Husnain Ramzan spent £300 to travel from London to Manchester to watch Sir Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in 70mm IMAX, the format it was shot on. Only three cinemas in the UK have that capability, so he flew from Heathrow to Manchester on July 18, the day after the film's release. He watched the movie at Vue Manchester Printworks and saw it again the next day at Cineworld Superscreen.
Why He Made the Trip
The content creator from Ilford, East London, said: “I’m incredibly passionate about cinema. I wanted to experience The Odyssey in one of the few 70mm IMAX venues available in the UK. Christopher Nolan’s films are made with premium formats in mind, and I knew this was a cinema experience I’d remember for the rest of my life.”
Four-Word Verdict
When asked for his verdict, Ramzan said: “I absolutely loved it.” He added: “Without giving away any spoilers, I thought it was an incredible cinematic experience and one of those films that’s best experienced on the biggest screen possible. It completely lived up to the excitement surrounding it.”
Online Reaction
His online post about the journey has garnered over 87,000 views. He said: “Most people have been incredibly supportive and have understood why I wanted to make the journey. It’s sparked lots of conversations online, and I’ve been amazed by how many fellow film fans have shared their own stories or defended my decision in the comments. It’s been really heartwarming to see. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Film's Success
The Odyssey has received rave reviews and earned about £196m on its opening weekend, making it Christopher Nolan's most successful opening weekend ever, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises (£186m) and Oppenheimer (£134m). Nolan told The Guardian: “I’m so desperate to have a period I have nothing to do. It feels so long since I had a time like that. It’s true – I get bored very quickly and that’s one of the reasons I like to go back to work. I get restless. At the moment, all I can see is just trying to get through this, put the film out and then take a little break.”
