In preparation of seeing the new Clash of the Titans, I rewatched the original, which I hadn’t seen since I was a kid, which as a kid I thought it was OMG the most amazing movie ever. After watching Jason and the Argonauts for the first time recently and loving it, I had hopes that Clash of the Titans would be able to hold up just as well, but sadly it did not. Everything just seemed a bit silly, and nothing in Clash was nearly as good as the skeleton scene in Jason.
So anyway, yesterday I had my second interview with a prospective employer (they plan on picking a candidate next week) and wanted to reward myself by taking Dad to go see the new Clash of the Titans. First off, every review says the 3D is atrocious, so we went to a regular 2D showing. Secondly, there aren’t really any glowing reviews, so I just hoped that it would be a bit of fun nonsense. Sadly, it was a bit more nonsense than fun.
In the movie, Sam Worthington plays Perseus, son of Zeus, who is out to get revenge on the god Hades for killing his loved ones. I like Sam Worthington, I like him a lot, but for the first half hour of the movie, they try and tell us he’s a simple fisherman who doesn’t know how to fight, meanwhile he’s a hunk of beefcake in a tiny tunic and the only person in all of Greece with a short haircut. No one is buying that, and it was just kinda painful to watch. Thankfully things picked up a bit when the slapped him in armor and he magically became a warrior.
Then the rest of the movie is him and his merry band of misfits (including random ethnic stereotypes who join at the last minute for no reason whatsoever) going from action set piece to action set piece on a quest to figure out how to kill the Kraken. All of this is well and good for a mindless summer movie, but there were two problems. The action was all shot terribly, so it was hard to tell what was going on, and there was never much innovation or tension. And besides a few legitimately good one liners (mainly from old gruff soldier stereotype) they all took themselves way too seriously.
I will say though, the Pegasus special effects were incredible, and I loved every second of the all too brief flying sequences. I also really liked the way they handled Mount Olympus. It was a beautiful set, and I loved the interactions between Zeus and Hades played wonderfully by Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. Sadly that’s about all the good I can say about this movie. The characters never really stood out, personal motivations were never clear, and the action just never did it for me. It wasn’t a total waste of time, but don’t go out of your way to see it in theaters.
Bummer about the movie. I wasn’t expecting much from it, but it looks like I should expect even less than I was…
Good luck with the job! Second interview is good news. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I’ve heard the good things about the Pegasus part as well. But my understand is Nicholas Hoult is in it as well, so his scenes should be quite enjoyable…regardless of what’s going on.
I figured it wasn’t going to be a great movie. If it was, they wouldn’t be releasing it in early April. They save all their ‘awesome’ movies for May-June-July release.
Still plan on seeing it this week, though.
HUGS…
I went on Sunday and made the mistake of paying for 3-D. But other than that it was okay. I didn’t expect high art. The special effects were pretty good, Pegasus was really well done and well, my review seemed to turn into a perv fest on the pretties in the band of merry men. Ooops. Let’s just say some of us were less interested in the plot than the “scenery”.
It is what it is. I enjoyed it but not something I’d rush out and buy or insist is a must-see.
tam: “less interested in the plot than the “scenery” “…the story of my life, girl!
HUGS…
I really hate confusing action sequences. I think it’s a sign of a director who is too lazy to think a fight through.
I also now realize that I have mentally merged Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans in my mind.
This is actually the *most* positive review I’ve read yet from people who’ve seen it. It was actually partly ruined for me already because Comcast On Demand has a 30-minute “preview” thing on it which features lots of behind-the-scenes green screen shots and interviews with the actors. Sam Worthington takes himself SOOOOOOO seriously IRL in the interviews that it’s unbearable to watch. Ugh.
I saw Clash of the Titans last week…And I do agree with you for the most part. I was upset with the whole Kraken scene, for such a build up it was a little too short! On a happy note Medusa was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also liked the “shout out” to Beeboo!!
Another highlight of this movie was seeing the trailer for “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” haha
Yeah, the Medusa scene had a few highlights. I thought her laughing was a good touch, and my favorite line of the entire movie was when the archer stood next to the statue of the other archer and said something like “Doesn’t exactly instill a sense of confidence.”
Guess I’ll Netflix this one, then.
Good luck on the job!
I didn’t think it was that terrible, but I went in with incredibly low expectations.
I LOVE Cloverfield Monsta [read as: Krackalackin']! I usually yawn a bunch @ overly-indulgent axxxtion flicks that have a historical side to them, but this actually caught mah attention! Maybe it’s cuz I think Medusa is a stone-cold (ha)? bitch and I admire her for her sassy rudeness.