Kampf der Titanen

I will never forget the packed cinema and the girl who was curled up next to me covering her eyes during the scene at the end of the film when the Kraken goes to get Andromeda and Perseus flies on his winged horse to save her. It was a massive hit. The technical aspect of the film will seem ridiculous to the current generation, but those who like the work of visual effects legend Ray Harryhausen will be satisfied. His work is clearly recognizable since 20 Million Miles to Earth and its quality hasn't changed much. Here and there some naive and glaringly obvious rear projection and Harryhausen's typical figures moved by stop motion photography, which I like much better than contemporary digital effects, because it makes a more vivid impression. Calibos, Kraken, Pegasus, giant scorpions, there’s plenty of eye candy, and especially Medusa, who looks very good even today and is impressive enough to leave most CGI monsters in the dust. Clash of the Titans oozes with an atmosphere of ancient myths that many genre-related films can only dream of. And one cannot fail to mention Laurence Olivier with his handsome beard, whose Zeus, twirled with overwhelming elegance and poise, is perhaps the best the history of cinema. Oh, and one more thing, the line "Release the Kraken!" became very popular and was used to describe an activity unpleasant to one's surroundings. Some veterans may remember :) (12.01.2005)

One of the first movies that I ever saw at the movie theater and the first that I never forgot and never will. Nostalgia has a huge influence on my memories of when I saw the wonderfully grandiose Clash of the Titans, and so, even after all these years I find it impossible to claim that it is bad. Because it simply isn’t. Sure, in technical terms it has aged sooner than a twenty-six year old should, but its atmosphere and magic remains to this day. This compensates for the fact that the main protagonist is an uncharismatic dandy smothered in oil and so it is the British acting elite in the supporting roles who make more of an impression. The greatest trump card of this picture are creatures from Ray Harryhausen’s workshop. Clash of the Titans remains one of the very few productions dealing with Greek myths and that makes it attractive even now in the first years of the twenty-first century. (09.02.2022)

A class more atmospheric, suspenseful and sincere than the new remake. A legend of my childhood. (21.06.2014)

One of the films I'd give anything to see in the cinema at the time of its release (or if I had a time machine, I'd just go round the premieres of these glorious blockbusters right after I'd been delighted by Helen of Troy). It's not perfect from a narrative standpoint, occasionally lingering on impressive visuals and leaving some of the plot with a question mark, but overall, it’s just a wonderful piece of adventure filmmaking that will never lose my deep favour. Harryhausen's much talked about effects are magical and simply vivid, and no film has been able to so compellingly portray ancient mythology and effortlessly bring together so many iconic mythical figures. And it doesn't have to be action-packed in the style of the moronic remake for the story to retain its dark tension and consistent atmosphere – the best example is the jellyfish passage, which wouldn't be out of place in Lord of the Rings. And Laurence Rosenthal composed one of the most beautiful film soundtracks... Deserved cult status. 85% (15.05.2018)

I’m not going to lie; my rating couldn't be more nostalgic. I remember exactly which grade of elementary school I was in when I first saw the film at the (now closed) movie theater. I remember how I went to see it again on the two subsequent days, and I remember how excited I was about it. And that’s really saying something; I usually don't even remember what I did the day before. The film had been among my five-star favorites for years, so I'm a little sad to realize it’s no longer true. I do take into account the year when the film was made, but the level of special effects was severely disappointing on today’s rewatch. And as if that wasn't enough, the plot was also somewhat unsatisfactory, and it just wasn’t possible to experience the same kind of excitement anymore. Still, I was decently entertained by this fable, or shall I say horror fairy-tale. While I’m aware that it objectively doesn't deserve such a high rating, I’m giving it a subjective four. / Lesson learned: If there are gods in the story, no logic is necessary. All you need to do is believe. (28.08.2022)

This is such a magnificent classic that I simply cannot give anything less than 100%. This film enchanted me as a boy and only now do I realize that I had already succumbed to the animation of Ray Harryhausen. This love still endures and I adore his creations, whether they are artistic or in terms of movement and tricks. An incredible artist who should be constantly adored. He and Zeman achieved something that no one else did. They showcased stop motion in the best light. The remake of this original film doesn't even come close. Not even to the tips of the toes. (08.01.2016)