News

Fans of fantasy movies will be able to Release the Kraken on Dec. 1 when Clash of the Titans hits Max. The 2010 movie starring Liam Neeson as Zeus, Sam Worthington as Perseus, and Ralph Fiennes as Hades will hit the streaming service on that date. The movie is a remake of a 1981 film of the same name directed by the late Desmond Davis.

The 2010 movie was directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Travis Beacham, Phil Hay, and Matt Manfredi. It was a box office hit, grossing $493 million worldwide against a $125 million budget, although critically, it was not a success.

The film follows Perseus, the son of Zeus, as he gets caught up in a war with the gods and tries to save his family from the god of the underworld, Hades. Perseus then leads his warriors on a mission to try to stop Hades from overthrowing Zeus and destroying Earth.

The unfortunate demise of Dame Maggie Smith has left a massive void in cinema. The legendary late British actress was not only popular for starring in Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey but also won two Oscars in her career. While she had a very storied journey in acting, her personal life was marred with health issues and a heartbreaking first marriage.

The late Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

The late Maggie Smith was married twice, first to actor Robert Stephens from 1967 to 1975 and then to English playwright Alan Beverly Cross. Both of them had very varied impacts on her life. Smith enjoyed some of her best moments with the late Cross before his untimely demise in 1998, but her married life to Stephens ended due to serious troubles, including infidelity.

The late Maggie Smith’s first marriage was anything but magical Maggie Smith with...

Dame Maggie Smith, a celebrated two-time Oscar winner and one of the most revered actresses globally, has passed away at age 89.

Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, shared the news on Friday, September 27, through their publicist, Clair Dobbs, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dame Maggie Smith.”

Dame Maggie Passed Away Peacefully

The announcement states she peacefully departed this world in the hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27th.

Described as an intensely private individual, she was surrounded by her friends and family in her final moments; Smith is survived by her sons and five grandchildren.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their compassionate care and unwavering kindness during her last days.

We appreciate all the kind messages and support we have received and kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time.

Dame Maggie...

Dame Maggie Smith, the British actress who starred in Harry Potter films, the wildly popular Downton Abbey series and scores of other movies, TV shows, West End and Broadway productions in a career that brought two Oscars, five BAFTAs, four Emmys and a Tony Award, died today. She was 89.

Smith’s death was confirmed by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin. In a statement shared with UK media, they said: “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”

Smith was one of the finest British screen and stage stars of her generation and will be remembered for her performances in iconic films and TV shows, including Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. Her...

Epic fantasy has been a popular genre in the movies for nearly a century. Classics like "The Wizard of Oz," "Jason and the Argonauts," and "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" attracted hordes of moviegoers; they also won awards and drew rave reviews from critics. But not every fantasy film gets two thumbs up. For every "The Lord of the Rings," there's a "Hobbit"; for every "Labyrinth," an "Eragon."

And yet, some of these films might make you sit up and cheer anyway. It's not just the swords and sorcery that make them fun; it's the diverse and complex characters, the bizarre and creative creatures, and the wild and innovative settings. Many fantasy films were lambasted by reviewers when they were released, but if you sit down to watch them today, you'll have a fantastic time.

Don't believe me? These 14 epic fantasy movies were panned by professional commentators, but they're still a blast to watch.

At the intersection of big-star international dealmaking, the 70mm epic, and the humble sword ‘n’ shield actioner, this comic book viking saga stacks one absurd, borderline bad taste action scene on top of another. It’s an irresistible mash-up of earlier successes, well directed visually by Jack Cardiff. Richard Widmark at forty must play the Viking action hero, Russ Tamblyn at thirty is still a physical dervish, and Sidney Poitier takes on the strangest casting of his career. Plus, low sexist comedy from a platoon of hearty Brit thesps!

The Long Ships

Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] 137

1964 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 126 min. / Street Date June 29, 2022 / Available from Viavision / Aus 34.95

Starring: Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Russ Tamblyn, Rosanna Schiaffino, Oskar Homolka, Edward Judd, Lionel Jeffries, Beba Loncar, Clifford Evans, Gordon Jackson, Colin Blakely, Paul Stassino, Leonard Rossiter, Jeanne Moody, Julie Samuel.

