An obviously affectionate remake of the 1981 original, Louis Leterrier’s adaptation of “Clash of the Titans” doesn’t offer anything special that you might remember next week, let alone 28 years later.
A remake of the 1981 cult classic of the same name, “Clash of the Titans” follows demi-god Perseus as he seeks revenge against the gods after the death of his family. His quest will see him embark on a grand adventure where he must battle many fantastic and horrifying creatures in order to rescue Princess Andromeda and the doomed city of Argos from the wrath of the gods. That’s the story in a nutshell. Many characters from the original film have been jettisoned altogether and plot elements have been shifted around.
The original “Clash of the Titans” is an example of a movie you liked as a child, but when revisited as an adult it’s just not as good as you remembered. Indeed, it’s quite hokey and boring, and the special effects are really the biggest reason why it’s still talked about. The plot is extremely straightforward – practically to a fault. Often, the film acts as though it’s in a hurry, attempting to get from one action sequence to the next as quickly as possible. The scenes that occur in between each of these battles ultimately amount to nothing more than brief segments of exposition delivered by Perseus’. So, while the film never really drags, it feels very soulless.
Acting wise, the film is entirely hits and misses. The majority of performers are lifeless, and emotionally banal. While Neeson and Fiennes do their best to overcome the contrivances of the script, you can tell almost immediately that they really have no place in a film like this. Liam Neeson brings his requisite gravitas to the role of Zeus, although it’d be pretty tough not to dominate the screen when you’re as tall as he is and dressed in Excalibur-esque shining armor. He ably conveys the conflicted nature of the king of the gods, who is torn between anger and eternal love for his creations. Nobody can play evil like Ralph Fiennes, and kudos should also be given to Mads Mikkelsen as Draco who strikes a delightful balance between humour and badassery!
Over all I think the new Titans definitely emphasizes the “clash” more than its predecessor did, but it’s also a lot of sound and fury, and we should all know what that signifies. Despite its technical superiority, I can’t imagine this version inspiring a fan base that will last three decades let alone a desire to remake it one day.
Bottom Line, I only recommend seeing ”Clash of the Titans” if you’re open to mindless action and cool visuals, because this is just your basic, run of the mill, average action movie that’s nowhere close to being the “epic” it’s being marketed as. Nothing you’d want to waste your time and money on if you’re into strong plots and acting.