Clash of the Titans

While 3-D technology was an integral aspect of Avatar and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, it was tacked onto the theatrical release of this remake of Ray Harryhausen's 1981 stop-motion F/X fantasy (see review in VL-5/10), although the DVD/Blu-ray versions are strictly 2-D. In Clash of the Titans, the defiant demi-god Perseus (Sam Worthington) is determined to save humankind from vengeful Hades (Ralph Fiennes). It seems the ruler of the underworld wants to punish the Greek city of Argos for disrespecting the gods, and so Perseus volunteers to lead a perilous mission to defeat him before he can seize power from his brother Zeus (Liam Neeson). Lest you wonder why such distinguished actors were sacrificed on the altar of this ancient, if fanciful, sword-and-sandal kitsch, recall that the cast of the original included Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Maggie Smith, and Ursula Andress, with a very young Harry Hamlin as the hero. Unfortunately, while director Louis Leterrier's retooling boasts attractions such as a giant scorpion, the winged Pegasus, the two-headed dog Dioskilos, the snake-haired Medusa, and the fearsome Kraken (a sea monster lifted from Norse mythology), the film lacks even a shred of wit. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (19 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the “Maximum Movie Mode: Harnessing the Gods” interactive viewing experience featuring costars Sam Worthington, Liam Nesson, Ralph Fiennes, and director Louis Leterrier with picture-in-picture commentary, enhanced scene and visual effects breakdowns, on-the-spot vignettes, close-up views on stuntwork and filming locales, and more. Production featurettes available in this mode include “Focus Points” (35 min.), and “Sam Worthington: An Action Hero for the Ages” (8 min.), as well as an alternate ending (6 min.). Also included are the BD-Live function, and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray package for a disappointing remake.] (S. Granger)