What Do The Critics Say?

"I found myself waiting for the effects sequences. When these money shots are on screen, the film is awesome. When all is said and done and the box office numbers have settled, the "Clash of the Titans" remake will be looked at with a somber eye by critics and audiences. And the general consensus will be that the movie isn’t as bad as some would have you believe. I had a ton of fun watching this movie, as did my kids. I enjoyed both this and the original for different reasons." Kevin Carr 7M PICTURES "Plot and characters play second fiddle to set pieces but this is a popcorn action movie and it does that very well indeed." Alex Zane SUN ONLINE "It’s exceptionally silly and it takes itself too seriously, but ultimately Titans is a stirring adventure full of derring-do and beefy men in too-short tunics." Wendy Ide UK TIMES "With its simple plot: hybrid hero must help humankind defeat Hades and prove to Zeus how important humans are to the gods; frees viewers from worrying about any complex issues. Consequently, it’s easy to focus on the incredible spectacle happening on screen. And, guess what? I’m adding this remake to my list of guilty pleasures. "Clash of the Titans" emphasizes its incredible creatures instead of the human actors, and they are fantastic." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK REVIEWS "Teenage boys will love it, but the rest of us will be frustrated by the storytelling, the shaky camerawork and the dubiously effective 3D presentation, which distracts more than it offers. With its pounding score, operatic violence, massive stunts and large scale story from Greek mythology, Clash of the Titans is big, brash and loud as Sam Worthington's heroic demi-god Perseus." Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE

"Solid supporting performances from Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades, and Mads Mikkelsen as Draco, add significant gravitas to the film's churning momentum. In spite of its miscasting of Sam Worthington as Perseus: enough with the Aussie accent; and a lame CGI snake-bodied Medusa, "The Clash of the Titans" is an enjoyable spectacle." Cole Smithey CAPSULE REVIEWS "The studio clearly couldn't resist the chance to digitally revisit the creatures so memorably animated by Ray Harryhausen in the 1981 original. The result is an unnecessary remake that's loud, chaotic and mildly entertaining. In the end, the film is decently watchable fluff, and the only real pity is that the whole story has been turned into a vacuous revenge quest with no subtext at all." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL Director Louis Leterrier uses digital technology to create enough battles and monsters to capture the attention of any jaded blockbuster fan." Henry Fitzherbert DAILY EXPRESS "Every day is hot-curled in Mt Olympus. All the Gods enjoy the same Heavenly Perm. 'Regard yonder Medusa! She has the body of a snake and the breasts of a centerfold!" Mark Ramsey MOVIEJUICE "Your enjoyment of Clash of the Titans is aided by remembering the original was one big ol' hunk of cheese, too. As remakes go, 'Clash' pays proper homage to the original. It’s just as silly as the source material and comes alive when those fantastic creatures commandeer the screen. We get giant scorpions, winged horses and, of course, the snake-haired Medusa trying to dash Perseus’ hopes for saving humanity. The latter should have been a treat for the senses, if only the 3-D action didn’t render everything on screen a shade or two darker than it should be." Christian Toto WHAT WOULD TOTO WATCH

The Inside Story - Clash Of The Titans With larger than life mythical beasts, breathtaking vistas spanning the depths of hell to the heights of Mt Olympus, and battles to the death between man and the gods, "Clash of the Titans" is a mammoth spectacle. "It’s a big, fun adventure, a big escapist movie, and I love escapist movies," Louis Leterrier, who helmed Transporter 2" says. "The story is heroic, it’s mythic, it’s romantic, it’s about fulfilling your destiny. There’s fantasy and fun, and it’s a bit scary, too. Add to that an unbelievable cast like Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson, and it was truly an exhilarating experience." With Leterrier at the helm, the stars of the film were eager to step into the mythical world. "I am always a fan of a director who is willing to take risks," says Sam Worthington ("Avatar"), who plays the film’s central character, Perseus. "Louis's vision for the film was big, bold and heroic. He wanted it to be a thrilling kind of popcorn ride." Worthington assesment was "Well, that’s a good director to go into battle with. I want to be a part of that." Close friends Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes agree. "My kids encouraged me to do it," 2005 Irish Film and Television Award winner Neeson ("Kinsey") says, "and I knew that with Louis and all the incredible computer wizards and technicians they had on the crew, they were going to make this thing just jump off the screen." "I’ve always loved the Greek myths and the wealth of things they can do to make special effects really kick ass now, I think, is extraordinary," 2006 Evening Standard British Film Award winner Fiennes ("The Constant Gardener") allows. "I also thought the script had a vividness and an epic quality that was really appealing." A real fan of the original film, director Leterrier, felt a bit like a kid in a candy store during filming. "1981’s 'Clash of the Titans' was one of my favorite movies: it was actually one of the first magical movies I ever saw. I was wowed by it. I jumped at the chance to do my own version." "Louis has a love of filmmaking and storytelling," says producer Kevin De La Noy ("Blood Diamond"), "and he approached every challenge with humor and a determination to make it work. His tireless energy was an inspiration to us all. He got engrossed in each and every shot; he could see it clearly and he wanted to impart that to everyone. And he got the desired results." Leterrier wasn’t the only filmmaker energized by the subject matter. Producer Basil Iwanyk ("We Are Marshall") remembers one of the best movie weekends in his life was "waiting in line for two hours when I was eleven years old and seeing "Clash of the Titans" with all of its monsters and battles and princesses and people with swords: things I’d never seen before." Taking on the task of bringing the cult classic into the 21st century, were screenwriters Travis Beacham ("Dog Days of Summer"), Phil Hay ("Crazy/Beautiful") and Matt Manfredi ("Bug"). "I loved the original, so this was an irresistible, if intimidating, proposition," says Beacham. "One of the things I loved about it, and myths in general, is that they put familiar human struggles in the context of impossible circumstances, to express things that couldn't otherwise be expressed." "We talked a lot about the tone we were going for, trying to make it a fun adventure," Hay adds. "To us, action only works if it’s about emotion," Matt Manfredi ("Crazy/Beautiful") notes. "We wanted to use every action beat to reveal who Perseus is in that moment: the action is the proving ground that forges his character and his relationships. It has to have consequences to people we care about." "It’s classic storytelling: literally," says Iwanyk ("K-19: The Widowmaker"). "It’s life and death, betrayal and courage." The hero of the film, Perseus, having just lost the only family he’s ever known, is torn between the two worlds: that of man, in which he was raised, and the world of the gods, where many believe he belongs. Sam Worthington portrays the demigod who is reluctant to embrace, or even accept, his birthright as the son of Zeus. "The actor playing Perseus had to have that rare combination of a great heart and a strong exterior," Leterrier ("The Incredible Hulk") asserts. "Sam is one of the most wonderfully explosive actors I know, but what was most important to me is what he wanted to say through the character. He gave us a robust, determined, yet questioning Perseus, which is exactly what I felt the role required." Iwanyk ("Firewall") recalls: "When Sam walked into the room, we knew he was Perseus. We immediately liked him, and we liked the fact that he wanted to work hard as an actor, and understood what the role would require of him. There’s both an intensity and a youthfulness to Sam. He’s tough and he has an incredible physicality. You believe he has a god in him." "Perseus is a simple fisherman when you first meet him, he leads a simple life," 2004 Australian Film Institute Award winner Worthington ("Somersault") notes. "But circumstances throw him on this quest to avenge his family’s death at the hands of the gods." One character who doesn’t appreciate Perseus's independence is his natural father and king of the gods, Zeus, who feels that Perseus should not only want, but should ask for, his help. Having been accustomed to unquestioning love from his own creation (humanity) Zeus is uncertain as to how to deal with its wavering devotion and mounting uprisings. "Zeus, more than any other god, loves humans,"says Leterrier. "He created them, and he is torn because he loves them so much he doesn’t want to strike them with all his might and destroy entire armies." It doesn’t help that Zeus's brother Hades, lord of the underworld, is pressing Zeus to allow him to handle things in his own way. "Zeus took over the heavens and Poseidon got the oceans, but Zeus tricked Hades into ruling the underworld," Neeson ("Taken") explained. "So Hades now sees his chance for revenge by tricking Zeus into starting a war with the humans." 