Sunday 15 April 2012

ONE TO WATCH: WRATH OF THE TITANS (CINEMA)



"1981 fantasy adventure Clash of the Titans wasn’t a great film, but a big part of me still loves it to this day. The 2010 remake certainly had potential, but Louis Leterrier got pretty much everything wrong, with Sam Worthington’s first appearance as Perseus beheaded by the titans of monstrous 3D. It made plenty of money though, and now Jonathan Liebesman (Battle Los Angeles) has been given the unenviable task of slaying those otherworldly demons. Set ten years after the original, demi-god Perseus has a son, Zeus (Liam Neeson) has been kidnapped by his brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes), and CG-giant Kronos is making a pact with weak-minded fools happy to see fiery Titans set upon the world again.

Sam Worthington’s hair looks ridiculous, much of the dialogue is cringe worthy, and Toby Kebbell (as Perseus’ cousin Agenor) irritates as often as he amuses, but there’s still plenty to enjoy from this bombastic sequel. The action sequences are aided by an impressive use of 3D, with Wrath of the Titans embracing all that is good about the format. The monster effects are ravishing, the action sequences thrilling, and Neeson and Fiennes are afforded plenty of screen time – providing the clumsy script with much needed gravitas. Newcomer Pike gets more to do than Davalos ever did, and Bill Nighy more than amused my girlfriend with his drunken portrayal of fallen God Hephaestus.

Wrath of the Titans may lack depth, but 90 minutes fly by with an endless parade of terrifying Titans, magnificent monsters and god-like scene stealing from the powers that be. Hardly a classic but fun all the same, 3D hasn’t looked this good since James Cameron’s Avatar." AW


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