Clash of the Titans (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
I grew up on 1981's Clash of the Titans. To me, that is a cult classic. And it got me interested in Greek Mythology. So, going into this version, directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk), I figured that it would pale in comparison to the original. That said ... I love Greek Mythology, & I love 'Sword & Sandal' Epics. So the film would have to be truly atrocious for me to not enjoy it. And so I did; mostly.
To those who haven't seen the original or don't know the story, it is as follows: set in the Greek city of Argos, war is about to commence btwn. man & the gods. Perseus (Sam Worthington, of Avatar) is our main protagonist, an earthbound fisherman who is actually a demigod (the son of Zeus & a mortal woman, who was murdered in his infancy). The focus of the film is on Perseus, but the film also explores the politicking going on up on Mount Olympus btwn. Zeus (Liam Neeson) & his lowly brother, Hades (Ralph Fiennes). Because Zeus got to be head honcho, Hades wants certain revenge on his big brother. And in a way to hide his frustration, Hades agrees with the all-powerful Zeus that men on Earth are failing to show the gods proper respect.
As punishment, Hades issues an ultimatum to the Greeks - sacrifice their princess, Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), or he'll unleash Hell upon Argos in the form of his monstrous Kraken. Perseus hates Hades; as it was he who killed his adopted parents (Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth McGovern) when he was a child. And so, while rumblings continue on Olympus, Perseus tries to "find & fulfill his destiny" as a demigod by gathering a group of warriors - & one female spiritual guide, Io (Gemma Arterton) - for a 10-day journey to stop the underworld from destroying mankind. Can Perseus & company defy fate, defeat all forms of beast & demon, put an end to Hades' reign of terror, & save Andromeda's life?
Several memorable elements of the 1981 film have been replicated for this re-make. Queen Cassiopeia (Polly Walker, of Enchanted April) utters the same speech which is given in the 1st film; the speech that angers the gods into action. I enjoyed a battle against gargantuan scorpions (in both films). A visit with the eye-toting Stygian Witches is fun in both films. The battle against the snake-headed Gorgon, Medusa, is not improved upon. Though, my favorite sequence in the entire film is the warriors' approach to Medusa's lair aboard Charon's ferry. The mood of that scene is astoundingly good. There is a romance involving Perseus, though it's not with Andromeda (which was the driving force behind the 1st film), but with Io, his mercurial guide through the forbidden lands of their journey. And the final battle against the Kraken is something to behold. The CGI-rendering of this monster is the best creation in the film.
But problems arise in this film with the script. Not only did it undergo several re-writes (Andromeda WAS the original love interest in this movie), but the characterizations take a back seat to the action & visuals. Again, I love movies like this. The ancient setting, mystical beings, action, chivalry, plotting villains, lavish set design, eclectic costumes, dense make-up work, & thumping score really impressed me -- I eat that stuff up. I enjoyed some new additions to the film (the desert sorcerers; though they rip-off other sci-fi/fantasy creatures of old). I loved Mads Mikkelsen (villain in Casino Royale) as brooding Argosian warrior, Draco. But there are some omissions/alterations that I feel detract from the whole of the film. I missed the deformed, lovelorn Calibos. I missed Bubo, the kitschy mechanical owl. Poseidon (Danny Huston) utters one line; that's it. And the flying-horse Pegasus has a brown coat here, not white.
Sam Worthington has the requisite look for Perseus (though, without bulging muscles), & he delivers his lines in a satisfactorily. But I wish he pushed Perseus into a more heroic realm. Neeson & Fiennes look the part, but don't do anything truly memorable with Zeus & Hades. Alexa Davalos is gorgeous, but Andromeda isn't given enough to do. And Gemma Arterton impresses as Io; though, that character could have been dropped altogether.
What it all comes down to is this: knowing that there would be no meaningful drama or deep introspections, I tried to enjoy this big-budget spectacle as viscerally as possible ... and I did. It's an old-school action/adventure flick. Modestly entertaining. No flourishes. Pure 'popcorn' movie. Over & out. I liked it, as did my 13 yr. old brother, Adam. And had there never been a 1981 version, I probably would have enjoyed this movie all the more. But there's just no way this film can compete with the Shakespearean plot of the original, or the campy scene-chewing from the likes of Harry Hamlin, Burgess Meredith, Lawrence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Ursula Andress, & Claire Bloom. It just can't.
