Clash of the Titans Movie Review (C)

Next to the Star Wars saga and the Indiana Jones films, there was no other movie I loved more in the 1980s than Clash of the Titans. After watching Perseus turn the Kraken into stone with Medusa’s severed head, I was obsessed with Greek mythology. I gobbled up any book I could find at the school library. I even dressed up as Perseus on Halloween in 1982. I was 100 percent sure the third-grade ladies would be swooning over me just like thousands of women were lusting after the tan and shaggy-haired Harry Hamlin. I brought my plastic sword to school and my mom made me a toga. Nevertheless, my enthusiasm was shattered when I arrived at school and, after going to the bathroom to change, realized the toga was too short. If I bent over, all my classmates would receive an eyeful of Underoos and eight year-old prunehole. This meant I had to sport my jeans beneath my Perseus ensemble, which meant I looked like a complete idiot. I was no Harry Hamlin. The magic was kaput.

I don’t mean to use adolescent tragedy as segue for rating Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans remake, but the connection is inevitable. The director, who I thought resurrected The Hulk from an ignominious Ang Lee death with 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, sputters and ultimately fails to bring any sort of pizzazz, depth or enchantment to the age-old tale of the demigod Perseus, the son of Zeus. And that’s unfortunate, because with a little more story and engagement, this bombastic panorama of special effects might have a little more staying power and charm.

… Continue Reading

Clash of the Titans Movie Review (Dan’s Take)

First, a warning: Loaded with the stuff eyes love gnoshing, Clash of the Titans should be seen in two dimensions, not three.

Filmed top to bottom for a 2D release, Clash of the Titans composition, lighting, effects and edits were created for the unaided eye. As a result, Clash of the Titans retrofitted 3D presentation is a dim, vision punishing mess of double imaging and off-kilter depth; slipshod artifacts that disrupt viewing to the point of souring it.

Technological grumbling aside, Clash of the Titans the movie fares slightly better than its 3D boondoggle thanks to its world of exotic pizazz and the goofy strength of mythological fantasy. Decidedly darker than the 1981 original, Clash of the Titans earnestly updates its predecessor’s aesthetic with armor for togas, cornrows for mop-tops and earnest crankiness for good humor, but suffers from an equal distribution of emotional vacancy and watch-checking sag when monsters aren’t stomping, roaring and slithering onscreen.

Tired of the Gods’ petty cruelty mankind has taken to relying on their own strength. They’ve stopped praying, stormed Mount Olympus and defied the Gods.

Petulant rebellion doesn’t sit well with Zeus (Liam Neeson), who sends brother Hades (a very brotherly looking Ralph Fiennes) to unleash some God-fearing terror on the city of Argos in the form of a choice: offer up the princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos) or face the wrath of an angry Kraken in 10 days time.

… Continue Reading

Release the Kraken! New Clash Trailer Kicks Ass!

Okay, it’s 100 percent official – I can’t wait for March 10, 2010.

This new Clash of the Titans trailer is quite similar to the teaser released a few months ago, but there is enough new bits and pieces that I’ve officially taken the fast train to Nerdtown. I loved the 1981 version starring Harry Hamlin (LA Law), but it was ripe for a remake. From what I can tell – and again, I’m just going off the trailer – this version with Liam Neeson (Taken), Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation), Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) and Ralph Fiennes (The Reader) is going to be quite the spectacle.

Take a peek below and share your thoughts! What do you think of the Kraken?

Clash of the Titans Teaser Trailer is 99.9% Awesome

Remember how cool the 1981 version of Clash of the Titans used to be when you were five years-old and the Ray Harryhausen creatures looked ever-so-real? Remember how lame that movie looks now? Don’t fret, because from the looks of this teaser trailer, director Louis Leterrier has made the tale of Perseus, Andromeda, Medussa and the Krakken all shiny again, with a little bit of kick-ass video game zip to boot. My only problem with this trailer? The tagline at the end: TITANS! WILL! CLASH! Lame. Otherwise, I’m sufficiently juiced for March 2010.