Reviews (95)

classic Harryhausen epic; finally on DVD
I remember watching this film in awe and rapture the first time when I was at school, studying Greek mythology. This classic good-defeating-evil story is always a dizzying adventure from start to finish.

CLASH OF THE TITANS tells the story of young Perseus (Harry Hamlin - TV's "L.A. Law"), the illegitimate son of the god Zeus (Laurence Olivier). Perseus discovers his ultimate destiny when he is mysteriously transported to the city of Joppa. There, he learns of the fair Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who is doomed to live her life challenging suitors with impossible riddles, given to her by the deformed Calibos.

Perseus solves her riddle, and is about to marry her, when the angered patron goddess of Joppa, Thetis (Maggie Smith), denounces the union and orders that Andromeda be chained to the foot of the sacrificial stone in a month's time, to be fed to the last of the Titans, the Kraken.

Perseus must find a way to defeat the Kraken, and sets off on a perilous quest to discover the answer...

Gorgeous romantic-adventure. Laurence Rosenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the movie. Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion effects look quite obvious in this new digital age, but serve their purpose wonderfully.

Also starring Burgess Meredith, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress, Sian Phillips and Flora Robson.

The DVD includes the featurette "A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen", "Map of Myths and Monsters" feature and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

Greek Epic Myth On DVD: Fantasy Of High Calibre
1981: Ray Harryhousen made the special effects, monsters and clay "creations" for this Greek epic myth about the heroic deeds of Perseus. Harryhousen had previously made the magic possible for such films as "Jason and the argonauts", another film revolving a Greek myth, and the sci-fi classic "Earth vs. the flying saucers." Harry Hamlin, tv actor from the 80's series L.A. Law (and a hot hunk I had a crush on as a girl), makes an impressive performance as the confident, toga-wearing, muscle-bound, swordsman Perseus, who defeats monsters, including the three headed dog from Hell and the sea monster Kraken.

British actress Dame Maggie Smith (from Sister Act films and Hook) and the esteemed British actor Laurence Olivier play the roles of the goddess Thetis and Zeus, who are involved in a bitter feud. Zeus protects Perseus, as he is his son by a mortal woman, but Thetis is upset that Zeus shows no mercy to the deformed Calabos, her son, who was once a handsome prince. Calabos has the princess Andromeda (Claire Bloom) under a dark spell. She will be married to the man who solves the nightly riddles she is given. Perseus solves the riddle and becomes engaged to Andromeda. But when the queen Cassiopeia elevates her daughter's beauty above that of their patron goddess Thetis, Thetis becomes so enraged she puts Andromeda in a tight spot. She will be the sacrificial victim for the hunger of the sea monster, the Kraken. Perseus journeys to the Underworld, defeates the snake-haired Medusa and with his friends, the old wise man, the winged white horse Pegasus and a robotic owl (who chirps and buzzes almost like R2D2 in Star Wars). He frees Andromeda, who as the classical myth dictates, was chaind to a rock by the sea, and the ending is a very happy one.

Thanks to the fine acting by Harry Hamlin, whose heroism comes through as shining as Perseus (not to mention his good looks), Andromeda (Claire Bloom), Maggie Smith as the vindictive goddess and Zeus (Laurence Olivier) as an eloquent, authoritarian king of the gods. The London Symphony Orchestra fills the soundtrack with lofty themes, romantic melody and dramatic highlights. One of these highlights is the moment when Perseus tames Pegasus. This film was a classic in the 80's and is still great to watch, especially with the magic of DVD. A must have for fantasy fans, a great addition to fantasy films. Look for "Jason and the Argonauts" with Harryhausen effects, equally a match to this film, although dating from an earlier time, the 60's.

not for the new school kids
its hard to say what a child born in the last ten years will think of this film. they'll probably laugh. and realistically unless you're a film student studying stop motion techniques im not sure any adult would enjoy it either. its target audience is children of the seventies who originally saw this film in the theaters as a youth. i am within this group and i love this film. for most 80's kids Clash of the Titans was the first film to convince us that greek mythology was as cool as Indiana Jones. granted, the film took some liberties with the history and added some characters that didnt exist but it was all done with good purpose. even in the 80's the film was really aimed at kids and only Ray Harryhausen's stop motion animation drew in the adults. the story was weak and the acting was passable but visually it was breathtaking even by today's standards.

EXCELLENT
This is my all time favorie Harryhausen film. The story and acting are good and the effects are amazing even today! I love the characters here and the creatures from the mythology we all love. This is a great addition to anyone who loves a good escape or a great fantasy adventure! The Dvd presented is pretty good as the digital transfer is good, not perfect but good and the film is in widescreen uncut and in its original form. An A in my book!

