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
