Capitalizing on the success of 2006’s surprise hit 300 and boasting a trailer that promised heavy metal and badassery, comes director Louis Leterrier’s (The Incredible Hulk) remake of the 1981 cult classic, Clash of the Titans. Warner Brothers didn’t stop at giving the original Clash the 300 treatment. After the success of Avatar, the studio decided to experiment with a treatment that would render it, originally shot in 2-D format, into a 3-D film.
This decision was made about two months before the film was released, and many were interested to see if such a last-minute 3-D rush job would add to the film or detract from it. Unfortunately, for both 3-D exhibitors and those who forked over the extra money to see it in an additional dimension, the answer seems to be the latter. The 3-D adds barely any depth to the film, and, at times, one notices the 2-D behind the 3-D. There are no stunning visuals or sequences that impress in 3-D, and this is, without question, the laziest 3-D film to be released since the format has been reintroduced. One would likely be more impressed by a Clash of the Titans-themed View-Master.
Clash of the Titans is the story of Perseus (played by Sam Worthington from Avatar), a demigod who is the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson, Taken) and a mortal woman who is on a mission to save the princess of Argos, Andromeda (Alexa Davalos, Defiance), from becoming a sacrifice to Hades (Ralph Fiennes, The Reader) in a war between the gods and mankind. Along the way, Perseus encounters giant scorpions, Medusa and, of course, the infamous Kraken; he also has to deal with being both a man and a god. Throughout Perseus’ lifetime, the beautiful and immortal Io (Gemma Arterton, Quantum of Solace), who serves as both a guardian and love interest for the demigod, keeps a close eye on him.
Anyone who has seen the original Clash of the Titans knows that the spirit of the 1981 film was its camp, the cheesy and satisfying claymation effects (courtesy of special effects master Ray Harryhausen), and general fantasy and whimsy. Sadly, much of what made the original so much fun has been sucked out of the new Clash, which is more intent on being a serious action film but never quite achieves any of its goals.
This Clash’s biggest fault is that it is mostly a boring film. There are certainly some parts of high octane action- the scenes with the giant scorpions and the fight in Medusa’s lair come to mind- but the action isn’t consistent enough to keep audiences captivated. Often, there is a decent amount of camp, but this is mostly a result of the film trying to take itself too seriously, or from the film’s horrendous script. Regardless, the action and unintentional laughs aren’t enough to save a film that is mostly bland and uninspired.
Adding absolutely nothing and giving a performance flatter than the film’s 3-D is Worthington, who has come from nowhere to be a star after the 2009 hit films Terminator: Salvation and, of course, Avatar. Just like his previous efforts, Worthington brings nothing to his character and seems to be going through the motions. One wonders if Worthington has any real acting ability, or if he is simply cast in films because he is in good shape, is somewhat gritty looking and doesn’t command as high of a salary as more charismatic movie stars. The answer seems obvious after a viewing of Clash.
Perhaps the most cringe-worthy and laughable aspect of Clash is Neeson and Fiennes’s roles as the dueling gods, Zeus and Hades. Certainly cashing in sizeable paychecks, the two actors ham it up on the big screen and try to overact each other as their respective characters conflict.
Neeson does his entire role in his Aslan voice from the Chronicles of Narnia films, and Fiennes channels his Voldemort performances from the Harry Potter series as the equally creepy and sinister god of the underworld. Thankfully, the actors can hide their embarrassment behind the fuzzy CGI in Mount Olympus and the thick beards that both gods don.
Clash of the Titans should not be taken as anything more than a harmless popcorn flick, though it’s still somewhat of a letdown in that department. The movie simply lacks the fun of the original, and the shoddy 3-D doesn’t help its case.
The film’s lack of cohesive narrative and lackluster performances make it a mediocre film that, at times, feels like watching someone play a video game.
