- Actors: Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, Bernadette Peters, Eric Roberts
- Directors: Andrey Konchalovskiy
- Writers: Andrey Konchalovskiy, Chris Solimine, Homer
- Producers: Chris Thompson, Dyson Lovell, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Fuchs
- Classification: 12
- Studio: Wmv
- VHS Release Date: 23 Aug 1999
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004RJBK
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 6,996 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Less a review of the entertaining and liberal adaptation of the epic poem and more of a general 'heads up' to the DVD quality of the 2007 re-release by Boulevard Entertainment and Sparrowhawk Distribution.
Lumbered with a fuzzy sleeve (making the DVD look like a knock-off copy) the disc is utterly bare bones. No chapter selection even, though you can skip ahead to various points in the film. A bit of a nuisance if you don't have the luxury of watching it all the way through and need to find your place again. Also, the picture quality - though crisp - seems quite badly pixelated in places (especially on water - and there's a lot of it in 'The Odyssey!') causing the image to appear as if it is 'halting' repeatedly for a half second or so. No major problem considering the price, but the fact that there are NO SUBTITLES is a bit of a swine also.
I thought it worth bringing this to customers attention because the 2 part series is ridiculously entertaining and older kids (and adults) will love it. As other reviewers have pointed out - if you're looking for a high brow and 'serious' version of the Odyssey, walk on by!
It's well acted by the always great Armand Assante and Eric Roberts is a suitably nasty villain. Other acting honours veer between the distinctly average to OTT. And the sight of Greta Scacchi getting a bit flustered in the sea is somewhere between neat poetic metaphor and the utterly ridiculous. More the latter.
There's a bit of gore in both parts (part 2 has the fair share) but - technical issues aside - it's well worth the purchase. Very enjoyable.
Lumbered with a fuzzy sleeve (making the DVD look like a knock-off copy) the disc is utterly bare bones. No chapter selection even, though you can skip ahead to various points in the film. A bit of a nuisance if you don't have the luxury of watching it all the way through and need to find your place again. Also, the picture quality - though crisp - seems quite badly pixelated in places (especially on water - and there's a lot of it in 'The Odyssey!') causing the image to appear as if it is 'halting' repeatedly for a half second or so. No major problem considering the price, but the fact that there are NO SUBTITLES is a bit of a swine also.
I thought it worth bringing this to customers attention because the 2 part series is ridiculously entertaining and older kids (and adults) will love it. As other reviewers have pointed out - if you're looking for a high brow and 'serious' version of the Odyssey, walk on by!
It's well acted by the always great Armand Assante and Eric Roberts is a suitably nasty villain. Other acting honours veer between the distinctly average to OTT. And the sight of Greta Scacchi getting a bit flustered in the sea is somewhere between neat poetic metaphor and the utterly ridiculous. More the latter.
There's a bit of gore in both parts (part 2 has the fair share) but - technical issues aside - it's well worth the purchase. Very enjoyable.
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Pared down from a TV mini-series, this is a very superior adaptation of Homer's classic epic which sticks nicely to the plot and delivers stunning scenery with good characterisation.
Isabella Rossellini manages to catch the lights just right to give us 'Athena of the flashing eyes', while Armand Assante is excellent as the storm-tossed Odysseus.
Greek myth is hard to get right, and last year's CGI wonders are next year's embarrassments. The effects here are nicely underplayed, and, with the exception of a an overglowing Hermes, they work well. Director Andrei Konchalovsky worked hard to make Homer's story the substance of the film, rather than taking liberties with the plot. For my money, this makes this a film to watch and rewatch.
I really can't say enough good things about this film - TV movies rarely reach this kind of standard. I suppose it would be nicer to be able to see the entire mini-series, but, even so, this is a gem.
80 of 84 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It's brilliant.
Lovely settings, fine acting, faithful to the original - everything about this film is good. And my copy, unlike that of another reviewer, was definitely NOT in B&W.
Published 2 months ago by Richard Ashton
Pretty damn good - and suitable for all
I stumbled across this movie (two-part made-for-TV show, bundled onto a disk) a few years back, and am glad to get it on DVD. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Jonathan Bryce
The Odyssey is great
I really loved this DVD. The locations are spectacular, the story is thrilling and the acting is first class.
Published 12 months ago by lisgower
Affectionate treatment lacking poetry
A worthy shot at this iconic classic and much succeeds but there is an uneveness in the treatment. Some of this is down to some strange casting and some to a prosaic script. Read more
Published 14 months ago by F. Proud
Awesome film
Arrived quickly and in perfect condition still sealed. A bit cheesy but a great adventure film in the same vein as Jason and the Argonauts. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Laney
Great Odyssey
I watched this film on tv years ago and enjoyed it so I thought it would be a good addition to my collection. Read more
Published 23 months ago by S. ferril
not what I expected
The seller did not indicate the item was in black and white, otherwise I would not have bought it.
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by Editha B. Ingram
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... Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2008 by Hermes
Hmmmmm.....
.... not a lot to say at all about this, except that it was a waste of time! I found it so enthralling that I decided to file my nails. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2008 by Poppy
FIRST CLASS MYTHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE!
FULL MARKS TO THIS 1997 ADAPTATION OF THE ODYSSEY WITH ARMAND ASSANTE. A REALLY CLASSY FILM, EPIC IN FEEL WITH GREAT PRODUCTION VALUES AND A GENUINELEY CLASSICAL TEXTURE. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2008 by Adam Jackson
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