Jason & the Argonauts (A or 4/4 stars)
Inspired by the Greek myth, 'Jason & the Argonauts' (directed by Don Chaffey & aided enormously by Ray Harryhausen's special effects) is a rousing fantasy epic that begins when the fearless Jason (Todd Armstrong) is spared from death through the doings of the goddess Hera (Honor Blackman). He is the rightful heir to the throne of Thessaly, but it has been run by a tyrant (Douglas Wilmer) who has plagued the land for 20 yrs. Jason's plight isn't made any easier by Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) & the other gods on Mt. Olympus who proclaim that he must 1st find a heavenly prize ... the magical Golden Fleece. The celestials up on Mt. Olympus look down in amusement as Hera helps Jason in secret to find the Fleece - a fleece that contain healing powers.
To meet his goal, Jason consults with Hera, has the finest ship built, & recruits his 'Argonauts' - the greatest athletes Greece has to offer - to crew his ship (one of the Argonauts is Hercules, played with flair by Nigel Green). They then set sail on a perilous journey to the 'other end of the world' – the isle of Colchis. Along the way they encounter a variety of obstacles, including: a set of enormous clashing rocks through which the ship must pass, a 100-ft. come-to-life bronze titan named Talos {horrifying!}, the screeching bat-like Harpies who plague blind prophet Phineas (Patrick Troughton), the evil King Aeetes (Jack Gwillim), the 7-headed reptilian Hydra, an army of mad skeletons wielding swords & shields, and even treachery within his own ranks. The quest seems fairly impossible. But with Jason's determination, the loyalty/bravery of his Argonauts (well, most of them), a forbidden princess from the East named Medea (Nancy Kovack), & the help from Hera ... attaining the magical Fleece and his rightful throne may well be within his grasp.
I. LOVE. This. Movie. I grew up on it -- re-watching it over & over again. To me, it's one of those great fantasy sword-&-sandal epics that were churned out readily in the 1950s & 60s ... but this one is the best. The filmmakers managed to cram a hell of a lot in to its 103 minute run time. The direction/editing kept the story moving at an engaging pace. The cinematography is scintillating, with great location shots that actually aid the story.
The sets ... the SETS. From the majestic Greek cities, to Mt. Olympus in Heaven, to the Argonauts ship, to the ornate figurehead of Hera on front of the ship, to the run-down temples of the countryside, to the Turkish palaces ... I felt transported back to that ancient time. And how can you not love Bernard Herrmann's (Citizen Kane, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Psycho) surging, epic music score; I can hear the trumpets, now. While none of the performances stick-out as Oscar-worthy, they are stellar, nonetheless. Todd Armstrong has the perfect physique & demeanor to play Jason. Honor Blackman makes for a sexy Goddess (she'd later go on to play Pussy Galore in Goldfinger). And Douglas Wilmer makes for a delicious villain.
But really, the stars of the movie are Harryhausen's legendary visual effects. The terrifying titan Talos moved exactly how you'd expect a giant made of bronze to move: lumbering, lurching, ominous. Similarly effective, yet moving in a completely different way, were his bat-winged harpies. Ditto that for the 7-headed Hydra & the army of skeletons. Each monster had their own distinct look, movement, & element of danger. The effects were BRILLIANT in their day and, I still find them brilliant in their own right, now - they stand the test of time. 'Jason & the Argonauts' is a prime example of Harryhausen's wondrous talent. His imaginative & ingenious effects evoke a true sense of wonder. What a great fantasy movie this is.
To meet his goal, Jason consults with Hera, has the finest ship built, & recruits his 'Argonauts' - the greatest athletes Greece has to offer - to crew his ship (one of the Argonauts is Hercules, played with flair by Nigel Green). They then set sail on a perilous journey to the 'other end of the world' – the isle of Colchis. Along the way they encounter a variety of obstacles, including: a set of enormous clashing rocks through which the ship must pass, a 100-ft. come-to-life bronze titan named Talos {horrifying!}, the screeching bat-like Harpies who plague blind prophet Phineas (Patrick Troughton), the evil King Aeetes (Jack Gwillim), the 7-headed reptilian Hydra, an army of mad skeletons wielding swords & shields, and even treachery within his own ranks. The quest seems fairly impossible. But with Jason's determination, the loyalty/bravery of his Argonauts (well, most of them), a forbidden princess from the East named Medea (Nancy Kovack), & the help from Hera ... attaining the magical Fleece and his rightful throne may well be within his grasp.
I. LOVE. This. Movie. I grew up on it -- re-watching it over & over again. To me, it's one of those great fantasy sword-&-sandal epics that were churned out readily in the 1950s & 60s ... but this one is the best. The filmmakers managed to cram a hell of a lot in to its 103 minute run time. The direction/editing kept the story moving at an engaging pace. The cinematography is scintillating, with great location shots that actually aid the story.
The sets ... the SETS. From the majestic Greek cities, to Mt. Olympus in Heaven, to the Argonauts ship, to the ornate figurehead of Hera on front of the ship, to the run-down temples of the countryside, to the Turkish palaces ... I felt transported back to that ancient time. And how can you not love Bernard Herrmann's (Citizen Kane, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Psycho) surging, epic music score; I can hear the trumpets, now. While none of the performances stick-out as Oscar-worthy, they are stellar, nonetheless. Todd Armstrong has the perfect physique & demeanor to play Jason. Honor Blackman makes for a sexy Goddess (she'd later go on to play Pussy Galore in Goldfinger). And Douglas Wilmer makes for a delicious villain.
But really, the stars of the movie are Harryhausen's legendary visual effects. The terrifying titan Talos moved exactly how you'd expect a giant made of bronze to move: lumbering, lurching, ominous. Similarly effective, yet moving in a completely different way, were his bat-winged harpies. Ditto that for the 7-headed Hydra & the army of skeletons. Each monster had their own distinct look, movement, & element of danger. The effects were BRILLIANT in their day and, I still find them brilliant in their own right, now - they stand the test of time. 'Jason & the Argonauts' is a prime example of Harryhausen's wondrous talent. His imaginative & ingenious effects evoke a true sense of wonder. What a great fantasy movie this is.