Simply an excellent viewing experience
"Clash of the Titans" is a movie which I'll never get tired of, no matter how many times I've seen it. It just has it all: a great story, adventure, romance, excitement, mythology, and countless other qualities which make it such an enjoyable film to watch over and over again.

One thing that especially stands out about "Clash of the Titans" is the special effects. I don't care what anyone says, no multi-million dollar CGI special effect can ever be as cool as the stop-motion special effects used in this movie. Some might say that it's dated. Well perhaps it is, but they did such a great job in creating the monsters (especially Medusa) that one can only marvel at them. And the fact that this movie is over 20 years old makes it even more impressive.

The DVD presentation isn't superb but it's definitely more than substantial. Image and sound quality have been improved quite a lot from the old video format. Bonus features are good but one can't help feeling that more could have been included, perhaps some deleted scenes. Still, this excellent movie finally being available on DVD is reason enough to be thrilled. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You have a classic tale full of drama, passion, and adventure. A tale of universal archetypes that speak to everyone. A tale that has remained unfailingly popular for thousands of years. Why not spice it up with a wacky mechanical owl? Such was the thinking behind Clash of the Titans. Maggie Smith, Laurence Olivier, and Harry Hamlin (one of these things is not like the others...) star in a toga-ripper about a valiant hero, capricious immortals, and lots and lots of giant stop-action monsters. Perseus (Hamlin) is the favored son of the god Zeus (Olivier), but he has unwittingly ticked off the sea goddess Thetis (Smith). Just to make things worse, Perseus falls in love with the lovely Princess Andromeda, who used to be engaged to Thetis's son. Soon Perseus is off on one quest after another, with Zeus helping, Thetis hindering, and lots of innocent bystanders getting stabbed, drowned, and squished. Of course, the whole thing is just an excuse to show as much of Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animation as possible, and good thing too. It's an old technique, but it still looks pretty darn cool, and it means the cast can just relax and do a bunch of reaction shots. Don't use this one to study for that big classical mythology exam, but if you just turn your brain off and enjoy the Kraken, it's pretty good fun. --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (95)

classic Harryhausen epic; finally on DVD
I remember watching this film in awe and rapture the first time when I was at school, studying Greek mythology. This classic good-defeating-evil story is always a dizzying adventure from start to finish.

CLASH OF THE TITANS tells the story of young Perseus (Harry Hamlin - TV's "L.A. Law"), the illegitimate son of the god Zeus (Laurence Olivier). Perseus discovers his ultimate destiny when he is mysteriously transported to the city of Joppa. There, he learns of the fair Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who is doomed to live her life challenging suitors with impossible riddles, given to her by the deformed Calibos.

Perseus solves her riddle, and is about to marry her, when the angered patron goddess of Joppa, Thetis (Maggie Smith), denounces the union and orders that Andromeda be chained to the foot of the sacrificial stone in a month's time, to be fed to the last of the Titans, the Kraken.

Perseus must find a way to defeat the Kraken, and sets off on a perilous quest to discover the answer...

Gorgeous romantic-adventure. Laurence Rosenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the movie. Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion effects look quite obvious in this new digital age, but serve their purpose wonderfully.

Also starring Burgess Meredith, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress, Sian Phillips and Flora Robson.

The DVD includes the featurette "A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen", "Map of Myths and Monsters" feature and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

Greek Epic Myth On DVD: Fantasy Of High Calibre
1981: Ray Harryhousen made the special effects, monsters and clay "creations" for this Greek epic myth about the heroic deeds of Perseus. Harryhousen had previously made the magic possible for such films as "Jason and the argonauts", another film revolving a Greek myth, and the sci-fi classic "Earth vs. the flying saucers." Harry Hamlin, tv actor from the 80's series L.A. Law (and a hot hunk I had a crush on as a girl), makes an impressive performance as the confident, toga-wearing, muscle-bound, swordsman Perseus, who defeats monsters, including the three headed dog from Hell and the sea monster Kraken.

