“Release the Kraken!” —Zeus
Today’s quick review: Clash of the Titans. In an age of impiety, the god Zeus (Liam Neeson) allows Hades (Ralph Fiennes) to terrorize the people of Argos to inspire their fear and worship. But when Hades kills the family of Perseus (Sam Worthington), the lost son of Zeus, the young man embarks on a quest to slay Hades’ monster the Kraken, rescue the princess of Argos, and earn the opportunity to kill Hades himself.
Clash of the Titans is a fantasy action movie loosely adapted from Greek mythology. A remake of the original film, Clash of the Titans swaps its predecessor’s stop motion monsters for modern CGI. Fittingly enough, the movie’s two biggest draws are its action and its visual effects. These are good enough to make the movie a fine popcorn flick, but its mediocre writing and acting keep it from being anything more.
Clash of the Titans is a monster movie at heart. Its biggest action sequences involve Perseus squaring off against Greek mythology’s most fearsome monsters, including the Scorpion, the Medusa, and the Kraken, a variant on the sea monster Cetus. The action is fast-paced and visually interesting, but it lacks the tight choreography needed to be truly impressive. The usual tricks, like quick cuts and feigned blows, are more obvious than in similar films.
The visual effects of the movie are generally good, but they break down in a few noticeable places. Ironically, the CGI holds up best during the action scenes. The monsters look convincingly real a good portion of the time, but quirks like the Scorpion’s odd movement periodically break the illusion. For the lesser monsters and scenery shots, the CGI has clear flaws that keep the world from being fully immersive.
As for the other parts of the movie, Clash of the Titans is somewhat weaker. The core of the plot is the myth of Perseus, but the film plays fast and loose with the details. The script is adequate but uninspired. The supporting cast has some excellent actors, including Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Mads Mikkelsen, but the roles never give them a chance to shine. The rest of the acting is also somewhat wooden.
Watch Clash of the Titans when you are in the mood for some decent fantasy action. The movie’s generally solid action scenes and CGI give it enough to work with as an action movie, but its script and acting leave something to be desired. Skip it if you aren’t an action fan or you are looking for a more polished special effects experience. For a similarly action-heavy take on Greek mythology, check out Immortals.
5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for offering action and spectacle but little else.