Today’s quick review: Wrath of the Titans. Years after his defeat of the Kraken, the demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) has settled into the life of a mortal. But as humanity loses its faith and the power of the gods wanes, the walls of Tartarus, the prison of the Titans, are beginning to crumble. Now Perseus must come out of retirement to save his father Zeus (Liam Neeson) and prevent Hades (Ralph Fiennes) from freeing the unstoppable Titan Kronos.
Wrath of the Titans is a fantasy action movie loosely based on Greek mythology. The sequel to the remake of Clash of the Titans, Wrath of the Titans partners Perseus with Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), now the queen of her country, and Agenor (Toby Kebbell), the roguish son of Poseidon, to end a threat that even the gods are powerless to oppose. The movie delivers creative, unadulterated, feel-good action at the expense of plot and drama.
Wrath of the Titans focuses on action to the exclusion of all else. Perseus and his allies must take on a bevy of monsters from Greek mythology culminating in the enormous Titan Kronos himself. The action makes heavy use of CGI and plays fast and loose with physics for the sake of spectacle. Though not entirely innovative, the action’s fast pacing, creative flourishes, and frequency throughout the movie should please most action fans.
Wrath of the Titans also includes a few treats for the fans. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes reprise their roles as Zeus and Hades, respectively, and receive a more central focus than before. Bill Nighy joins the pantheon as Hephaestus, a crafty god with an unhinged but likable personality. The reputable cast does little to enhance the movie’s dramatic clout, but it does make for a pleasant bonus for those already enjoying the movie.
The price Wrath of the Titans pays for its freewheeling action is a break from Greek mythology and an insubstantial plot. Where Clash of the Titans adapted the myth of Perseus with some changes, Wrath of the Titans mixes and matches fragments of Greek myth and concepts the movie invents wholesale. The result is a story that’s not particularly deep or resonant, but which serves the needs of the action quite well.
Wrath of the Titans also has a few rough performances that may dampen the viewer’s enjoyment. Sam Worthington makes for an indifferent Perseus, never quite capturing the conflict the character is meant to feel at picking up his sword again. Edgar Ramirez as Ares proves to be another weak point, undermining another key emotional arc. The rest of the supporting cast is hit-or-miss: enjoyable in places, but easy to sour on for the wrong viewer.
How much you get out of Wrath of the Titans will depend heaily on your taste in action. Fans of the first film will appreciate the sequel’s commitment to its best aspects, its action and its cast, while its critics will find little in the way of story to help change their minds. Those looking for creative action and sheer spectacle will find Wrath of the Titans to be a fun, if flawed, watch. Steer clear if you’re looking for substance.
For a fantasy action movie based with a darker tone that’s also based on Greek mythology, check out Immortals. For a fantasy action movie with similar appeal and more conspicuous flaws, check out Gods of Egypt. For a similar effort that tries a little harder with its story, check out the previous film, Clash of the Titans. For a more story-focused take on Greek mythology, try the original Clash of the Titans.
5.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for popcorn action fantasy at its purest.