1994 BAFTA Film Award winner Ralph (pronounced rafe) Fiennes ("Schindler's List") plays the part of the cunning underworld ruler eager to take his rightful place in the heavens. "Ralph is not what you would consider a physically imposing man," Iwanyk says. "He’s been betrayed by Zeus," Fiennes says, "and he figures it’s his turn now." Hades demands the people of Argos sacrifice their princess, Andromeda, by feeding her to the Kraken, at the coming eclipse. Alexa Davalos (who played Lilka Ticktin in "Defiance") was cast as the fated royal. "Andromeda is definitely headstrong and rebellious," she notes. 2009 Empire Award winner Gemma Arterton ("Quantum of Solace") was cast as the mystical guide Io, who shadows Perseus on his travels. A big fan of the original she revealed: "I watched it about fifty times as a kid, so when I learned I had a role in the new version, I was over the moon. I pretended that I wasn’t fazed by it, but I quickly phoned my mum and my sister." Ironically, the character she plays wasn’t in the original movie. Mads Mikkelsen ("Casino Royale") was cast as the world-weary soldier, Draco. "When they said they wanted me to swing around on a rope with a sword, it reminded me of what I used to dream about as a kid, so that was very cool." Jason Flemyng ("Layer Cake") was cast as the half-man, half-monster, Calibos. "I’ve known Jason for years and he’s a terrific actor," Leterrier stated. "So I thought it would be perfect for him." Apart from the human characters and in keeping with the mythology of the story, "Clash of the Titans" is filled with mythical beasts and creatures: from the winged Pegasus to the deadly Medusa to the giant, scorpion-like scorpiochs and the ultimate monster; the fearsome Kraken. Creating these creatures involved a blend of practical and visual effects elements. Visual effects supervisor Nick Davis ("The Dark Knight") notes, "We were dealing with Olympus and with Hades, so we had heaven and hell, and we had gods and monsters; there were aspects of the fantastical inherent in the story. But at the same time, we wanted it to be photo-realistic. We want people to believe a horse is flying and that harpies are real within the realistic grounding we’ve given the movie." For the scorpiochs fight, Davis and his team began by blocking out what characters would be in the massive battle. They worked with the director to determine the scale of each scorpioch, which was approximately twenty five to thirty feet, from claw to tail. The special effects team, led by special effects and animatronics supervisor 2001 Oscar ® winner Neil Corbould ("Gladiator") who as a teenager, worked on the original "Clash of the Titans" adding feathers onto Bubo the owl: built a full-scale rig, makeshift scorpioch, in order to give the actors something with which to interact during the fight sequence. "The crossover between special and visual effects was close on that rig. Nick designed this fantastic 3D scorpion, which we used as the design for a physical model for the rig." The effects team then used a remote system to operate the rig via joystick controls. "We also had a ride-rig, which was a computer-programmed gimbal, with the shell of a scorpioch on top of it," Davis detailed. "The character Draco leaps onto the back of it and goes on a wild, spinning ride." "It was a very technical rodeo ride," adds Corbould ("The Day After Tomorrow"). Davis's team also used a combination of CGI and motion capture to bring to life the Medusa, the Kraken, the harpies, and Pegasus, among others. Unlike any incarnation of Medusa before, this version of the lethal character not only has a head crowned by snakes, but also a body that is half-human, half-snake, and able to hunt her unwanted visitors with stealth and steel. Digital effects turned Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova into the gorgon whose looks do kill. Perhaps the mythical creature most critical to the story was the flying horse Pegasus, a truly majestic animal. Leterrier ("Unleashed") offers: "Pegasus is a winged horse, he’s the companion of the gods, and no human has ever ridden one. He initially fights Perseus, which is yet another obstacle for our hero to overcome." "The problem with flying horses is that horses don’t fly," Davis ("Entrapment") said. "So you’re immediately overcoming a lot of aerodynamic problems in order to make it look natural." Two Friesian stallions (a large, black breed of horse originating in the Netherlands) were used for the role: Bonce worked as the main Pegasus, with the stunt rider riding Gallo. The visual effects team developed a complex system of putting tracking markers on the horses and using special cameras to track the motion very carefully. Completing the illusion, wings were placed on afterward, via digital imaging. In addition to the two horses, the cast and crew also worked with a menagerie of other animals including four camels, a seven-foot, fourty four pound Burmese albino python, two young oxen and a number of dogs. Perhaps the most majestic of the animals was an American Bald Eagle. It was an instant hit on the set. At the end of filming, most of the cast and crew had their picture taken with it. What's The Storyline?

