Maybe I’m the only one who sees the Ralph Fiennes-Josie Scott thing. Oh well.
Really, though–Clash of the Titans was a perfectly lovely way to spend an afternoon. It reminded me of the kind of movies they used to play on St. Louis’ KPLR Channel 11 on Sunday afternoons. Each weekend, I’d cue up a fresh blank VHS cassette, set to capture three more gems for my sad little collection. I’d wager I was the only 11-year-old in the country who was actually proud to call Johnny Dangerously, Doctor Detroit, and Leonard Part 6 part of my film library.
The original Clash was certainly in there somewhere. I tried rewatching it recently and made it about halfway through before passing out. It’s certainly the kind of flick that’s easier to admire than enjoy, and that’s entirely thanks to Ray Harryhausen’s work. Watching it certainly doesn’t deliver the kind of visceral kick you get from, say, the giant scorpion fight in the 2010 version, but you gotta admire the skillz on display there. The Medusa scene alone is worth rewatching over and over.
Heresy though it may be, I’d put both versions on about the same plane, in terms of enjoyability. I doubt Louis Leterrier’s version will age as well, but at least it’s got some kick to it.
Luke
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