British actress Dame Maggie Smith (from Sister Act films and Hook) and the esteemed British actor Laurence Olivier play the roles of the goddess Thetis and Zeus, who are involved in a bitter feud. Zeus protects Perseus, as he is his son by a mortal woman, but Thetis is upset that Zeus shows no mercy to the deformed Calabos, her son, who was once a handsome prince. Calabos has the princess Andromeda (Claire Bloom) under a dark spell. She will be married to the man who solves the nightly riddles she is given. Perseus solves the riddle and becomes engaged to Andromeda. But when the queen Cassiopeia elevates her daughter's beauty above that of their patron goddess Thetis, Thetis becomes so enraged she puts Andromeda in a tight spot. She will be the sacrificial victim for the hunger of the sea monster, the Kraken. Perseus journeys to the Underworld, defeates the snake-haired Medusa and with his friends, the old wise man, the winged white horse Pegasus and a robotic owl (who chirps and buzzes almost like R2D2 in Star Wars). He frees Andromeda, who as the classical myth dictates, was chaind to a rock by the sea, and the ending is a very happy one.

Thanks to the fine acting by Harry Hamlin, whose heroism comes through as shining as Perseus (not to mention his good looks), Andromeda (Claire Bloom), Maggie Smith as the vindictive goddess and Zeus (Laurence Olivier) as an eloquent, authoritarian king of the gods. The London Symphony Orchestra fills the soundtrack with lofty themes, romantic melody and dramatic highlights. One of these highlights is the moment when Perseus tames Pegasus. This film was a classic in the 80's and is still great to watch, especially with the magic of DVD. A must have for fantasy fans, a great addition to fantasy films. Look for "Jason and the Argonauts" with Harryhausen effects, equally a match to this film, although dating from an earlier time, the 60's.

not for the new school kids
its hard to say what a child born in the last ten years will think of this film. they'll probably laugh. and realistically unless you're a film student studying stop motion techniques im not sure any adult would enjoy it either. its target audience is children of the seventies who originally saw this film in the theaters as a youth. i am within this group and i love this film. for most 80's kids Clash of the Titans was the first film to convince us that greek mythology was as cool as Indiana Jones. granted, the film took some liberties with the history and added some characters that didnt exist but it was all done with good purpose. even in the 80's the film was really aimed at kids and only Ray Harryhausen's stop motion animation drew in the adults. the story was weak and the acting was passable but visually it was breathtaking even by today's standards.

EXCELLENT
This is my all time favorie Harryhausen film. The story and acting are good and the effects are amazing even today! I love the characters here and the creatures from the mythology we all love. This is a great addition to anyone who loves a good escape or a great fantasy adventure! The Dvd presented is pretty good as the digital transfer is good, not perfect but good and the film is in widescreen uncut and in its original form. An A in my book!

Simply an excellent viewing experience
"Clash of the Titans" is a movie which I'll never get tired of, no matter how many times I've seen it. It just has it all: a great story, adventure, romance, excitement, mythology, and countless other qualities which make it such an enjoyable film to watch over and over again.

One thing that especially stands out about "Clash of the Titans" is the special effects. I don't care what anyone says, no multi-million dollar CGI special effect can ever be as cool as the stop-motion special effects used in this movie. Some might say that it's dated. Well perhaps it is, but they did such a great job in creating the monsters (especially Medusa) that one can only marvel at them. And the fact that this movie is over 20 years old makes it even more impressive.

The DVD presentation isn't superb but it's definitely more than substantial. Image and sound quality have been improved quite a lot from the old video format. Bonus features are good but one can't help feeling that more could have been included, perhaps some deleted scenes. Still, this excellent movie finally being available on DVD is reason enough to be thrilled. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Agatha Christie mysteries, like stories about Sherlock Holmes, form their own little universe--and therein lies their appeal. Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence features Donald Sutherland (the great star of MASH and Klute) as Arthur Calgary, a paleontologist who's just come back after two years in the Antarctic to return a man's address book, only to discover that the man was hanged for murder--and that he was this man's only alibi. Disturbed, Calgary starts to investigate, and discovers that no one much cares if the dead man was innocent or not, and that most everyone in his family might well have wanted to kill both him and his victim (his own mother, played in flashbacks by Faye Dunaway). The plot unfolds skillfully, with all the precision of a Swiss clock; the actors (including Christopher Plummer of The Sound of Music and Sarah Miles of Blow-Up) are all excellent; and the movie gives the mystery an added bite by suggesting that the investigation does more harm than the original crime. A particularly well-done Christie adaptation, featuring a jaunty score by jazz great Dave Brubeck, which lends an unusual flavor to the proceedings. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Mature Mystery
This is not the usual light mystery associated with Agatha. Here she has called up the more mature dark Victorian style of her English heritage. I like the change and the unbalanced ending (more real-life.)

