Armando Montano
The Paw Print
This month’s release of this new remake of the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans is a major improvement to the movie genre based on Greek mythology. Where claymation originally achieved the rough basis of mythological terror of massive and improbable beasts, this year’s “Titans” masters the digital imaging and brings the legends to life in 3D.
The film follows the myths of the Greek hero Perseus, the legendary beast-slayer of Ancient Greece. The movie begins with Spyros the fisherman discovering a floating coffin in the sea holding the baby Perseus and his mother’s remains. Taking him in, Spyros raises Perseus and brings him into his family. One day while fishing, Perseus witnesses a group of Argon soldiers removing a massive statue of Zeus as a declaration of war on the gods. Angered, Hades sends a flock of Harpies to wreak revenge on the soldiers before rising from the ocean, causing the boat Perseus and his family are on to be destroyed. Perseus’ family perishes but Perseus survives barely and the surviving soldiers bring him with them back to Argos.
Upon returning to Argos, King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia hold a feast for the soldiers return until Hades arrives and kills the soldiers but spares Perseus; Hades reveals that Perseus is a demigod, claiming Zeus is his father. Hades vanishes after killing queen Cassiopeia and warning the insolent city that in ten days, the Kraken will come and destroy Argos if princess Andromeda is not sacrificed before then. Seeing Perseus as spy of the gods, Perseus is imprisoned, but the king Cepheus seeks out Perseus to help save his daughter. Being advised by Io, a priestess who had watched over Perseus over his lifetime, Perseus agrees to help the king. From there, Perseus and a legion of soldiers begin his legendary venture to seek a way to protect Andromeda and the City of Argos from its looming destruction by the gigantic and almost unstoppable Kraken.
Clash of the Titans is a movie that offers thrills for many of its audience members. For the older viewers, the film is an even paced action tale of the great Greek myths’ first hero, Perseus, the hero that defeated the un-killable monster, Medusa. For younger viewers, seeing the movie in 3D is an experience that is, at times, incomparable other 3D films. While there are some issues with story, predominately the inaccuracy of the film to the traditional legends, Clash of the Titans is still a film that can be enjoyed. Reading too much into the acting or rationality of the plot or characters throughout the film will only take way from the viewers’ enjoyment of the film. Clearly, there has to be a suspension of disbelief by anyone to view a film that deals with women with snakes for hair, giant scorpions, and gods running rampant to come away with feeling enjoyment from the film at all. Whether looking for fun, for something to enjoy with friends, or a 3D experience, Clash of the Titans is the film for you. Clash of the Titans runs 106 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence, frightening images, and brief sensuality.
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