Clash of Titan-ic Proportions

As many nostalgia buffs flock to movie theaters to check out the 2010 remake of 1981 adventure/scifi classic "Clash of the Titans", just as many seem to be flocking to video stores to pick up copies of the original DVD release as well as recent remastered re-release.

It only took one glance at the trailer for the newly released remake to make me want two things - to not only see this new adaptation but to revisit the original as well. Unfortunately I was not alone in my desire to watch the original 1981 cheeky film and found area storms plum sold out! Luckily for me, and a few family members, one of my brother-in-laws was in town and we set about for a small family viewing and I have to say, as cheesy as the effects come off now, the film is just as enjoyable as when I watched it for the first time in an Atlanta movie theater years ago...and then countless times on television. Some movies I guess just stand the test of time.

Now by even 1981 standards, "Clash of the Titans" was a little behind as far as special effects are concerned. The film actually makes a nod to original adventure/scifi stop animation films of the sixties such as Jason and the Argonauts and the countless Sinbad movies that came out during that time. In 1981 it had already been a few years since Star Wars blew kids and adults alike away with stunning visuals. But somehow "Clash of the Titans" worked and oddly enough...still works.

While perhaps the visuals were not that ground breaking, the cast itself was stellar featuring such great actors of the day such as Laurence Olivier as Zues, Claire Bloom as Hera, Ursela Andress as Aphrodite, Jack Gwillem as Poseidon, and Burgess Meredith as Ammon. Throw in young up and coming actor Harry Hamlin as hero and leading character Perseus and what a cast!

In "Clash of the Titans" a baby Perseus and his mother are sent off into exile via a crate dumped into the sea. This is the first of many pieces that parallel parts of the bible in very interesting fashion. The two land on an island, Persius grows up, is courted by Zeus (who turns out to be his father) to reclaim his birth kingdom, and before you know it, Persius is off to save the princess and battle giant scorpions, blind Stygian witches, not to mention mythological characters such as Medusa and the Kraken.

"Clash of the Titans" circa 1981 is one of my fave movies of all time and I'm hoping that the new version at least comes close to living up to the original. But why take my word for it? Check out the entire original film itself below...and then watch the trailer for the 2010 remake.