“Treat others how you wish to be treated,” is a sentiment repeated throughout Christopher Nolan’s epic, The Odyssey. Based on the epic poem attributed to the poet Homer (who may not even have existed), Nolan’s Odyssey takes plenty of modern liberties with the source material. The Greeks speak in modern speech, using colloquialisms such as “dad,” “daddy.” and “f**k.” The costumes are gorgeous but likely inaccurate to the time period in many cases. Certain events are changed to make for a tighter narrative. And you know what? I am here for it.

I only had one complaint: It was too damn loud at points.

Now, let’s dive in and look at all the goodness the gods of ancient Greece have showered upon us.

Let’s get the obvious points out of the way: the story is not a 100% slavish adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, and the movie is better for it. Pieces were left out. Other parts were inserted. The myth changes with each telling as each story-teller puts their own spin on it. That is the nature of myth. That is the nature of adaptation. Lord of the Rings, for instance, is a fine adaptation even though it makes enormous changes to the source text. Very few adaptations can get away with a perfect 1-to-1 translation from page to screen. What matters is the spirit of the thing. Does it contain and convey the same themes as the source

Stories are structured differently for different media. What works in a spoken-word poem probably won’t work as well for modern mass audiences watching a 3-hour film. This is not to say the story has been dumbed down for mass audiences. One of my favorite things about Christopher Nolan movies is that he assumes a certain level of intelligence in his fans. The Odyssey is no different. Nolan presents an altered-but-recognizable tale with intelligence and heart that is perfectly suited to the big screen.

The other point that has been debated endlessly is the cast. To me, it is perfect. John Leguizamo, in particular, is a pleasant surprise as Eumaeus, a loyal servant to Odysseus and Penelope. He has great chemistry with all the major players, even the delightfully scummy Antinous. as played by the superb Robert Pattinson. Anne Hathaway is heartbreak personified as Penelope waiting on her king to return. And I need to see more of the duo of Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal. Holy cow, do they work well together. I can’t wait to see how they play off each other in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

But let’s be honest about the cast. This movie belongs to Matt Damon, who was so perfectly cast as Odysseus. He plays a king, a leader of me, and you get that from him in virtually every scene he’s in. Even when he’s lost all memory of who he was and where he came from, his is still a commanding presence. I’ve always liked Damon, but between this and 2015’s The Martian, I may concede that he could be the best actor of his generation. He makes being Odysseus feel completely effortless. He’s not playing the King of Ithica. He is the King of Ithica.

If loud noise bothers you, then be prepared: this movie is very loud at points. Distractingly so. It’s not often enough to ruin the movie, but it makes some important scenes more difficult to watch than they should have been.

Visually, the movie is a treat. It does not rely overly on its effects to tell its story. Rather the movie uses the effects just right to complement the tale being told. Of particular note is the disturbing (but unnamed) Polyphemus. The great cyclops, with his one great, twisted eye, is fascinating to watch as he is realized on-screen with a human actor and the make-up and CGI wizardry Nolan’s team produced. He is terrifying and pitiable at the same time.

Overall, if you are a fan of the classics and require a strict adherence to the original texts, you will be disappointed. I also believe that means you don’t fully understand the nature of classics such as The Illiad and The Odyssey and the traditions that spawned such tales. I challenge you to look at this film as a continuation of that tradition, myths and stories spun around fires by bards of old, changing with each telling, growing and morphing into something new and glorious while still recognizable.

If you are a fan of Christopher Nolan, or cinema in general, this film and its stunning visuals, excellent casting, and non-linear story-telling will be both familiar and welcome. The tension in the story comes not from not knowing what happens. It comes from the anticipation of knowing what happens and seeing how it is executed. We know Odysseus will be lost for years. We know the dog will be cast out to wait for his master’s return. We know Odysseus will string his bow and pass Penelope’s test of the suitors. What is exciting is seeing how these amazing actors and this dynamic director make these scene sing like the string of the Bow of Odysseus.

And when all is said and done, we will sail into the west and honor our fallen.