‘Clash of the Titans’ remake reanimates Greek myths

“Clash of the Titans” is the movie reciprocal of a theme park ride into Greek mythology. Whether it be the perfect casting of the gods, a swarm of giant scorpions and demonic creatures, or the stunning revelation of a monstrous beast known as the “kraken,” director Louis Leterrier embraces every ounce of creativity that made the original film so astonishing. The result is simply a colossal piece of popcorn entertainment that is bound for box-office glory as we move one step closer to the summer blockbuster period.

In the tradition of “300,” the structure of “Titans” is pretty much a one-sentence idea. The characters are inspired by (but not entirely based on) some form of historical literature, the story is a direct exercise in the protocol of a fantasy epic, and of course the special effects; lots and lots of SPFX. In 1981, it was done with stop-motion, and now almost three decades later, it’s time for CGI to take a shot. And with 3-D features added into the equation, Leterrier successfully avoids letting this one slip away as a disposable revamp of the current technology.

Opening just at the height of its conflict, the narrative is, like I said, pretty straightforward. The leader of the Gods, Zeus (Liam Neeson) and his family have been kidnapped by Hades (Ralph Fiennes), god of the underworld who is trying to seize all the power from Zeus. Their only hope is Perseus (Sam Worthington), a rebellious soul who was born a god, but raised as a mortal.

Okay so let’s be honest, we already know without asking that when first confronted, Perseus will want nothing to do with the dispute. We also know that at some point or another, he’ll realize he has nothing left to lose and must accept his responsibility to the gods. And I guess it goes without saying that amidst the family connection, there also has to be a love interest for the young hero to save as the lead antagonist prepares to unleash hell on earth.

But never mind. The trailers have already told us that this is not a movie about building characters, and since the core of the original was a matter of style, it would be unreasonable to assume that the new one is any different; especially when you take into account the fact that modern viewers often bring with them a strong hunger for SPFX as they walk into the theater.

Like any other film that breathes its own style, “Clash of the Titans” obviously can’t provide its actors with much elbow room for a good performance, but in the film’s defense, this is probably one of the most perfectly placed casts we’ve ever had in an epic scenario. Rising star Worthington still has plenty to offer in the role of the courageous underdog, and Fiennes’ interpretation of Hades is essentially Lord Voldemort on mythological steroids. And casting Neeson as Zeus I think speaks entirely for itself on so many levels.

As we saw in “The Incredible Hulk,” Leterrier is one director who enjoys the excitement of a good “smash!,” but he also knows how to balance his own preferences with those of tradition, and this is where “Titans” succeeds at its best. What gives the film a special niche is the way in which the director has constructed it to fit modern standards, while at the same time paying homage to Desmond Davis (director of the original) in a number of ways. It’s often perceived to be a challenging assignment with any remake, but Leterrier clearly knows where to draw the line between “bettering” and “respecting.” “Clash of the Titans” is not a trial of technology; it’s a triumph of elegance!

Posted by Chris Moskaly on Apr 1 2010. Filed under Features, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry