Clash of the Titans

16.04.2010

Film trailer:

Perseus, the demigod son of Zeus, must save humanity when the wrath of the gods strikes down. The high level of action makes this a fun adventure, and it is quite easy to forget how mediocre this film really is. Parents should be aware that the film contains a number of frightening scenes.

Plot
Floating in a coffin, the infant Perseus is found by a fisherman, who raises the boy as his own son. Perseus grows up to be a strong young man, unaware that he really is the son of Zeus, the god who created mankind.

Perseus lives a happy life as a fisherman, but soon he is caught in a game that will affect the fate of the world. The inhabitants of Argos are tired of being punished by the gods, and rebel by destroying a huge statue of Zeus. Seconds later Hades appears, the evil god of the underworld, and kills everyone nearby. Perseus’ family disappear into the sea, and the young man is left alone in the world, having lost everything.

The people of Argos declare war against the gods, and Perseus volunteers to lead the fight. Zeus on the other hand, who really loves mankind, gives Hades free rein to restore the order of things. Unfortunately, Zeus is unaware that Hades has a secret plan to topple him from the throne and destroy Argos completely.

Perseus is joined by a number of proud warriors, and embarks on a long and dangerous journey. The goal is to obtain a weapon that can defeat the terrible and huge monster Kraken, which Hades intends to unleash on Argos. On their way they encounter ferocious demons, giant scorpions and the wicked Medusa.

Zeus, who gradually realises that he has been deceived by Hades, offers help to his son, but Perseus refuses. Perseus intends to end the tyranny of the gods, and he is going to do it as a human being – not as a god. However, as the threat from Hades grows, Perseus realises that divine power is needed to free humanity.

Quality and Theme
”Clash of the Titans” is an ambitious and spectacular action film that is well suited if you enter the movie theatre without large expectations and a big bucket of popcorn. For those who want a good and believable story, this is a rather mediocre affair. The story is disappointingly predictable, and sometimes it is hard to take the characters seriously. Both the residence of the gods and the appearance of the characters (including creatures of charcoal and warriors wearing "miniskirts") sometimes remind of bad B-movies.

In addition, the film does not convey a comprehensible message for children. It is evident that Perseus is fighting to enable mankind to live and die for each other, and not for the gods. In this way he distances himself from religion, and does not put his trust in divine hands. However, this message loses its meaning at the end of the film, when he accepts the help offered by Zeus in order to win his own and mankind’s freedom.

You are in no danger of being bored during the film. The heroes face numerous challenges, and there is so much roaring and jingle of weapons and armoury that you barely have time to breathe between battles.

Suitability
Although the violence in the film isn’t very realistic, many children will probably react negatively when they see violent battles against giant scorpions and nasty demons, a beheading, an attempt at human sacrifice and the horrible Kraken. You can get nightmares from less. The film has been classified “12A”, but we recommend that no one under the age of 12 are allowed to see the film, and that parents of 12-year-olds and young teenagers consider whether they want their children to see the movie.

The trailer, available in the top right hand corner, might help you make up an opinion in this respect.

Conclusion
“Clash of the Titans” has some entertainment value, but it is not a very good film.

Director: Louis Leterrier Genre: Action, Adventure Actors: Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Sam Worthington, Pete Postlethwaite, Mads Mikkelsen, Nathalie Cox, Gemma Arterton and more Language: English Nationality: USA Production Company: Legendary Pictures Length: 1h 46mins Production Year: 2010 Age Limit: 12A Suitability: Young people/Adults BBFC’s Consumer Advice: Contains moderate fantasy violence.