A fairly good movie with one fatal flaw!
This is actually not a bad film.... but there is one thing that totally destroys the film and makes it nearly unwatchable.... the obnoxious and repetitive tonalities of the old 1960s "Take Five" album by Dave Brubeck played to exhaustion as a substitute for a real soundtrack score. The album played loudly over the dialog in this movie for almost it's entirety. The album was a mildly successful bit of vinyl back when, but what on earth this out-dated American jazz recording has to do with the quiet, moody and haunting vistas in this lovely English film is totally beyond my thinking. John Addison, Mike Batt, Carl Davis or another fine English or American composer would have made this a real gem at the box office and on video.... but all is not lost.... a suggestion......

The film company can remove the ridiculous and clumbsy soundtrack, have a new one composed, and re-release this otherwise fine film with a real orchestral score......or at the very least, have a musician create a lovely and haunting solo piano score for this otherwise fine film and make a new "directors cut"!!!

Incidently, Dunaway, as always is the highlight in this film... she is awesome.... we just need to be able to see and hear her great performance without the afore mentioned loud and inappropriate 60s jazz music in the background.

Ordeal by Innocence Video
Ordeal by Innocence was one of Agatha Christie's three favorites. This video was not true to Dame Christie's style. Her books are gentile with fascinating plot twists and mystery. They don't have gore, suspense, violence, bad language, nor nudity. This movie had all those things and none of the Christie charm.

once the murder was solved, the real mystery began
I can't recall a music score that has so blighted a film since the rock songs that drown out the dialogue in Hal Ashby's Coming Home, and the last thing a whodunnit needs is distraction. Director Desmond Davis uses the score by Dave Brubeck so unnecessarily that it spoils the odd moment when it is actually effective, and also undermines his interesting use of cross-cutting. Agatha Christie's mysteries are like jigsaw puzzles, and the fun is trying to keep ahead of the investigator, when bodies are piling up and the suspects multiplying. And the setup here of an innocent man convicted and hanged hiding the real killer has an innovative twist. Given genre conventions we're prepared to accept the notion of Donald Sutherland as the dead man's alibi, returning to seek out the truth, even though he isn't a policeman (he's a palentologist ie digging up the past) and even if Sutherland wearing a high coloured coat poses like Dracula. And Davis supplies the thriller cliches - a screaming cat, a near miss gunshot, a murderous chasing car, with filming in Dartmouth England providing smoky locations. The use of flashbacks during a confession (in black and white so we get it) is an attempt to make the material less talking heads, but the repetition of dialogue as memory for emphasis seems odd. The adaptation by Alexander Stuart features a funny exchange - "He didn't do it, he loved her. That's usually a pretty good motive for murder", as the murdered, Faye Dunaway looks very beautiful in flashback, and Sara Miles is fun as a drunk, but the climax as revelation is rather low-key, and the final act denied it's heroic due. ... Read more

Reviews (95)

classic Harryhausen epic; finally on DVD
I remember watching this film in awe and rapture the first time when I was at school, studying Greek mythology. This classic good-defeating-evil story is always a dizzying adventure from start to finish.

CLASH OF THE TITANS tells the story of young Perseus (Harry Hamlin - TV's "L.A. Law"), the illegitimate son of the god Zeus (Laurence Olivier). Perseus discovers his ultimate destiny when he is mysteriously transported to the city of Joppa. There, he learns of the fair Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who is doomed to live her life challenging suitors with impossible riddles, given to her by the deformed Calibos.

Perseus solves her riddle, and is about to marry her, when the angered patron goddess of Joppa, Thetis (Maggie Smith), denounces the union and orders that Andromeda be chained to the foot of the sacrificial stone in a month's time, to be fed to the last of the Titans, the Kraken.

Perseus must find a way to defeat the Kraken, and sets off on a perilous quest to discover the answer...

Gorgeous romantic-adventure. Laurence Rosenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the movie. Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion effects look quite obvious in this new digital age, but serve their purpose wonderfully.

Also starring Burgess Meredith, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress, Sian Phillips and Flora Robson.

The DVD includes the featurette "A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen", "Map of Myths and Monsters" feature and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

Greek Epic Myth On DVD: Fantasy Of High Calibre
1981: Ray Harryhousen made the special effects, monsters and clay "creations" for this Greek epic myth about the heroic deeds of Perseus. Harryhousen had previously made the magic possible for such films as "Jason and the argonauts", another film revolving a Greek myth, and the sci-fi classic "Earth vs. the flying saucers." Harry Hamlin, tv actor from the 80's series L.A. Law (and a hot hunk I had a crush on as a girl), makes an impressive performance as the confident, toga-wearing, muscle-bound, swordsman Perseus, who defeats monsters, including the three headed dog from Hell and the sea monster Kraken.

