Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43062 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-04
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Formats: PAL, Dolby, Digital Sound, Full Screen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 178 minutes

Synopsis
This lavish small-screen adaptation of Homer's ancient epic--complete with exotic Maltese and Turkish locations, state-of-the-art special effects, and many bronzed muscles gleaming with sweat--chronicles the voyage home of a Trojan hero, Odysseus the King Of Ithaca, after the ten year Trojan war.

Customer Reviews

Assante, Scacchi, Rossellini are well chosen actors.
A great adaptation of the book we have come to know and love. This is not a scholarly work for academics but an entertainment for us plebs as a TV mini-series.

Classics students will instantly be delighted during the opening sequence with cunning Odysseus accepting the dutiful Penelope's child as his own by his 'holding up' of baby Telemachus. Armand Assante is superb as the clever hero, the portrayal of virgin Goddess Athene with that eerie look and accent by Isabella Rossellini is excellent and what older man wouldn't dream of Greta Scaachi, and that bed built around that olive tree, waiting for him?

There are motifs missing and some things that could have been done in a better way but The Odyssey is well worth the money for three hours of classic adventure story.

Entertaining Nonsense
What can I say? I remember watching this as part of my A-level studies a few years back and being thoroughly entertained by it. Possibly for all the wrong reasons, but satisfied nonetheless.

If you're expecting a lofty, classical affair in line with I, Claudius of Gladiator, you will be disappointed. Similarly, the interpretation of the original text veers in places, but not to a point of distraction for casual viewers.

Ultimately, whilst some of the acting is cringeworthy in places, what you have here is a wonderfully arch and over-the-top presentation of one of the best Greek epics. Slick, silly and packed with special effects and indulgent performances, this is Classics for the Xena generation. And, with so few takes on the material available on DVD, this is certainly a worthwhile purchase.

Superb Adaptation of a classic
I originally watched this on a Sky's Hallmark channel when it first came out years ago and loved every minute of it so much so I waited for the DVD to be released so I could own it and watch it again.
Its not 100% accurate to the book at the beginning and in any case very few films are but don't let that put you off as I thought this film followed reasonably closly Homer's book of the same name. Odysseus's cunning battle with penelope's suitors was spot on!
Armand Assante is very well cast along with Greta Scacchi and Isabella Rossellini as Athena is very much a goddess although too brief with her enchanting eyes and sexy voice.
This is one of my favourite films on dvd and I can't imagine anyone not enjoying it as it has something that would appeal to everyone.