Clashed Between the Movies

Rating: 7/10 (4 April 2010)

Let me start off by saying that I enjoyed the new "Clash of the Titans" before I continue with this summary.
In 1981, the original "Clash of the Titans" was released. It was a very good movie, with great characterization but lacked in special effects. Harry Hamlin was not the greatest choice to play Perseus, but the rest of the cast were marvelous. In today's "Clash of the Titans" it is a bit different. The reverse is true in the new version--the characterization is lacking a great deal, but the special effects are great.
In the first movie Perseus is the son of Zeus and living comfortably on a remote island. Calibos (son of Thetes) has Argos under a curse where Andromeda must present a riddle to suitors if they want her hand--if they fail to answer the riddle, they are killed. Only a correct answer to the riddle will lift the curse. Calibos, in the past, was cursed by Zeus and lives as a monster in the marshes. Thetes is envious of Perseus and brings him to Argos and thus angering Zeus--who gives Perseus a shield, a helmet and BoBo the mechanical owl. Perseus saves Argos from Calibos' curse, but in haste the queen of Argos claims that Andromeda is more beautiful than Thetes, thus incurring the wrath of the goddess. This sets up the story where Perseus now goes on the hunt to stop the Kraken.
In the new version there is no mention of Thetes, Perseus is not known to be alive so Zeus does not recognize him, Calibos is not in the new version, Perseus lives as a fisherman and events lead him to Argos--not the goddess. The Pegasus is hardly used in the new version and the teacher/mentor role played brilliantly by Burgess Meredith is missing. In the new version, Hades sets up everything--the Kraken, the call for the sacrifice and the pursuit of Perseus.
The old version had a rich story with great character development---the new has a weak story with zero characterization. The old version used stop motion animation---the new is all computer generated. The old had that wonderful antagonist Calibos---the new uses the old king in the role and his part is pretty lame. The old used Greek warriors only---the new uses some kind of weird desert humanoid that looked awful. The old had Zeus helping his son---the new had a woman helping.
If you combined the acting (except for Hamlin), story and characterization from the 81 version with the effects from the new version you would have the perfect "Clash of the Titans".
The movie was still enjoyable---the old better.