British actress Dame Maggie Smith (from Sister Act films and Hook) and the esteemed British actor Laurence Olivier play the roles of the goddess Thetis and Zeus, who are involved in a bitter feud. Zeus protects Perseus, as he is his son by a mortal woman, but Thetis is upset that Zeus shows no mercy to the deformed Calabos, her son, who was once a handsome prince. Calabos has the princess Andromeda (Claire Bloom) under a dark spell. She will be married to the man who solves the nightly riddles she is given. Perseus solves the riddle and becomes engaged to Andromeda. But when the queen Cassiopeia elevates her daughter's beauty above that of their patron goddess Thetis, Thetis becomes so enraged she puts Andromeda in a tight spot. She will be the sacrificial victim for the hunger of the sea monster, the Kraken. Perseus journeys to the Underworld, defeates the snake-haired Medusa and with his friends, the old wise man, the winged white horse Pegasus and a robotic owl (who chirps and buzzes almost like R2D2 in Star Wars). He frees Andromeda, who as the classical myth dictates, was chaind to a rock by the sea, and the ending is a very happy one.

Thanks to the fine acting by Harry Hamlin, whose heroism comes through as shining as Perseus (not to mention his good looks), Andromeda (Claire Bloom), Maggie Smith as the vindictive goddess and Zeus (Laurence Olivier) as an eloquent, authoritarian king of the gods. The London Symphony Orchestra fills the soundtrack with lofty themes, romantic melody and dramatic highlights. One of these highlights is the moment when Perseus tames Pegasus. This film was a classic in the 80's and is still great to watch, especially with the magic of DVD. A must have for fantasy fans, a great addition to fantasy films. Look for "Jason and the Argonauts" with Harryhausen effects, equally a match to this film, although dating from an earlier time, the 60's.

not for the new school kids
its hard to say what a child born in the last ten years will think of this film. they'll probably laugh. and realistically unless you're a film student studying stop motion techniques im not sure any adult would enjoy it either. its target audience is children of the seventies who originally saw this film in the theaters as a youth. i am within this group and i love this film. for most 80's kids Clash of the Titans was the first film to convince us that greek mythology was as cool as Indiana Jones. granted, the film took some liberties with the history and added some characters that didnt exist but it was all done with good purpose. even in the 80's the film was really aimed at kids and only Ray Harryhausen's stop motion animation drew in the adults. the story was weak and the acting was passable but visually it was breathtaking even by today's standards.

EXCELLENT
This is my all time favorie Harryhausen film. The story and acting are good and the effects are amazing even today! I love the characters here and the creatures from the mythology we all love. This is a great addition to anyone who loves a good escape or a great fantasy adventure! The Dvd presented is pretty good as the digital transfer is good, not perfect but good and the film is in widescreen uncut and in its original form. An A in my book!

Simply an excellent viewing experience
"Clash of the Titans" is a movie which I'll never get tired of, no matter how many times I've seen it. It just has it all: a great story, adventure, romance, excitement, mythology, and countless other qualities which make it such an enjoyable film to watch over and over again.

One thing that especially stands out about "Clash of the Titans" is the special effects. I don't care what anyone says, no multi-million dollar CGI special effect can ever be as cool as the stop-motion special effects used in this movie. Some might say that it's dated. Well perhaps it is, but they did such a great job in creating the monsters (especially Medusa) that one can only marvel at them. And the fact that this movie is over 20 years old makes it even more impressive.

The DVD presentation isn't superb but it's definitely more than substantial. Image and sound quality have been improved quite a lot from the old video format. Bonus features are good but one can't help feeling that more could have been included, perhaps some deleted scenes. Still, this excellent movie finally being available on DVD is reason enough to be thrilled. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

An Undiscovered MODern Classic
If you love slapstick films or anything from the 1960s, this DVD is for you. This obscure film deserves to be seen and enjoyed by all lovers of the Swinging Sixties.

Rita Tushingham and Lynn Redgrave (Mollie Sugden from "Are You Being Served?" probably got the idea for her character's wigs after seeing Redgrave here) are two girls who decide to make their mark in Swinging London. This film was shot entirely on location and is filled with wonderful shots of Carnaby Street and 1960's London.

Tushingham, who appeared so vulnerable in "The Knack...and How to Get It", really shines in this comedic roll, especially in a scene where she sneaks into the apartment of the man who is trying to seduce a drunk Redgrave. The resulting sabotage is a pleasure to watch.

Anchor Bay released this in widesceen but there are no additional extras on it. After viewers see this, they'll not only wish that there had been some extras, they'll also wish that additional movies about these characters had been made.

