Clash of the Titans Review: The Kraken Has Been Released

Videos

Pegasus

see larger video

sourced by Jon Azpiri

• 

  Created by Jon Azpiri | add comment

• 

  Created by Jordan Yerman | add comment

The Kraken Has Been Released Thanks to a New Version of Clash of the Titans. Is the New Version Any Good? Here is a Clash of the Titans Review Along With Some Clash of the Titans Reviews From Top Critics

Thirtysomething nerds everywhere have been anxiously awaiting the release of the new Clash of the Titans. The 1981 version of Clash of the Titans was a part of many a geek's childhood. One friend of mine could recite the first five minutes of the film by heart when he was six years old. His parents would ask him perform the opening of the film in front of relatives.

A lot of old school Clash of the Titans fans are wondering: Is the new Clash of the Titans any good or should I just stay home and watch my VHS copy of the original?

Well, let's just say that Clash of the Titans, to quote Dennis Green, is what you think think it is. It is a special effects extravaganza filled with sword play and fake British accents. If that's the sort of thing you're looking for, then you'll dig it.

Critics will no doubt point out that it's impossible to take the film seriously, but it's target audience likely doesn't want to. All the pomp and pageantry and silly accents are part of the deal.

What Happens in Clash of the Titans

For those who haven't seen the original, here's a quick rundown of the Clash of the Titans plot:

Greek gods lash out at humans who have gotten a little cocky and decided they can run things on their own. Zeus decides that something must be done and opens up a can of whoop-ass in the hopes of scaring the mortals of Argos back into shape. Hades, the god of the underworld, believes that what the world really need is a visit from his old buddy the Kraken, a sea creature even scarier than the Montauk Monster.

Enter Perseus, a young fisherman, who as it turns out is Zeus' bastard child. The Greek God had sired a bastard child and set Perseus and Zeus' baby mama out to sea. Once Perseus learned of his Jerry Springer-like past, he realized that he's the one that must unite humans and God.

Along the way, Perseus and his merry band of misfits take on giant sand scorpions and Medusa before taking on the Kraken.

You get the sense that a lot of the actors didn't stretch themselves too much for Clash of the Titans. Sam Worthington, who seems incapable of making a movie in 2D, is basically playing the same noble but inexperienced hero he did in Avatar. And Ralph Fiennes as Hades is basically getting another crack at playing Voldemort.

To be honest, the real stand-out performance is the Kraken, who I'm hoping will get a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 2011 Oscars.

All told, the new Clash of the Titans should offer enough for old school fans while inspiring a new generation of nerds to recite the dialogue in front of their parents.

Other Clash of the Titans Reviews

Early Clash of the Titans reviews haven't been too kind.

Roger Ebert recommends Clash of the Titans, but only if you like "goofy Greek gods."

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says the movie was overwrought and the line "Release the Kraken" should be "a camp time capsule."

Likewise, Claudia Puig of USA Today called Clash of the Titans a "colossal waste of time."