Christopher Nolan's latest film, "The Odyssey," received widespread critical praise following its global premiere in London on Monday. Early reactions shared on social media hailed the director's 13th feature as "breathtaking, bold and flawless filmmaking," with particular commendation for its ensemble cast, led by Matt Damon.

Nolan, who grew up attending films in London's Leicester Square, described the premiere's location as "a full circle moment." The filmmaker lightheartedly cautioned the press in attendance, noting they were the first in the world to see the movie and urged them to "be kind."

Critics from outlets including Collider, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Los Angeles Times took to social media to share their initial impressions. Steven Weintraub of Collider called the film "INCREDIBLE" and "really blown away," recommending it for IMAX 70mm viewing. The Hollywood Reporter's Aaron Couch highlighted Nolan's foray into horror, noting a "fleshed out horror sequence directed by Christopher Nolan" as a first in his career. Joshua Rothkopf of the Los Angeles Times described "The Odyssey" as "staggering" and "pure cinema," a return to "robustly entertaining action movies that cinema was invented to tell."

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Samantha Morton's performance as the goddess Circe drew significant attention. Rothkopf lauded her scenes as "simply incredible, witchy and wonderful." A producer on the film revealed that Morton received a standing ovation on set for a pivotal scene, drawing a comparison to the reaction Heath Ledger received for his role in "The Dark Knight."

Time Out critic Phil de Semlyen also praised Morton as "extraordinary" and described the film as a "dizzying mix of craft and spectacle." Anne Thompson of Indiewire suggested that Matt Damon could be a contender for an Oscar and predicted "The Odyssey" would be a strong contender in the upcoming awards season.

Not all reviews were universally glowing. Indiewire chief film critic David Ehrlich found the film "too clunky to be S-tier Nolan," though he noted that "the last act rewards the journey."

Rotten Tomatoes critic Erik Davis proclaimed the film "an absolute triumph and a crowning cinematic achievement." He singled out Robert Pattinson's performance, calling him "conniving, manipulative and endlessly entertaining" and one of his favorite roles. Davis also suggested that the film represents a culmination of Nolan's work with IMAX technology.

"The Odyssey" is scheduled for release in cinemas on July 17.