Bloody brilliant! A lot of laughs!
You have to see this, if only to see a very young Lynn Redgrave! She and the always-talented Rita Tushingham are hilarious as a couple of young northern English lasses who decide to move to Swinging London in the middle of the 60's! Redgrave is a riot as a bossy over-bearing ego-maniac of a best friend, whose self-centeredness earns her all the bad karma she gets. Likewise, Tushingham plays to perfection the down-trodden buddy, the "plain jane" of the two who winds up, as all good underdogs do, well and truly on top! Best remembered as that weird 60's movie that ends in a meltdown at London's epitome of the swinging 60's - the Post Office tower - Smashing Time is fabulous, and I'm thrilled to find it on video in the U.S. Buy it!

Very groovy
For anyone fascinated by the London take on the swinging sixties circa 1966 to 67, this is the one to watch. Actually, there's not that much competition; The Knack is overrated and handicapped by being black and white (this was NOT the time to be black and white), Help! is outrageously cooky and more about the Beatles than the 60s. Darling, and Alfie also spring to mind, but they are less interested in the "scene" than this film is.

The plot is essentially a string of semi-independent set pieces strung together, some more successful than others, but for the 60s connoisseur the great thing is how they all set out to capture the mood and action of the time. Therefore, we have in the front line a hip photographer, a Northern girl manufactured into an overnight pop star, a wild party in the Post Office Tower revolving restaurant (that dates it, doesn't it? Before the bombs...), a far-out boutique named "Too Much" owned by a titled but trendy deb-type, and an "in" restaurant.

What the makers also capture, perhaps unwittingly, is the fact that hip London was just a tiny island in the middle of a sea of a country still emerging only slowly from the morass of post-war penury. So we also see the desperately grimy and dismal streets of London, the inside of a typical Camden café (and we are definitely talking caff here, not caf-fey) and a dismal example of ghastly exploitative TV (no great change there then).

The main thing is the sheer creative exuberance of the time and the joie-de-vivre of the young hipsters. The sixties were radically out of fashion by the Thatcherite eighties, and if you want to know why this film gives a few pointers. The self-confidence and self-importance of the time looked distinctly like adolescent innocence by the time London had run through the terrorism, recession, explosion of sex and violence in film and TV and near collapse of the country in the seventies. Fortunately for those of us with a soft spot for this kind of thing, the last ten years has seen a reevaluation which finally recognises just what a fantastically creative and imaginative period this was.

Not a film to watch for character development or depth, but unparalleled as an inside glimpse of a special corner of the sixties.

Oooh ....Smash-in! Great Nostalgia.
I was just culling my dvd collection and had this movie in the "out" box before I thought I'd have a look at it again. I'm glad I did. It is a wonderful 'time capsule' of Swingin' Sixties London filmed entirely on location. This is a great companion piece to Shawn Levy's book "Ready, Steady, Go!" It shows the fashions, furniture, cars and heads of the 60s but I don't know if this is a send-up of the "scene" or whether it really is the "scene". Either way it's kinda giddy. Two Northern girls arrive in London with high hopes of making it. After a dodgey start and having their money stolen, one (Redgrave) becomes a pop star and the other (Tushingham) a photograhers model. They have personality clashes, a few adventures with local weirdos, realize that there is no place like home, pack it in and take the train back up North. That's basically it. Not really funny anymore (the humor is embarrassing in some places) but great eye candy for jaded baby boomers like myself. The Anchor bay dvd has a good wide screen picture from a nice print. It is NOT anamorphic. There are absolutely no extras on the disc... not even a trailer. I think this obscure little film deserved at least a commentary from some of those concerned. I really enjoyed Spencer Davis' comments on Anchor Bay's "The Ghost Goes Gear" dvd..... another overlooked little gem. Not a classic by any means, but a charmimg little slice of the Sixties.

Smashing Indeed
This has to be one of the forgotten gems of the 60's. Hilariously funny, a riot from start to finish and it captures swinging London in an "Austin Powers" sort of way. Being from the UK myself its hard to believe that it's not available over here. If you want an easy to watch and very funny slice of 1960's Britain then this is the film for you. ... Read more

Description

The classic Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda re-told with an all-star cast. To win the right to marry his love (Andromeda) and fufill his destiny, Perseus must complete various tasks including taming Pegasus, capturing Medusa, and answering riddles. The result is a timeless adventure that's a treat for kids and adults. ... Read more

Reviews (95)

classic Harryhausen epic; finally on DVD
I remember watching this film in awe and rapture the first time when I was at school, studying Greek mythology. This classic good-defeating-evil story is always a dizzying adventure from start to finish.

