The Odyssey (1997) – Andrei Konchalovsky.

This dazzling TV version of Homer's immortal epic adventure benefits hugely from its extraordinary cast, while brief, it also features an especially menacing turn from the evilly charismatic Christopher Lee. Not lacking in scintillating spectacle, excitingly replete with a boggling array of credible special FX, Jim Henson's studio, as expected, makes the utterly fantastic appear altogether plausible. This lively 90s iteration of The Odyssey is a fun, rousing, entertainingly thrill-stuffed historical actioner that lustily captures the frantic impetus of Homer's visionary tale of uncommon valour, and the most enduring love! Isabella Rossellini is enticingly lovely as Goddess Athena, luminous Greta Scacchi beguiling as Penelope, and bravura character actor Armand Assante attunes his signature alpha swarthiness to become the magnificent warrior king Odysseus. By the film's spectacularly dramatic climax, I was wholly convinced by the majesty of Assante's irrepressible, Siren shunting, Cyclops goring, Poseidon baiting, Troy falling, all conqueringly righteous dude! In closing, it proved interesting to note that this was the very first Hallmark feature I have seen in collaboration with American Zoetrope!