Clash of the Titans -- the 1981 Geek mythology fantasy starring Harry Hamlin, Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith, with memorable (if anachronistic) f/x from stop-motion animation master Ray Harryhausen — boasts a pretty hefty fan following, especially among Gen Xers for whom the movie is a geek pop touchstone.
Still, I think only Harryhausen zealots/purists believe that delightfully clunky block of retro-escapist cheese can’t be improved upon–perhaps the rare sacred cow that genre fans think should be remade and rebooted.
The new version, due in theaters March 26, is directed by Louis Leterrier (who’s already proven himself adept at improving busted franchises; see 2008’s The Incredible Hulk) and stars Sam Worthington (Terminator: Salvation; Avatar) as Perseus, Liam Neeson as Zeus, and Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort.
The first trailer is now here:
Some of my colleagues are raving. Me? Not sure. Is it just me, or does it look like Leterrier is trying to retain some of the vibe of Harryhausen’s scuttling, stylishly unreal creatures with state-of-the-art computer generated effects? I’m not sure I’m digging that. Coming after the sword-and-sandals glut of Gladiator, Troy, and 300, this new film feels not-so-fresh, even with the presence of magic and monsters. But never mind me — what do you think? Watch and post your snap judgments below.
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Ummm…was the Ralph Fiennes/Voldemort comment a joke?
I was wondering the same thing….
Yes. Voldemort does not exist in Greek mythology. This is a bit of humor for you.
Isn’t humor usually… funny?
I was wondering if this was a Harry Potter cross over movie? haha.
Ralph Fienes actually plays Hades, who kinda looks voldemortish in the movie, being that he is the God of the Underworld and all. I laughed.
Looks AMAZING! Now, it could just be the director’s uncanny way of using a scorpion’s tale like the lost drum stick of a snare drum gone wild in the middle of the trailer, but that looks like it’s going kick
Can we please officially retire AMAZING? The adjective and also the idea of putting it in CAPS is bordering on offensive. Does no one know of any other adjective? Let’s try some: Looks fantastic, brilliant, exciting, fun, great, mind blowing, exemplary. Ok, maybe not exemplary, but I think you get the point.
Also hoping we can retire “EPIC”
And “AWESOME!” Please let us ban the use of “AWESOME” for at least a decade.
Agreed.
Who are these douches that crop up on blogs and rather than comment on the topic want to pick apart adjectives to make others feel small. What I think would be AMAZING, EPIC, AWESOME- if you get a life. What did you people think about the trailer?
Looks more like Rome than Greece to me . ‘One day someone has to take a stand?’ against who? the Gods? The Titans look really cool though, but over all the trailer makes the movie seem over done. Needs further investigation. Unless I hear something compelling otherwise– DVD.
Titans. Will. Clash.
Thanks. Mr. Obvious.
That actually looks really good!!!! Finally a movie I don’t mind them updating, I’m pretty excited to see that one. It’s completely possible that it will be awful but good actors make me hopeful.
Hmmm…based on this trailer (and its accompanying music), the style seems a little 300-esque, just not as graphic novel-y. Even so, I’ll probably end up seeing it (with my husband and his friends).
I agree. The trailer reminded me a bit of 300…music style, some of the action sequences.
LOL, I take it you’re joking w/ the Ralph Fiennes/Voldemort comment?
Where is pegasus? and that little annoying but endearing metallic owl?
Asides from these ommissions from the trailer everything else looks KICK ASS!!!!
Pegasus is in there, if the one sheets are any indication, but I would imagine it might be a money shot saved for later. Don’t expect the owl, friend.
Thank the gods!
Not cool. Bubo was the best part of the original.
No Bubo? Blasphemy!!
I agree. Bubo was so cute.
From the look of the trailer, the remake departs greatly from the original in tone and style. I thought that Perseus was supposed to be a young man who was thrown into a situation where he was forced to fight. This Perseus seems older and kind of macho.
As much as I do enjoy the camp/baddness of the original, I am looking forward to this version. I do like the visuals, but my god, “Titans.Will.Clash.”…seriously? My 8 year old niece could come up with that tag line!
No shot of the Kraken, Pegausus, the Owl, Medusa… Maybe I didn’t see them because I don’t have the eye — THE EYE, THE EYE!
Medusa is right at the beginning. You see her from behind as she takes out the guy in the temple.
Classic! You almost made me pee I was laughing so hard!
Not a bad trailer, but the whole “Hades as a bad guy” is a complete ripoff of the Disney Hercules movie and has no actual precedent from Greek mythology.
Not totally true since Hades as the eldest brother of the God’s should have by rights been the ruler of Mt. Olympus and not the crappy Underworld, he kinda got screwed. And he has a history of being a d-bag in certain myths and the ancient greeks were terrified of him with his connection to death and all.
But he wasn’t in Clash of the Titans originally.
I just really wish they’d stop remaking every single movie my family ever rented on Betamax when I was 3.
So long as they don’t touch ‘the NeverEnding story’ I’m good
Um, they’re redoing that one too…http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=53283
OMG, I’d die if they remade that. The original is full of too many good memories.
Oh Hell to the No! what happened to screenwriters? aren’t there people writing screenplays in hollywood? why remake Neverending story??????????
It looks like they’re embracing the cheese, and to that I say amen. As Harryhausen films go, Clash is pretty clunky. But I’m glad to see that in spiffing it up, they’re not going all serious. For pete’s sake, it’s not high art. Have fun with it!
Loved it!! I have still yet to see a movie with Sam Worthington in, it, but he keeps getting cast as the lead so it may be interesting to watch. But the trailer looks kick-ass. Can’t wait to see it.
Great rock video!
You keep the giant scorpion, but you ditch the R2D2 homage? Not cool. The original is still one of my favorite childhood memories. I don’t mind a remake as there’s so much rich material to be mined from Greek mythology, but I hope they bring more to the table than CGI scorpions and Voldemort (And, yes, I know Voldemort’s not really in the movie…)
I totally agree. Looks like it might just be another summer – let’s throw everything we can into the mix and hope it sticks – blockbuster.