CLASH OF THE TITANS tells the story of young Perseus (Harry Hamlin - TV's "L.A. Law"), the illegitimate son of the god Zeus (Laurence Olivier). Perseus discovers his ultimate destiny when he is mysteriously transported to the city of Joppa. There, he learns of the fair Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who is doomed to live her life challenging suitors with impossible riddles, given to her by the deformed Calibos.

Perseus solves her riddle, and is about to marry her, when the angered patron goddess of Joppa, Thetis (Maggie Smith), denounces the union and orders that Andromeda be chained to the foot of the sacrificial stone in a month's time, to be fed to the last of the Titans, the Kraken.

Perseus must find a way to defeat the Kraken, and sets off on a perilous quest to discover the answer...

Gorgeous romantic-adventure. Laurence Rosenthal's score perfectly captures the mood of the movie. Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion effects look quite obvious in this new digital age, but serve their purpose wonderfully.

Also starring Burgess Meredith, Claire Bloom, Ursula Andress, Sian Phillips and Flora Robson.

The DVD includes the featurette "A Conversation with Ray Harryhausen", "Map of Myths and Monsters" feature and the trailer. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

Greek Epic Myth On DVD: Fantasy Of High Calibre
1981: Ray Harryhousen made the special effects, monsters and clay "creations" for this Greek epic myth about the heroic deeds of Perseus. Harryhousen had previously made the magic possible for such films as "Jason and the argonauts", another film revolving a Greek myth, and the sci-fi classic "Earth vs. the flying saucers." Harry Hamlin, tv actor from the 80's series L.A. Law (and a hot hunk I had a crush on as a girl), makes an impressive performance as the confident, toga-wearing, muscle-bound, swordsman Perseus, who defeats monsters, including the three headed dog from Hell and the sea monster Kraken.

British actress Dame Maggie Smith (from Sister Act films and Hook) and the esteemed British actor Laurence Olivier play the roles of the goddess Thetis and Zeus, who are involved in a bitter feud. Zeus protects Perseus, as he is his son by a mortal woman, but Thetis is upset that Zeus shows no mercy to the deformed Calabos, her son, who was once a handsome prince. Calabos has the princess Andromeda (Claire Bloom) under a dark spell. She will be married to the man who solves the nightly riddles she is given. Perseus solves the riddle and becomes engaged to Andromeda. But when the queen Cassiopeia elevates her daughter's beauty above that of their patron goddess Thetis, Thetis becomes so enraged she puts Andromeda in a tight spot. She will be the sacrificial victim for the hunger of the sea monster, the Kraken. Perseus journeys to the Underworld, defeates the snake-haired Medusa and with his friends, the old wise man, the winged white horse Pegasus and a robotic owl (who chirps and buzzes almost like R2D2 in Star Wars). He frees Andromeda, who as the classical myth dictates, was chaind to a rock by the sea, and the ending is a very happy one.

Thanks to the fine acting by Harry Hamlin, whose heroism comes through as shining as Perseus (not to mention his good looks), Andromeda (Claire Bloom), Maggie Smith as the vindictive goddess and Zeus (Laurence Olivier) as an eloquent, authoritarian king of the gods. The London Symphony Orchestra fills the soundtrack with lofty themes, romantic melody and dramatic highlights. One of these highlights is the moment when Perseus tames Pegasus. This film was a classic in the 80's and is still great to watch, especially with the magic of DVD. A must have for fantasy fans, a great addition to fantasy films. Look for "Jason and the Argonauts" with Harryhausen effects, equally a match to this film, although dating from an earlier time, the 60's.

not for the new school kids
its hard to say what a child born in the last ten years will think of this film. they'll probably laugh. and realistically unless you're a film student studying stop motion techniques im not sure any adult would enjoy it either. its target audience is children of the seventies who originally saw this film in the theaters as a youth. i am within this group and i love this film. for most 80's kids Clash of the Titans was the first film to convince us that greek mythology was as cool as Indiana Jones. granted, the film took some liberties with the history and added some characters that didnt exist but it was all done with good purpose. even in the 80's the film was really aimed at kids and only Ray Harryhausen's stop motion animation drew in the adults. the story was weak and the acting was passable but visually it was breathtaking even by today's standards.

EXCELLENT
This is my all time favorie Harryhausen film. The story and acting are good and the effects are amazing even today! I love the characters here and the creatures from the mythology we all love. This is a great addition to anyone who loves a good escape or a great fantasy adventure! The Dvd presented is pretty good as the digital transfer is good, not perfect but good and the film is in widescreen uncut and in its original form. An A in my book!

