‘Meaningless as a laptop screensaver’: reviewers slate Musk’s AI-made Odyssey film

Tesla executive Elon Musk, who previously criticized Christopher Nolan's take on Homer's epic poem in The Odyssey, has launched an AI-generated film rival to the blockbuster. Utilizing Tesla's Grok Imagine, the film project aims to create a "historically accurate" rendition of Homer's work. The first episode, produced in collaboration with London-based startup Wonder Studios, was released on X and spans seven minutes.

The episode follows Odysseus as he contemplates joining Greek forces against Troy, embarks on his journey, and eventually faces a decade-long conflict, culminating in a wooden horse decision. Wonder Studios' co-founder, Xavier Collins, revealed that the first episode was completed in under two weeks with a team of three, including director Dev Walker.

Despite Musk's earlier criticisms of Nolan's casting choices, Wonder Studios' team emphasizes their support for the original story and agrees that the film is a significant achievement. However, Peter Bradshaw's review in the Guardian gave the film a single star, deeming it "motiveless and meaningless" and comparing the drama to "the movement of shapes on a laptop screensaver."

The Grok Imagine X episode has garnered 7.3 million views and received mixed reactions, with some critics expressing dissatisfaction with the sloppiness and pacing. Wonder Studios plans to address criticisms and improve the next episode based on feedback received.