Cinematography: Christopher Challis

Production Designer: Vlastimir Gavrik, Zoran Zorcic

Art Director: Bill Constable...

It was 40 years ago, in June 1981, that Clash of the Titans, the last film to feature the stop-motion animation effects of Ray Harryhausen, was released.

Starring a then-unknown Harry Hamlin, along with veteran stars like Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Ursula Andress, the film was loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus (Hamlin), weaving in strands of other mythologies and legends and putting its hero into conflict with creatures like the Kraken, Calibos, Medusa the Gorgon and a two-headed dog named Dioskilos.

“Greek and Roman myths contained characters and fantastic creatures that were ideal for cinematic adventures,” wrote Harryhausen in his memoir, Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life. “If some of the adventures were combined with 20th century storytelling, a timeless narrative could be constructed that would appeal to both young and old.”

Harryhausen was already a filmmaking legend by the time he began work on Clash of the Titans.

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

The foundation established by legendary special effects visionary Ray Harryhausen is pleased to announce a joint effort with Morningside Productions, the company of late film producer Charles Schneer. Discovery of new materials in the vast archives of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation will be the basis of a spectacularly new and original theatrical motion picture in the style of such Harryhausen/Schneer classics such as Clash of the Titans, the duo's most significant box office collaboration from 1981.

This project, tentatively entitled Force of the Trojans, is based on a screenplay by Beverley Cross, and original production art and sculptures conceived by Ray Harryhausen that are on par with some of his most iconic screen creatures.

Force of the Trojans will embody the spirit of the original Harryhausen films with all the fun, vibrant action, epic scope and dedication to craftsmanship that...

"Force of the Trojans" is a new film project, based on archival material from late stop-motion FX supervisor Ray Harryhausen, with a screenplay by Beverley Cross and original production art and sculptures conceived by Harryhausen in collaboration with Morningside Productions, producers of "Clash of the Titans":

"...'Force of the Trojans' will embody the spirit of the original Harryhausen films with all the fun, vibrant action, epic scope and dedication to craftsmanship...

"...that has made Ray Harryhausen’s films timeless, in a mix of iconic creature designs, brought to life with stop-motion and photo-realistic CG effects..."

The "Harryhausen Foundation" houses more than 50,000 artifacts from his 60-year film career.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Ray Harryhausen...

If got some pretty awesome news for those of you who are fans of legendary special effects artist and stop-motion wizard Ray Harryhausen. He worked on a ton of films in the course of his career and a couple of my favorites include Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts.

Well, it looks like we’ll be getting a new film based on some newly discovered materials from Ray Harryhausen! These materials were discovered in the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, which houses more than 50,000 artifacts from the artist’s 60-year career. It’s pretty incredible that a new project will emerge from this archive!

The new project is tentatively titled Force of the Trojans. The screenplay for the film is being written by Beverley Cross, and the designs for the film will come from the original production art and sculptures conceived by Harryhausen!

The big announcement was made on Facebook,...

Indicator follows up The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen, Volume One: 1955-1960 with, wait for it, Volume 2: 1961-1964, featuring three of Harryhausen’s most ambitious productions. Good news for fans, the UK company delivers another robust box set with beautiful transfers and an abundance of extras including newly produced interviews, a small treasure trove of promotional ephemera and a limited edition 80-page book with essays from Kim Newman and Tim Lucas. The set is region free, playable on Blu-ray devices worldwide.

The Wonderful Worlds of Ray Harryhausen, Volume 2: 1961-1964

Blu-ray – Region Free

Indicator/Powerhouse

Street Date November 13, 2017

Starring Herbert Lom, Joan Greenwood, Niall MacGinnis, Nigel Green, Lionel Jeffries, Edward Judd

Cinematography by Wilkie Cooper

Produced by Charles Schneer, Ray Harryhausen

Directed by Cy Endfield, Don Chaffey, Nathan Juran

Raging thunderstorms and a tempestuous score from Bernard Herrmann kick off 1961’s Mysterious Island as a water-logged crew of Union...

