Movie Review: Clash of the Titans (2010)

Clash of the Titans - 3D
Released 2010
106 mins.
Director: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng, and Gemma Arterton

Synopsis: Discovered in a floating chest as a baby, Perseus is raised by a fisherman and wants nothing more than to sail the oceans with his adopted family.  When they stray too close to a battle between gods and men the fishing boat is claimed as collateral damage along everyone aboard except Perseus.  He washes ashore in Argos where the royal family has declared war on the gods.  Unfortunately for them the gods in this Ancient Greece have no problem appearing in broad daylight and peeling heads back.  Hades plans to unleash the Kraken and destroy Argos unless Princess Andromeda is offered up as a sacrifice.  He's got a scheme to overthrow his brother Zeus and take over Olympus.  The wrench in his plan is Perseus who is revealed to be a demi-god and son of Zeus. 

Perseus wants nothing to do with the gods, but wants to save Argos and smoking hot Andromeda.  He leads a crack team of soldiers and two smelly animal trappers on a quest before Hades lays the Krak down.  Among the group is Io an ageless smoking hot babe who gives Perseus some good advice (and hotness).  The whole demi-god thing works in Perseus' favor as he instantly has fighting skills.  First he talks to some creepy witch creeps who tell him about a snake-head lady (mildly smoking hot snake-head lady) who turns people to stone.  On the way he meets some freaky desert freaks who save his bacon from giant scorpions and fights a guy who could have been his dad.  The body count rises, but we all know how this story ends. 

Mike Tells It Straight: Go for the action and ignore the story (be prepared for Sam Worthington's accent).  We've seen the original 80s Clash and dug the low-tech B-movie charm.  This new version brings us up-to-date with all the effects we can handle, but it's still a B-movie.  Perseus' desire to accomplish his quest as a human ultimately rings hollow because of his demi-god status.  It's impossible for him to 'just be human' and Zeus ain't such a bad father anyway (especially after his gift at the end of the movie).  Clash!  Ohhh-ohh-ohh!  (to the Flash Gordon theme folks)

TO BUY and Recommendations: