Clash of the Titans

I was never really that much of a fan of the original Clash of the Titans, I always preferred the 70s Sinbad films or Jason and the Argonauts. So I can't say I really got all that excited about this CGI-heavy reimagining of the original film. With that in mind, it's probably also the reason why I wasn't too disappointed by it as I had fairly low expectations. It's pretty mindless stuff, but I can see how it might be of enjoyment to people who have an interest in Greek mythology or just like to watch monsters getting smashed and things like that. However, having said that, there is still a lot wrong with this movie.

Perseus (Sam Worthington) is the an orphaned fisherman's son. His adoptive family are all killed when the god Hades (Ralph Fiennes) rains down a violent wrath upon a blasphemous Greek city. An ultimatum is issued to the city by Hades - the king must sacrifice his daughter or they will all die at the hands of a mighty monster called the Kraken. When it is revealed that Perseus is actually the half-mortal son of Zeus (Liam Neeson), the cityfolk look to him to lead a quest that will enable him to defeat the Kraken. Mythological adventure ensues.

I think the main problem with Clash of the Titans is the overload of CGI... the continuing appearances of an endless parade of monstrous friends and foes renders a lot of the spectacle rather unspectacular. Some of the designs are quite interesting (the witches and the Kraken come to mind) but overall I just found it all a bit too charmless. It's high on action, but low on just about everything else. Sam Worthington, with his anachronistically shaven head, looks like he just stepped off the set of his previous movie and couldn't give a stuff. It also doesn't help that the overly dramatic dialogue often comes off as awkward and self-conscious... note the scene where Perseus refuses the call to adventure, "I mend nets, not wield a sword". It's delivered so seriously that you can practically hear the screenwriter smugly tapping away at his keyboard ("That's our soundbite for the trailer!") despite how awkward it sounds. It would've been infinitely better the other way around, "I don't wield a sword... I mend nets!" as an incredulous exclamation befitting a more realistic character - as opposed to a lazily-designed big 'hero' moment.

That brings us to Worthington himself . As Perseus, he makes for a boring and uninspiring hero. It's a shame because his pre-Hollywood roles in Australian films like Sommersault, Macbeth and Gettin' Square were pretty damn good. He's yet to deliver on the promise of these performances on the world stage though, so it's easy to understand why most viewers might find him a bit of a non-event. He's supported by a cast of interchangeable supporting heroes with interchangeable beards, who could be played by just about anyone. Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson provide memorable-enough God-duties as Hades and Zeus respectively, with Fiennes working hard to distance himself from his work as similar fantasy villain Voldemort in the Harry Potter films. I guess I can't really hold a grudge against anyone too much as no one is really watching this film for the acting. It was good to see Pete Postlethwaite with a few lines.

There's some stuff about man rebelling against the tyranny of the Gods that might've made for interesting commentary on the role of religion in society, but the film isn't much interested in being anything other than a straightforward adventure. It might've had a bit more bite if the writers and director had decided to add some dimension to it, but for all my criticism I think it's easily as good as the original Clash of the Titans. That's not saying this is a great film, but if you like watching things like a bunch of guys chucking spears at giant scorpions, this is a pleasant enough way to pass the time.

DIRECTOR: Louis Letterrier
WRITER/SOURCE: Travis Beacham, Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, based on the screenplay of the original film written by Beverley Cross.
KEY ACTORS: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng, Pete Postlethwaite, Elizabeth McGovern, Danny Huston.

RELATED TEXTS:
- Closely based on the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, fondly remembered as the last film special effects god Ray Harryhausen worked on.
- Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was another adventure film based on Greek mythology also released in 2010.
- Force of the Trojans is an unmade sequel to the original film that was proposed in 1984.
- Jason and the Argonauts is another classic Ray Harryhausen film that deals with Greek mythology.