Ray Harryhausen - Master of the Majicks

Volume 1: Beginnings and Endings

by Mike Hankin

Foreword by Tom Hanks

Preface by Sir Christopher Frayling

www.archive-editions.com

Finally Completed and off to the Printer!

Vol. 1 is planned to ship in early Summer, 2013.

Written and produced over the past 10 years with Ray Harryhausen's cooperation and support, the complete 3-volume definitive 295,000-word career/biography features interviews with Ray and his colleagues and is profusely illustrated with several hundred rare photographs, artwork, and illustrations (many of which have never been previously published).

We published Volume 2 ("The American Films") first, then Volume 3 ("The British Films"), and are now wrapping up the set with Volume 1 (“Beginnings and Endings”).

Chapters in Volume 1 extensively cover:

Ray's Early 16mm Experiments, The Influence of Willis O'Brien and King Kong, George Pal's Puppetoons®, Ray's Film Work During World War II, The Fairy Tale Short Subjects, Ray's Retirement Years (including tributes,...

Top 10 Ryan Lambie Feb 13, 2013

From classic noir thrillers to modern special effects blockbusters, we look at 10 movies that began production without a finished script...

"We started the film without a script, without a cast and without a shark," was how Richard Dreyfuss famously summed up the nightmarish production of Jaws, whose last-minute rewrites, technical hitches and sinking boats almost halted Steven Spielberg's career before it had even begun.

Incredibly, Jaws was defined rather than destroyed by its arduous shoot. The presence of the murderous shark was implied through editing and music rather than excessive effects shots, while the absence of a finished script for much of the movie resulted in some of Jaws' most memorable lines - "We're gonna need a bigger boat", Quint's bloodcurdling Indianapolis speech - were either improvised or partly written by the actors themselves.

As this article aims to demonstrate, starting a film production...

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts amp McCoy Rigby Entertainment will present the Tony Award-winning 2008 Best Play Revival, hilarious, sexy, non-stop comedy, Boeing-boeing, written by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross amp Francis Evans and directed by Jeff Maynard. Boeing-boeing opened on January 19 and runs through Sunday, February 10, 2013 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. Check out photos from inside opening night below...

While I didn’t particularly care for Wrath of the Titans, and our podcast review didn’t exactly sing its praises, there’s a market for just going wild, and the particular lull of summer fun we find ourselves in means this isn’t a bad time to take a look at other options for your action-adventure fix.

The overall story leaves something to be desired, and the special effects eventually get to a point well beyond the law of diminishing returns, but if you’re up for letting loose, it’s certainly hard to find more action crammed into one film.

On the legitimately positive side, this is a title that benefits immensely from the Blu-Ray release’s Maximum Movie Mode, and the points you get on this one (see full list below) deliver possibly the best feature connections you’ll find in such bonuses.

Working in featurettes that cover the labyrinth,...

Is there a greater film than "Lawrence of Arabia?" Perhaps. There are certainly few longer ones, or few that are more epic and sweeping in their scope (thanks to the timeless Panavision 70 photography by Freddie Young). But even if the film isn't your absolute favorite, it is the number one of many, including Steven Spielberg, who credits the picture with making him want to be a filmmaker.

David Lean's tale of T.E. Lawrence's adventures in Arabia in World War I is fifty years old this year, and ahead of a brand-spanking-new Blu-ray release next month, a glorious new 4K restoration of the film is screening at Cannes tomorrow night. To mark the occasion, as well as the anniversary of the death of Lawrence himself, who died 77 years ago tomorrow, we've assembled five things you might not know about Lean's unassailable classic.

1. David Lean nearly directed a biopic of...

Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Written by: Dan Mazeau, David Leslie Johnson, Greg Berlanti, Beverley Cross

Cast: Sam Worthington, Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Édgar Ramírez, Toby Kebbell, Danny Huston, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson

Devotion to the Greek Gods has fallen since the times of Clash of the Titans. This has had a negative impact on the lifestyles and fashions of the high Gods. Apparently, the Gods somehow obtain their power through prayer. If it stops, then they get all weak and human-like. I had no idea this is how it worked, and I doubt anyone else did either until Zeus (Liam Neeson) helpfully explains it to Perseus (Sam Worthington) in the opening scenes of Wrath of the Titans.