Simply an excellent viewing experience
"Clash of the Titans" is a movie which I'll never get tired of, no matter how many times I've seen it. It just has it all: a great story, adventure, romance, excitement, mythology, and countless other qualities which make it such an enjoyable film to watch over and over again.

One thing that especially stands out about "Clash of the Titans" is the special effects. I don't care what anyone says, no multi-million dollar CGI special effect can ever be as cool as the stop-motion special effects used in this movie. Some might say that it's dated. Well perhaps it is, but they did such a great job in creating the monsters (especially Medusa) that one can only marvel at them. And the fact that this movie is over 20 years old makes it even more impressive.

The DVD presentation isn't superb but it's definitely more than substantial. Image and sound quality have been improved quite a lot from the old video format. Bonus features are good but one can't help feeling that more could have been included, perhaps some deleted scenes. Still, this excellent movie finally being available on DVD is reason enough to be thrilled. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This one's a dud also
I don't know what these other reviewers are thinking of. I'm a fan of Ian Richardson but he's awful in this and this version of the story is likewise awful. Save your money because it'll be a waste if you buy this tape. I know, I know, you'd think he'd be great at this role but it's a big disappointment.

Richardson leads the way in another solid Holmes tale.
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SIGN OF FOUR was the 2nd of 2 films that Ian Richardson starred in as the Great Detective, after HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Once again, the production values, and Richardson's warm and impeccable performance carry this flick. Cheri Lunghi (Queen Guenevere in EXCALIBUR)is a winning and winsome damsel-in-distress and David Healy's Dr. Watson is a great improvement on his HOUND counterpart, being much more realistic in the role. Of course, there are a couple liberties taken with the original tale, and the culprits are revealed rather early in the film for my taste, but it doesn't get in the way of a solid and entertaining thriller. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, I would definitely recommend this film.

Richardson great as Holmes, but...
the DVD is grainy, and the story does deviate from the text somewhat. The packaging is nicer than the one for the Richardson "Hound of the Baskervilles," but I would still say that the Granada version with Jeremy Brett is the better of the two.

Brilliant, thrilling and amazing
Of course it is always said but for the hundreth time: Ian Richardson is perhaps the best of all Holmses on screen. The film shows a very colourful and amazing version of the classic by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. But no more talking - watch it. The game is afoot!

Elementary!
Brilliant! Ian Richardson really does bring Holmes to life in this entertaining and clever adaption of 'The Sign of Four'. A brilliant story of pygmies, jewels and wooden legs, plus the usual amazing deductions made by Holmes with the help of Dr.Watson. Great viewing! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best Films-Ever!
I saw this first in 1975 and still remember the haunting scenes with Rita Tushingham. She plays sensitively yet without maudlin excess as the young single woman pregnant with her Jamaican boyfriend's baby, supported by her local friends including a Gay neighbor. An honest view of life in 60's Manchester,as well as the film debut of an excellent actress.

Kitchen Sink, Glistening and Brilliant
GIRL WITH GREEN EYES is a Woodfall film, one of those slice-of-life-in-the-UK pictures produced by Tony Richardson in the 60's, Britain's answer to the French New Wave. All are generally worthwhile views; this one is marvelous, with wonderful dialogue by Edna O'Brien from her novel, THE LONELY GIRL. Frequently laugh-out-loud funny and also quietly touching, not the easiest combination to pull off, but managed beautifully here. Rita Tushingham and Lynn Redgrave are simple and simply perfect as the country girls trying to make a go of life in Dublin, while Peter Finch strikes the proper note of bruised, reluctant romanticism as the object of Rita's pursuit. Almost forty years old, GIRL's as fresh as paint, could have been made yesterday. Tonic, rich and rewarding.

Wonderful artifact from the mid-Sixties
This is a very stylish story of a young Irish girl's affair with an older man. Part sad, part whimsical, and all around very refreshing, the film winds up being more light and fun than dark and tragic, as one might expect.

The film is wonderfully photographed in glorious black and white, both in a documentary format and a dash of a somewhat "New Wave" style. It's an interesting mixture, anyway. In fact, the entire film appears to have been shot on location in Dublin and the surrounding countryside, lending even further creditbility to the documentray styling.

The well-written dialogue is full of engaging double-meanings, and may remind one of "The Prisoner", as the lines can be both cryptic, yet very deep and telling. The actors all deliver, too.

The film is very much a product of its time, and captures the feeling of what it must have been like to be a youth in 1963 Dublin. It very much conveys the atmosphere of a "slice of life" during the era, as the young girl comes of age.

This is a little-known gem that aspiring film students may find inspirational. Lynn Redgrave's debut film. ... Read more