The Return

This is one of those great epic stories that could have been a fantastic film instead of this terrible script and horrible directing.

Luckily the island of Corfu keeps you enjoying the beautiful scenery so go in with low expectations and remember it's been 20 years since Ralph Fiennes disappeared from the island.

The only reason to watch it is Ralph Fiennes who puts a phenomenal effort into building his body to look like a real warrior and he still has the A star acting chops.

Juliette Binoche does her best yet her costumes are pathetic and look like a Flash Gordon costume and the make up artist makes her look like she is in a play rather than a film.

The supporting cast is a terrible mistake of mostly b level clowns that have either bad English modern accents or 20 something gen x that are way too clean and boring to live in a supposed Greek world.

The son played by Plummer is a decent actor yet comes across as an imbecile except in the 3rd act suddenly out of the blue the director turns the father/ son team into a Tarantino Caligula kill fest that is almost laughable.

Spoiler The funniest part is the kill area is cleaned of all blood including the pathetic son - but mysteriously somehow Fiennes remains all bloody and stays in character. It is so disjointed that it makes the scene feel mostly like a comedic play.

The director unfortunately creates a b movie with 2 stellar actors and the Greek village looks like a student film with a motley crew of extras that appear to be from some North African country rather than local Greeks.

It almost appears that the DEI office in hollyweird stipulated that half the crew must be from outside of Greece.

At least the movie Troy got the casting right but this one is a joke so enjoy the comedy show esp the blonde actor with a crew cut. And almost all of the actors look like they play video games and never once lived outside in the Sun or lifted a sword contrasted with Ealph Fiennes that looks like he was cast in a completely different movie.

The slow pace is not worth the wait even with Ralph Fiennes brilliant acting and the only saving grace is that you get to watch him shoot arrows into these pathetic lame actors.

The Return deserves a better script, casting and director and it's a shame to see Ralph Fiennes talent wasted - but he deserves an Oscar nomination for his efforts.

5 stars for Ralph Fiennes.

This screen adaption of the Odyssey - or rather just the part of it - is a modern take and is rather good.

Both Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche are excellent, as is to be expected, and they are supported by a good cast. Charlie Plummer, in the role of Odysseus and Penelope's son, is equally good.

What stands out most from this short and low budget film is how good it is: Fiennes portrays Odysseus with PTSD with utter believability, and it makes you wonder (though you already know) what really happened to his men after the war.

The fights are also well choreographed, without many of the quick edits that hide an actor's lack of skill. In fact, Fiennes is so fit that that even the edited actions (with the bow) are believable. I wouldn't be surprised if he really did learn how to use it.

Even if you've never read the Iliad or the Odyssey, watching this movie might pique your interest in these classics.

While watching the trailers for Gladiator II, this film was teased. That was certainly the best part of the Gladiator II experience. What I was expecting to see from the teaser was not what I experienced, and that was wonderful. I was expecting, simply, a modern play of the third act of the Odyssey with some great modern actors. Instead, I was treated to a thought-provoking exploration of many difficult topics involved in the human experience. They just so happened to find their home in Odysseus's return home at the end of the Odyssey. This film comes across as a passion project of the lead actor and producer. I would love to look into the story of the making and funding of this project. This movie was not at all what I was expecting but found it to be a real treat and left me and my viewing companion discussing the different themes and meanings. The cinematography is where this film shines.

The Odyssey has been adapted many times, often focusing on the fantasy and adventure elements of Odysseus' journey. This is not one of those. Starting off when Odysseus lands home on his native island kingdom, the film deals with Odysseus' inner journey of wrestling with his guilt, anxiety, PTSD, and longing to reconnect with his family after being away for 20 years. Fiennes and Binoche are superb individually and enthralling when together on the screen. Watch for their eyes, so much is said with them alone. Don't believe the low ratings, this is a fine adaptation of the deeper and human parts of The Odyssey. Not for those expecting a fast action flick.

The final acts of greatest poem of titan of literature cinematicly is more then good. This time Homer embodyment looks great in a sense director brings it. Thanks to the greats -Ralph and Julia whose personifications of Penelope and Odissey are of magnificent power. You can feel and touch the pain and lost both of them -Odissey not being able to come home due to God's will, so tired and not sure of everything and Penelope keeping faith and hardly understanding world of men's desire dominate at any cost. Clasic antic literature so powerful. The brutal killing scenes reveals to us that not much has changed....