Ray Harryhausen: A Titan With Class

Clash of the Titans hit theaters this past weekend and from what I understand, the effects are only so-so. In fact, here’s what some other sources have to say:

Harry from Ain’t it Cool News says:

“By making Medusa’s face beautiful & pale… she looks like bad, character-less CG. Sure, Ray Harryhausen’s Medusa moved about as quickly as Karloff’s MUMMY, but she LOOKED creepy. With one one-thousandth of the animation controls – Harryhausen’s MEDUSA was tragic, deadly and awesome far beyond the modern Medusa in Leterrier’s version.”

And then there’s this from Joe Morgenstern from the Wall Street Journal:

“A few more 3-D spectacles like “Clash of the Titans” and audiences will be clamoring for 2-D.”

And finally, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone goes here:

“So you’ll be paying up to six bucks extra for a ticket to wear 3D glasses you don’t need. Take off your glasses during a movie actually filmed in 3D and you’ll see a blurry image. Take off your glasses during Clash of the Titans and everything looks normal.”

Yeah, so, there goes any interest I had in this movie. Beyond even all of this, apparently the acting is quite contrived and vapidly wooden as well. Super. Well, I guess it just goes to show that remakes aren’t always what’s for dinner, especially if the original is, was, and for ever will be, a classic.

Which brings me right to my point. The effects wizardry behind the 1981 original were done by, as everyone ought to know, Ray Harryhausen. Rather that go on a complete tour of what this amazing genius gave to Hollywood, just check out his Wiki entry right HERE.

And here are 15 reasons remaking any more Harryhausen flicks will only result in heart break.

1949

Mighty Joe Young

1954

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

1958

The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad

1955

It Came From Beneath The Sea

1956

Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers

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1957

20 Million Miles to Earth

1960

The Three Worlds of Gulliver

1961

Mysterious Island

1963

Jason and the Argonauts

1964

First Men in the Moon

1966

One Million Years, B.C.

1969

The Valley of Gwangi

1974

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

1977

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger

1981

Clash of the Titans