Movie Review - Clash of the Titans (2010)

Boy how times have changed.  No claymation this time around only some really realistic effects.  The movie I speak of is the remake of Clash of the Titans.  IMDB - Post

I grew up watching the original movie from 1981.  I'm sure that I didn't understand half of what was in the movie back then, being that I was eight years old when the movie came out.  I couldn't have been but 10 or 12 when I saw it for the first time.  It was impressive back then but it doesn't hold a candle to this new version.

Clash of the Titans was amazingly well done.  The special effects were epic, the costumes were great, the acting was excellent.  I'm not sure who had to fit the wings on the horse for the Pegasus, but I'm sure that was the worst job ever.  Of course I am kidding, I know it was done digitally.  The effect is completely believable and realistic, which is the reason I made the comment.

The cast is a mix of Hollywood greats and unknowns.  The biggest star in the film is a personal favorite of mine Liam Neeson, known for his role as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace.  Liam portrays Zeus in this film, and he brings his wisdom and experience to bear.  The main character of Perseus is played by Sam Worthington.  Sam is best know from his role as Jake Sully in the movie Avatar.  Sam does a good job portraying the anger of Perseus in this film.  The rest of the actors are relative newcomers but they do a magnificent job.  Prime example is Gemma Arterton as Io, she has a remarkable way of speaking that lends itself well to her roll.

We start the film with a lowly fisherman who finds a crate floating up to his boat seemingly from the sea floor.  In the crate is a baby and his mother, the mother did not survive but the boy is fine.  The fisherman who has no children of his own takes the boy in and raises him as his own.

We then show Mt. Olympus and the gods talking.  We learn how the gods depend on mankind's praise and worship.  We also learn the gods are receiving less and less of mankind worship.  Flash forward and we show a grown up Perseus and his family on their fishing boat coming up to an island with a giant statue of Zeus.  As they pass the statue we see a group of humans tearing down the statue.  This brings upon the wrath of the gods and Perseus family is killed in the act of retribution when Hades sees them.  This sets forth a series of events that helps to shape who Perseus is and why he behaves the way he does.

I really liked the movie, it was updated very well and it felt fresh.  It makes me want to revisit the original now that I'm grown up.

If you really like fantasy movies, or even just epic action movies I think you will like this movie.

I rate this movie four out of five smiley Mike heads.

Movie Review - The Illusionist

This movie represents what I love about movies.  It is great entertainment and it keeps you guessing until the end of the movie.  IMDB - Post  When done right this is an amazing ride through the film.  The Illusionist has most certainly done this right. 

It is set in turn of the century Vienna so as with many other period pieces you have wonderful settings, costumes.  At the start we have a man on stage performing an act of magic who is about to be arrested.  We then turn back the clock and tell his story.  It is perhaps an overdone way of telling a story but I like it nonetheless.  

We have the character of Inspector Uhl as played by Paul Giamatti who narrates the story of Eisenheim's life prior to him being on stage in that moment.  We learn of the young love of two people from different walks of life.  Eisenheim as played by Edward Norton is a traveling Illusionist who happens to meet the Dutchess Sophia VanTeshen.  The Dutchess Sophia VanTeshen is played by Jessica Biel whom performs quite well in this film.  They quickly fall in love but are separated by the caste system, him being a peasant and her being a Dutchess.  Of course the reality sets in when parents and court members work to part them.

Eisenheim then travels the world forgetting about home to learn the secrets of illusion.  When he comes back to Vienna he opens his own show and quickly draws the interest of the Crown Prince Leopold.  The Crown Prince Leopold who is played by Rufus Sewell is a ruthless, dangerous, and power hungry man.

The plot thickens when The Crown Prince sends his escort up to be a volunteer from the audience.  His escort turns out to be none other than the Dutchess Sophia VanTeshen.  Eisenheim then begins to plans on how he can steal her away from him.  This is when the real fun of the movie begins.  We begin to twist our way through this tangled plot we have many fun events that take place.

As I have mentioned at the beginning of this review I really enjoyed this film.  The twists are all fairly original and are very entertaining.  As mentioned the costumes are truly beautiful to behold, I can't speak of their period correctness but they are all wonderfully crafted.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone, for any reason.  I truly had a wonderful time watching it and this review is just as fun to write.

I rate this film five out of five smiley Mike heads.

The Illusionist - Widescreen Edition