Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has arrived with rave reviews and record-breaking box office numbers in its opening weekend. Based on Homer’s epic, the nearly 3-hour film has packed out cinemas across the world. It’s not unusual for blockbusters to pack out cinemas across the globe in their opening weekend, much less ones carrying a Trojan horse load of A-listers. However, upon checking the BFI IMAX website to book to see the film in IMAX 70MM, I was shocked to see the demand so high that screenings are completely booked out until the end of the film’s run in September, with screenings starting on most days at 8.30 am and the last one carrying through to finish at 3 am. Whilst the BFI IMAX is an exceptional example, being one of forty cinemas in the world capable of projecting the film’s 17km reel, there has been a real demand to view The Odyssey in premium formats that go beyond your local Vue or Cineworld.
As a devoted cinephile, I watched the film on opening day at The Science Museum’s Ronson Theatre, one of six other cinemas in Europe capable of showing the film on IMAX 70MM, and succumbed to the marketing stunt of purchasing my tickets a year in advance. Once the film has finished and I had come to my senses, comprehending the transformative journey the film had taken me on, I went to log the film on Letterboxd to be met with the following punchcard:
Whilst I initially thought it was a neat feature to include, as someone who had seen one of the applicable formats in it, it made me wonder how pissed off I would be if I was as passionate about film but lived in Ireland, let’s say, where half of these formats are unavailable.
The fact of the matter is that there is no way you need to see The Odyssey six times in different ways. Not only is it expensive, but it will take up 18 full hours of your time (20 if you include the trailers). Letterboxd choosing to contribute towards this narrative that popcorn buckets started, cinema is not a collectable product. If it means more people are spending money to go and see these films and the year ends with a strong box office, then fantastic! However, it’s a shame that this is focused on what is likely to be the highest-grossing film of the year, rather than shifting focus to great films that may be bombing.
As far as the quality of the film goes, it goes without saying that you should see it on the biggest screen possible. The Odyssey is an epic triumph and another miracle from Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas. IMAX, celluloid, or whatever premium format is near you will immerse you and enhance your experience. Don’t wait to see it on Netflix; see it the way Nolan intended.
