First Reactions to "The Odyssey": 'Clunky,' 'Magnificent,' and 'Like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings'

Christopher Nolan's new epic following 'Oppenheimer,' 'The Odyssey,' premiered in London on July 6; the wide release begins July 17. IMAX tickets are already sold out, and regular screenings may fill up fast too. Full reviews of the film, which stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, John Leguizamo, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o and many others, haven't been published yet; but critics' first impressions on social media send strong signals that the film will meet expectations.

Onscreen performances, including Damon's, are being widely praised; but what's really exciting critics is the sheer scale and meticulous detail of the production. According to The Hollywood Reporter's Aaron Crouch, the film features "the first horror sequence Nolan has ever built from start to finish." Polygon's Jacob Kleinman compares the care put into the details directly to 'The Lord of the Rings.' IndieWire's David Ehrlich says it's "a bit too clunky to be A-tier Nolan," though he notes the film isn't as grim as 'Oppenheimer.'

According to Tom Page's assessment, 'The Odyssey' is both a stunning spectacle and a clever, subversive adaptation; the way Nolan psychologically interrogates the events is surprising even before the scale itself, resulting in what he calls an "invigoratingly modern" interpretation. Andrew J. Salazar calls the film "an astonishing achievement," writing that Nolan boldly embraces the terrors of Greek mythology while elegantly adapting the story to contemporary language.

Not everyone is calling it "flawless"; but for a big-budget summer film, this is about as positive a reception as one could hope for so far. That doesn't necessarily mean it'll live up to the initial buzz, but it's certainly not a bad sign either. The full release hits screens next week; until then, it looks like we're in for a few more rounds between "it's all over" and "we're back."