To those who haven't seen the original or don't know the story, it is as follows: set in the Greek city of Argos, war is about to commence btwn. man & the gods. Perseus (Sam Worthington, of Avatar) is our main protagonist, an earthbound fisherman who is actually a demigod (the son of Zeus & a mortal woman, who was murdered in his infancy). The focus of the film is on Perseus, but the film also explores the politicking going on up on Mount Olympus btwn. Zeus (Liam Neeson) & his lowly brother, Hades (Ralph Fiennes). Because Zeus got to be head honcho, Hades wants certain revenge on his big brother. And in a way to hide his frustration, Hades agrees with the all-powerful Zeus that men on Earth are failing to show the gods proper respect.
As punishment, Hades issues an ultimatum to the Greeks - sacrifice their princess, Andromeda (Alexa Davalos), or he'll unleash Hell upon Argos in the form of his monstrous Kraken. Perseus hates Hades; as it was he who killed his adopted parents (Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth McGovern) when he was a child. And so, while rumblings continue on Olympus, Perseus tries to "find & fulfill his destiny" as a demigod by gathering a group of warriors - & one female spiritual guide, Io (Gemma Arterton) - for a 10-day journey to stop the underworld from destroying mankind. Can Perseus & company defy fate, defeat all forms of beast & demon, put an end to Hades' reign of terror, & save Andromeda's life?
Several memorable elements of the 1981 film have been replicated for this re-make. Queen Cassiopeia (Polly Walker, of Enchanted April) utters the same speech which is given in the 1st film; the speech that angers the gods into action. I enjoyed a battle against gargantuan scorpions (in both films). A visit with the eye-toting Stygian Witches is fun in both films. The battle against the snake-headed Gorgon, Medusa, is not improved upon. Though, my favorite sequence in the entire film is the warriors' approach to Medusa's lair aboard Charon's ferry. The mood of that scene is astoundingly good. There is a romance involving Perseus, though it's not with Andromeda (which was the driving force behind the 1st film), but with Io, his mercurial guide through the forbidden lands of their journey. And the final battle against the Kraken is something to behold. The CGI-rendering of this monster is the best creation in the film.
But problems arise in this film with the script. Not only did it undergo several re-writes (Andromeda WAS the original love interest in this movie), but the characterizations take a back seat to the action & visuals. Again, I love movies like this. The ancient setting, mystical beings, action, chivalry, plotting villains, lavish set design, eclectic costumes, dense make-up work, & thumping score really impressed me -- I eat that stuff up. I enjoyed some new additions to the film (the desert sorcerers; though they rip-off other sci-fi/fantasy creatures of old). I loved Mads Mikkelsen (villain in Casino Royale) as brooding Argosian warrior, Draco. But there are some omissions/alterations that I feel detract from the whole of the film. I missed the deformed, lovelorn Calibos. I missed Bubo, the kitschy mechanical owl. Poseidon (Danny Huston) utters one line; that's it. And the flying-horse Pegasus has a brown coat here, not white.
Sam Worthington has the requisite look for Perseus (though, without bulging muscles), & he delivers his lines in a satisfactorily. But I wish he pushed Perseus into a more heroic realm. Neeson & Fiennes look the part, but don't do anything truly memorable with Zeus & Hades. Alexa Davalos is gorgeous, but Andromeda isn't given enough to do. And Gemma Arterton impresses as Io; though, that character could have been dropped altogether.
What it all comes down to is this: knowing that there would be no meaningful drama or deep introspections, I tried to enjoy this big-budget spectacle as viscerally as possible ... and I did. It's an old-school action/adventure flick. Modestly entertaining. No flourishes. Pure 'popcorn' movie. Over & out. I liked it, as did my 13 yr. old brother, Adam. And had there never been a 1981 version, I probably would have enjoyed this movie all the more. But there's just no way this film can compete with the Shakespearean plot of the original, or the campy scene-chewing from the likes of Harry Hamlin, Burgess Meredith, Lawrence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Ursula Andress, & Claire Bloom. It just can't.