Review: Clash of the Titans

Rodney 68 Comments

Thanks for checking out our Clash of the Titans review.

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Staring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Alexa Davalos
Released: April 2nd 2010

THE GENERAL IDEA

Perseus (Sam Worthington) raised as a fisherman, but is actually a demi-god - the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson) and is about to take on the gods after the death of his family. It is revealed that it is Perseus’ destiny to rescue the city of Argos from the ruthless rage of Hades and his Kraken monster. With nothing to lose, Perseus leads a band of soldiers on a quest to defeat the Kraken.

Though strongly inspired by Greek Myth, this is NOT word for word adaptation of the lore.

THE GOOD

The whole feel of the movie gives a more gritty reality to this world of utter fantasy. Where the Gods are real and people are only partly surprised to see them appear, this film has a LOT of depth to its world. Fantasy is commonplace and it shows.

Gemma Arterton is not just beautiful, she is angelic. To have her play the mysterious Io was a perfect match. And when the Argos queen brags of her daughter’s beauty, Alexa Davalos plays a fitting Andromeda. Liam Neeson is vulnerable and stern, an inspired quality to play the King of Gods commonly criticized for loving his creation too much.

The action was great, paces well, and the visuals rock. Every bit the action adventure we needed for a Clash of the Titans remake.

And the MUSIC was a great relief. Not one chord of that misplaced heavy metal power rock played in the trailer was found in the soundtrack. The movie was appropriately scored with dramatic orchestrated score that fit the setting.

THE BAD

There were a few brief moments in the movie that pulled me out of the fantasy, and as much as it pains me to say it the clockwork owl Bubo from the first film makes a cameo and its very much out of place and takes away from the scene. If he was just sitting on a shelf in the background it would have been better, but they pay him attention and its distracting. Also, in an inspiring speech before entering Medusa’s lair, Perseus ends by saying “Don’t look that Bitch in the eye”…. arg. Really? He woudln’t have talked like that. Distracting.

Sam Worthington was painfully average in this. He wasn’t the grand hero. He wasn’t inspiring at all. Fortunately he was surrounded by others far more interesting.

And the Gods, while amazingly portrayed in their celestial court looking down on mankind were reduced to Zeus and Hades talking with a bunch of others just standing around. I would have liked to have seen more interaction than just a few nods and noncommittal statements.

OVERALL

It was a fun action film with adventure and fantasy with some good light comic relief and a worthy remake. There were a few choices made that stumbled the film, and I would have liked a more inspiring star to lead the fight.

I give Clash of the Titans a 7 out of 10

About Rodney

View all posts by Rodney →

You may like these posts

←  Older Comments
 →
  • joe smith

    i didn’t go to the movies to see this cause i knew i would get upset. at least the one from the 80’s stayed on the topic of the gods and what was done to them. i was trying to explain the movie to my stepdaughter who is 14 and it was very hard. i gave up and i just put in the one from the 80’s and she clearly understood it. all and all the new one was good, it just swayed off topic.

  • Ronelle

    I find myself liking this movie quite a lot. Enough to see it more than once, in fact. I will also say that I haven’t seen the original, so any sort of “nudge/wink” moments-a la the owl-were completly lost on me. But basically, I’m here to voice my wholehearted agreement with your review.
    The visuals were stunning. I love big sweeping shots and epic scenery, both to be found in several instances. I found myself mentally going “ooooo…” at a big landscape shot with leeeeetle men trudging along in the foreground.
    Action is plentiful once the film gathers itself. Some people have made much ado of the “shakey cam” aspect of some of the action scenes. Personally, I’m not distracted. It sort of adds a touch of realism for me. The CGI aspect-Medusa, Kraken. I’m not sure the technology exists to make something like Medusa look 100% real. I was impressed with her half human/half snake design, and with the fact that they gave her some weaponry instead of just having her sneaking up on people and turning them to stone. (And those swallowtail broadheads she was shooting! Ouch!)
    The casting was quite good. I liked Liam Neeson as Zeus, shiny disco ball armor and all. Gemma was very lovely as Io, ditto for Alexa as Andromeda. But the real highlight of my (repeated) viewings? Mads Mikkelsen’s character Draco. In my opinion, he completly blew Sam’s Perseus out of the water. Compelling and charasmatic. And on a completly shallow note, a lovely gravelly growl of a voice.
    What didn’t I like? Some of the dialouge was just…wrong. “Don’t look this bitch in the eye.” springs instantly to mind. I may have actually cringed when that was uttered. Another one that kind of hurt was at the dock on the RIver Styx. Someone remarks that Charon only ferries the dead across. An older warrior named Solon immediatly draws his sword and asks “Any volunteers?”. I respect that they were trying to be funny, and it was even in character for the guy (so I can forgive it a little) but really….that almost sounds like something from a Scooby Doo story.
    I *know* there must have been more to this movie than what ended up in theaters. Surely the powers that be didn’t gather such a stunning collection of Olympians just so they could sit/stand around and look pretty? I’d have very much liked to have seen more of them.
    My biggest complaint, however, is Sam Worthington. I’ve not seen Avatar, nor his Terminator movie. After this, I’m not really sure I want to. I feel no pull towards him at all. For me, he is neither inspiring nor interesting. He’s sort of…average. Leaning a little towards dull. But as I’ve said, I haven’t seen him in any other work, so I can’t judge if its his fault or if he’s done better under different direction.
    And a final note on 2D vs 3D. If I want to see it on a large screen with proper surround sound (which is a must with such a magnificent soundtrack) I have to see it in 3D. I rather wish I didn’t. I have to wear the 3D glasses over my reagular ones, and it gets pretty annoying after a while.
    Overall, I’m saying eight of ten. And I’m going back tomorrow night. Matinee price and free popcorn!

  • Ivan

    I would like to watch this movie in 3D.

    • http://www.themovietitan.blogspot.com Jon

      Youre not missing much trust me. Save yourself the few extra bucks and see it in 2D.

←  Older Comments
 →