined adaptation, with the usual strengths and shortcomings of its director. 4 stars.

Luke McWilliams, themovieclub.net. Viewed at Dendy Cinemas.