MOVIE REVIEW: "Clash"

If you know your Greek mythology, it's probably wise to stay away from "Clash of the Titans" or go in prepared to say "whaaa?" a lot. This is a film loosely based on mythology and the Ray Harryhausen film of the same name from the early 1980s. It's neither a faithful remake nor a particularly good film. The special effects are good, but everything else is so lackluster that it's hard to justify the expense of seeing it in theaters, let alone in 3D, unless you're really, really interested in effects.

Sam Worthington, who was last seen in the even more effects-laden "Avatar," plays Perseus, a demigod unwilling to accept his heritage or powers. Perseus wants to be a man, a member of the forces defying the gods. You see, humanity is turning against Mount Olympus, tearing down statues and ceasing to pray to Zeus and company. Since the gods maintain their immortality by feeding off the adoration and love in prayers, this is a problem.

Zeus (Liam Neeson) feels humanity needs to be taught a lesson, and so he allows his brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes) to release the Kraken, a beast made from Hades' own flesh and thus impossible to kill. The Kraken is to be set upon Argos, and Hades warns the city that unless they sacrifice their beloved princess Andromeda (Alexa Davelos) to the beast, the entire place will be destroyed. They have 10 days to make up their minds.

Perseus and a group of soldiers and hunters set off to ask the Stygian Witches how to defeat the
encounter many monsters along the way. There are the giant scorpions, familiar to folks who have seen the original, and Acrisius (Jason Flemyng), once a human and now a strange monster changed by Hades. Eventually Perseus must face Medusa, in a battle that almost redeems the film in terms of action.

The film almost has something interesting to say about what it is to be human, but Perseus' insistence on ignoring his powers and refusing Zeus' offers to assist him is inconsistent enough that no coherent theme can be drawn out of his actions. Heck, the dialog is sometimes barely coherent. This is not a film to see if you are looking for beautiful dialog or thought-provoking ideas.

The effects, however, are impressive for the most part and often beautifully designed. Zeus' throne room on Mount Olympus takes the concept from the original film and scales it up beautifully. The Kraken is enormous and even more impressive in the film than in the glimpses we see in the previews. Hades' entrances and exits, as well as his manifestations of power, are full of the smoke and lava-like glow one might expect of the lord of the underworld. Connoisseurs of computer graphics should be sure to see this, ideally in 3D. Those who dislike hand-held camerawork, however, should be aware that 3D makes it even more nausea-inducing.

Whether "Clash of the Titans" is worth the cost of a ticket to see will depend entirely on your priorities. If you just want exciting action and amazing special effects and don't care about the story, dialogue, or characters, this is a must-see. If, however, you prefer your films to have a bit of substance to them, stay away.