MOVIE TITLE: The Return
This dramatic film about Odysseus’ homecoming is now playing in theaters, as well as on Fandango at Home.
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Insta-2.jpg)
RATING: R
LENGTH: 1 hour 56 minutes
Movie Review Mom GRADE: A-
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/MovieReviewMom2-3.jpg)
SPONSOR of Today’s movie review:
If you’ve never read “The Odyssey” by Homer, now is a good time!
Here’s the link where you can easily find it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZUX7V5
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image-5.png)
IN A NUTSHELL:
The movie is based on Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”. The movie was directed by Uberto Pasolini, who also co-produced it, and co-wrote it with John Collee and Edward Bond.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
- We see the naked backside of a man, full frontal of a man, and a lot of shirtless men.
- We see topless women, one in an intimate moment with a man.
- Bullying
THEMES:
- Family
- Fidelity
- War
- Marriage
- Power & greed
- PTSD
- Forgiveness
- Suffering
- Greek myths
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/website-header-1024x498.jpg)
THINGS I LIKED:
- Ralph Fiennes has had an incredible year in film. If he doesn’t get nominated (and win) Best Actor for Conclave, he very well could for this role. He has been nominated before but it’s crazy that he has never won! He’s a fantastic actor. He’s 62-years-old and looks like a ripped warrior! He gives us a magnificent, humbled, beaten-down soldier/king in this.
- Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche does a terrific job, as expected. She and Ralph Fiennes starred in two other films together: Wuthering Heights in 1992, and The English Patient in 1996.
- Beautiful cinematography by Marius Panduru.
- It’s refreshing to see a movie without a bunch of CGI and other special effects.
- The musical score by Rachel Portman felt epic and tender at the same time.
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/popcorn-movie-party-entertainment-1.jpg)
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- Some scenes could have been easily cut to shorten the length of the movie.
- There are some dumb moments and lack of attention to detail. For example, there is a big, bloody battle that results in Odyssius covered in blood, yet his son who fought along side him remains clean.
- Don’t expect a big action movie like Gladiator II. This is a slow burn with a couple of violent squirmishes here and there and a big action sequence at the very end.
- Some of the casting selected actors who looked like they spent more time in a gym or spa than in the old Greek world.
- If you don’t like this movie, you’ll be happy to know that Christopher Nolan is currently working on another movie based on “The Odyssey” by Homer. It’s going to feature Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Ann Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson to name a few! Its premiere is scheduled for July 2026. Can’t wait!
FUNNY LINES:
- None (This is a serious drama)
INTERESTING LINES:
- “We all have our place in the world to uphold.” – Eumaes (Claudio Santamaria)
- “People love stories.” – Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes)
- “Glory? You think that’s what feeds our widows?” – Leodes (Aaron Cobham)
- “How can a man find war but not their way home?” – Penelope (Juliette Binoche)
- “Has all this waiting been for nothing?” – Penelope (Juliette Binoche)
- “We must not tell her. She’s not strong like us.” – Eurycleia (Angela Molina)
- “You didn’t know that the dead are the lucky ones.” – Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes)
- “Your war isn’t with Troy now. It’s here now.” – Eumaes (Claudio Santamaria)
- “My queen and the bow make a man of a beggar.” – Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes)’
- “My queen, is this the love you wanted? If she had been mine, I never would have left her.” – Antinous (Marwan Kenzari)
- “Would you still love the man I have become?” – Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes)
- “You cannot understand. I cannot understand.” – Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes)
- “We will remember and we will forget together.” – Penelope (Juliette Binoche)
- “We will grow old, friends again.” – Penelope (Juliette Binoche)
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Movie-Review-Mom-3.jpg)
MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:
- Ulysses (1954): https://amzn.to/3ZUaSUg
- Troy: https://amzn.to/3PiaoSI
- The Odyssey (TV series nominated for 2 Golden Globe awards): https://amzn.to/40b7plk
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/movie-theater-curtains-1.jpg)
WATCH THE Movie Review Mom YOUTUBE REVIEW WITH THIS LINK:
@MovieReviewMom @TrinaBoice
Thank you so much for your financial support on Patreon!
Be sure to check out all of the gifts you can receive when you donate to Movie Review Mom on Patreon!
![](https://moviereviewmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/thank-you-for-your-support-1-300x297-6.jpg)
New contest announced!
It’s time for another fun contest with prizes! Every month, everyone who posts a comment...