The ancient world faces an ultimate struggle for power, pitting men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, but in fact a demi-god Perseus is helpless to save his family from Hades, vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth. Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds, leading a daring band of warriors, including Draco, an experienced soldier who encourages the defiant Perseus to make use of his god-given abilities. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, they will only survive if Perseus can accept his power as a demi-god, defy his fate and create his own destiny. To do so, he must somehow defeat the fearsome Kraken.

The Verdict "If you're a big fan of REAL 3D you'd be wise to give "Clash Of The Titans" 3D a big miss. As a 3D spectacular it truly is a dud. Or put more plainly: it's very, very average. No, that doesn't mean I don't want you to see aussie action hero Sam Worthington in his latest film. Like many others, I can't see the point of paying a premium to see it in 3D when you can have just as much fun with the standard big-screen version. Why? Because after "Clash Of The Titans" was in the can, some smartie pants obviously decided it would be a 'bigger experience' for cinemagoers if the finished product was now converted to a 3D version. Now, as everyone knows, going to a 3D screening means parting with the extra bucks. That's because there's a premium on every ticket. My advice? Don't bother forking out on this occassion. As a 3D experience it's bloody woeful and highly wasteful. As for the film itself, yes, it's certainly worth having a look at. Highlights include the winged Pegasus; the Kraken; the giant snake-like Medususa; the giant Scorpioch and the pleasure of watching Ralph Fiennes playing bad guy, Hades. WALA. 3 STARS. The Production Team

Director Screenplay 1981 screenplay Producers Original Music D.O.P. Film Editors Casting Production Design Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Louis Leterrier Travis Beacham/Phil Hay/Matt Manfredi Beverley Cross Kevin De La Noy/Basil Iwanyk Ramin Djawadi Peter Menzies Jr David Freeman/Vincent Tabaillon Elaine Grainger/Lucinda Syson Martin Laing Patricio M Farrell/James Foster Anna Pinnock Lindy Hemming

Who Is Playing Who?

Sam Worthington Mads Mikkelsen Ian Whyte Gemma Arterton Natalia Vodianova Vincent Regan Polly Walker Alexa Davalos Agyness Deyn Liam Neeson Ralph Fiennes Danny Huston Jason Flemyng Tine Stapelfeldt Luke Evans Izabella Miko Liam Cunningham Hans Matheson Ashraf Barhom Mouloud Achour Nicholas Hoult

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Perseus Draco Sheikh Sulieman Io Medusa Kepheus Cassiopeia Andromeda Aphrodite Zeus Hades Poseidon Calibos/Acrisius Danae Apollo Athena Solon Ixas Ozal Kucuk Eusebios

Run Time 106 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Warner Bros. Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.