Watching a movie in LA is no longer a hobby but a consumer activity.

I watched Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' at AMC The Grove 14. Online ticket price was $29. If you order nachos and two colas, $50 disappears.

I don't understand why I have to pay for the struggles of Odysseus from 3,000 years ago with my card in the 21st century, but I swiped it anyway.

Let me say this upfront. This article is full of spoilers.

If you haven't seen it yet, you might want to hit the back button now.

Warning 1: Runtime 3 Hours, No Intermission

This is really important. It's almost a 3-hour movie with no breaks. None. Seriously, none.

So make sure to go to the bathroom before you enter the theater.

And forget about sipping a large cola while watching.

That's not movie-watching; it's a test of endurance.

Even though I usually hold up well, my back felt like cement by the second half.

Warning 2: My Friend Was a Martyr

My friend, who went with me, had a much more dramatic viewing experience.

With 30 minutes left in the packed theater, he tried to go to the bathroom, but of course, that was the climax of the movie haha.

Odysseus, after 20 years, returns home but doesn't reveal his identity and just observes.

From the audience's perspective, it's like, "Just go in and kill all the enemies!" but Nolan takes his time.

Then in the last 20 minutes, he unleashes everything he's built up. My friend ultimately gave up on the bathroom and watched until the end, gritting his teeth.

And before the first line of the ending credits even came up, he dashed out.

Where the $250 Million Went is Shown on Screen

The production cost is about $250 million. Usually, such numbers are just numbers in press releases, but this movie shows the receipt on screen.

The sea, war, ships, monsters, islands, and sets that dwarf human size fill the IMAX screen.

It's one of the largest productions among films based on Greek mythology, and it's easy to see why it has a record-breaking budget.

It doesn't just look like CGI; it feels like it was genuinely built and filmed.

Nolan is the Spielberg of Our Time

In my personal opinion, Nolan is one of the few directors today whose name alone can draw people to theaters.

To me, he's like the modern-day Steven Spielberg.

He doesn't make movies that you can just watch at home. He's the kind of director who compels you to sit in a theater seat.

Considering how rare that talent is these days, the $29 doesn't feel like a waste... well, maybe a little, but I'd still pay it.

Casting Matt Damon Was a Calculated Move

Odysseus is not just a muscle-bound warrior. He's incredibly smart, reads people well, is skilled at lying, and when all else fails, he takes matters into his own hands.

In short, he needs to be both brainy and brawny.

So the actor needs to look smart, have good diction, and not be awkward in action scenes.

These are tough conditions to meet.

With Matt Damon, who played Jason Bourne in The Bourne Supremacy, it all fits together.

In the scenes where he's thinking, he looks genuinely clever, and in the scenes where he draws a sword, it's like, "Yeah, he can definitely do that."

And the Moment the Protagonist, Disguised as a Beggar, Grabs the Bow

The best part of the movie was the final Ithaca sequence.

After wandering for 20 years, he finally returns home, only to find Suitors (a term I've never seen before, it translates to "suitors") swarming in his living room, targeting his wife Penelope.

In a typical movie, the protagonist would draw a sword and jump in.

But Odysseus doesn't do that. He assesses the situation, reads the people, and quietly sets a trap.

Then, the moment he grabs the bow, the air in the theater changes.

After over two hours of enduring the slow build-up, the director says, "Alright, now I'm going to show you what you've been waiting for."

As my friend put it, it's like eating ten sweet potatoes and then getting a bottle of soda at the end, but the problem is that the soda is so refreshing that it makes you forgive all the sweet potatoes.

There Are Flaws, Honestly

I can't say that the 3 hours felt short. There are definitely parts that drag on.

However, when the IMAX screen fills your view, you can endure the slow parts to some extent.

On the flip side, if you watch this movie at home and open the fridge or take a phone call, you'll lose half the fun.

This is a movie that needs to be seen in theaters.

I think it will do well at the box office. With the name Nolan, Matt Damon, and a story that humanity has been retelling for 3,000 years, it has all the makings of a blockbuster.

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10

The missing point is purely because of the lack of an intermission.

When making a three-hour movie, what's the harm in adding a 10-minute break?

I understand that artistic immersion is important, but once you hit 45, your bladder starts reminding you of reality before the movie does.

Mr. Nolan, please consider adding an intermission for your next project. I sincerely ask you to do so.