Clash of the Titans Review

MPAA Rating: PG
Released: 1981

Greek mythology has rarely been brought to the big screen as well as it was in 1981 with the release of Clash of the Titans, an epic fantasy film with special effects that still maintain their integrity today. If stalwart heroes, petty gods, fantastical creatures mixed with swordplay and magic appeals to you, this DVD deserves your close attention.

Clash of the Titans was a smash hit in the 80's, becoming one of the definitive classics of that decade. The movie was (and still is), quite simply, a sum of its parts. A thoroughly interesting mythological backdrop, vengeful and squabbling gods, heroic mortals, creatures both majestic and horrifying and impressive special effects (particularly for its time) just came together to create a wonderfully entertaining film.

The plot follows Greek mythology loosely. Perseus (Harry Hamlin), son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), must rescue Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker) before she is sacrificed to the terrifying Kraken. But to accomplish this quest he must first pass a variety of other challenging tasks, such as capturing the Pegasus and slaying the Medusa, all the while staving off dangers tossed in his path by wrathful gods jealous of the special attention he receives from Zeus.

Purists may protest that Clash of the Titans doesn’t always stick to the written myths; that it takes some liberties with the participants and events. It's important to remember that this is a movie first and foremost, designed to entertain rather than educate… and it accomplishes exactly that!

While some of the acting within this movie isn't what awards are made of, none of it is cheesy or wooden enough to draw you out of the film. It's solid and it works. But in a film like this, the strong atmosphere and fantastical creatures almost threaten to take the main stage. This isn't an insult towards the actors; it's just that Greek mythology itself is so rich and appealing.

One of my concerns when directors attempt to film movies based on Greek mythology is their ability to remain true to the source material. By that I don't mean following every word of the original myths to the letter - I don't mind directors taking some liberties for the sake of enjoyment. What I do demand is the writer and director provide the necessary complexity and feel to justify the genre, and Clash of the Titans has succeeded in this goal. Although the plot above is rather hasty so as not to ruin the story for you should you decide to watch this film, there are many side themes and plots throughout.

All in all this is a great film that most children of the 80's will always hold a soft spot in their heart for. But even if the 80's were before your time, make sure you rent or purchase Clash of the Titans, because I believe you'll find it a thoroughly enjoyable view.

Movie Rating: 8 stars

If you enjoyed Clash of the Titans you may also find the following films to be of interest:

Enjoy the Clash of the Titans experience in the comfort of your own home with these related products!

DVD

Soundtrack

Movie Sitemap

Wondering if the Netflix service is all
it's cracked up to be? Read our
detailed review and find out!