Release the Original!

Rating: 3/10 (16 April 2010)

Regardless that it's been nearly 30 years since I saw the original, a fantasy that awed, inspired and excited me as a child, I had to see the updated Clash of the Titans. And this is despite the fact this is NOT my type of movie. (In fact, I have virtually no plans in seeing the forthcoming Prince of Persia film, though I played the original video game, again, as a child.) Fine, the original used clay. To a child that was close to cartoons, and that was okay – especially since it was on a grand scale with giant monsters. Kewl! Obviously with the update, they would switch to the (newly) time-honored CGI (or Copout Graphics for the Indolent.) I was hardly impressed with the special effects. Sure, they were well made, but original? No. Exciting? Eh. In fact, I felt for the most part of the movie, I just wanted it to be over, even though the script promised a climatic (RELEASE THE KRAKEN!) demon of sort. By the time the sea monster appeared (another unoriginal creation) I was anxious to take off.
Now, that doesn't make it a complete waste. It was worth a viewing (and I saw it in 2-D, I've heard to stay away from the 3-D for good reason.) But it was absolutely not worth a second viewing. Even on DVD.
Demigod Perseus (Worthington) must go on a journey, get dozens killed and defeat the Kraken while proving to Uncle Hades and his father, Zeus, he's a man. (Get used to that last part, he'll protest, though cheat multiple times, that he has to complete his journey and fight like a man a few dozen times.) Meanwhile, the most downright wimpiest and ridiculous gods (played so softly by two very talented actors, Neeson and Fiennes) are plotting/working together(?) to stop Perseus.
Though I am not 100% educated on the mythological gods, I thought they were supposed to somewhat or fully omnipotent. If so, they're doing a terrible job at stopping this half-mortal. This proves my lack of interest in this genre. Much like Lord of the Rings, if someone has great power, I want to see them use it! These "gods" actually seem content to just sit around and "hope for the best." Basically, it's a point A to point B adventure that rarely steps above anything, EVERYTHING that has come before it. Again, it's not horrible, but never reaches even "average" status. Recommended for die-hard fans only of the genre.