Review of Clash of the Titans (1981) by Cole M — 26 Mar 2010

Unbelievably campy. For the effects of the 80's, Harryhausen's maquettes and mythical creatures leap off the screen, either by stop-motion or animatronically, but everything about this film feels outdated. While you get strong, serious performances from Maggie Smith and Laurence Olivier, Bergess Meredith seems like he is trying out to be a wannabe- Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I see why Sam Worthington hated the talking owl, Bubo, and didn't want it in the remake because it just doesn't belong in this movie or anywhere. It's also funny that in a PG movie we get to see a naked woman's breasts and butt. HUH?!?

Then, there's the story itself: it doesn't know where it wants to go. Too much of it feels like a road movie with it's many side quests and Perseus having to do daring escapades and feats just to be with the woman he loves. Seriously, if I had to go kill a Kraken, Medusa, Calibos, and giant scorpions and Cerberus, I'd probably say, "Hunny, go find yourself another guy to do it." While it's fun and exciting to watch Harry Hamlin face off against claymated creatures and mythological beasts, the movements of Harryhausen's work is so slow and fake, that anybody really could kill them in one stroke of their sword. They move like zombies.

In the end, I look forward to the remake. I look forward to see what Louis Letterier does with this cult classic. It's funny to hear myself say that I look forward to a remake, but there are some films that definitely deserve remakes and others that don't. Most remakes are of movies that should never be touched or messed with and still stand the test of time, others, like this film, deserve a remake for how ludicrously bad and campy it is. With modern-day effects and 3D now being popularized, I think and least hope the new version will stand out and reign supreme. If not, then it'll be another useless remake that Zeus could hurl a thunderbolt at.