This lack of faith has somehow weakened the very walls of Tartarus down in Hell. Tartarus is the prison which has locked up the very angry father of the Gods, Cronus, as well...

I remember feeling a certain amount of wrath over the ham-handed 3-D effects in 2010’s Clash of the Titans, but the film itself wasn’t bad: uneven, to be sure, but strengthened by adhering to the story template of the 1981 movie of the same name, written by Beverley Cross. If I were 12 years old I would have loved it. I tried to summon my inner 12-year-old for this sequel, but even kids might object to the subversion of Greek mythology presented here…starting with the premise that the Gods of Olympus are losing their powers. That’s why Zeus (played again by Liam Neeson) asks his half-human son Perseus (Sam Worthington) for his help to keep the dark forces from...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]...

*** Fair warning, this review may contain some very, very Minor spoilers. ***

It’s a rare thing that a sequel surpasses it’s predecessor, and in the case of Wrath Of The Titans, the theory wavers slightly. Clash Of The Titans (2010) was a remake of the 1981 Ray Harryhausen classic that had action and lots of CGI special effects but did little to honor the original, nor did it compare to the thrill and excitement the 1981 original still offers fans. With this sequel, loosely based on the the 1981 screenplay written by Beverley Cross, who also wrote the 1981 original Clash Of The Titans, the film ponies up a more fluid story with better special effects, but the pacing differs greatly from the 2010 Clash Of The Titans.

Wrath Of The Titans takes place a decade after Perseus (Sam Worthington) defeated the Kraken. Having turned down his god-father Zeus’ offer to rule by his side from Olympus,...

In theaters on Friday March 30th, watch as Wrath Of The Titans director Jonathan Liebesman and actor Sam Worthington talk about the beast Chimera – “The Omen of Destruction.” Worthington leads an international cast which includes Rosamund Pike, Bill Nighy, Edgar Ramirez, Toby Kebbell and Danny Huston, with Academy Award® nominees Ralph Fiennes (.The English Patient.) and Liam Neeson (.Schindler.s List.).

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) .the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson). is attempting to live quietly as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year-old son, Helius.

But unbeknownst to Perseus, a struggle for supremacy has been raging between the gods that will come to threaten his idyllic life. Dangerously weakened by humanity.s lack of devotion, the gods are losing hold of their immortality, as well as control over the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus,...

In 3D and 2D theaters and IMAX® Friday, March 30, Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson star once again as gods at war in Wrath Of The Titans, under the direction of Jonathan Liebesman.

Official Rules:

1. You Must Be In The St. Louis Area The Day Of The Screening.

2. Fill Out Your Name And E-mail Address Below. Real First Name Required.

3. Answer The Following Question: Who do you want to see battle on the screen in Wrath Of The Titans ?

Winners will be chosen at random from all entries. Supplies are limited. Limit one (1) pass per person, passes admit (2) two. Sponsor’s employees and their dependants are ineligible. Screening is overbooked to ensure capacity.

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) “the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson)” is attempting to live quietly as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year-old son, Helius.

Christian Bale as Batman in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action thriller The Dark Knight Rises, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Tm and © DC Comics Photo by Ron Phillips

Just in time for the new year, Warner Bros. has released their slate of films scheduled from January 2012 through December 2012. Some noticeables on the list include Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, Wrath Of The Titans, The Gangster Squad, Ben Affleck’s Argo, The Untitled Jay Roach Comedy on August 10th, Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. Below are a few new images, along with descriptions and trailers. From the lineup below, appears that Warner Bros. will be box office champs by year end.

Joyful Noise

(L-r) Dolly Parton as G.G. Sparrow and Queen Latifah as Vi Rose Hill in Alcon Entertainment’s “Joyful Noise,...

If you enjoyed Clash of the Titans, the remake not the original, then Jonathan Liebesman’s sequel – Clash of the Titans 2 – is now officially under way and being filmed. James Franco and Javier Bardem may not have joined the cast as originally touted but British thesp Bill Nighy as along with Danny Huston definitely have. We’re not sure why Wrath of the Titans has been replaced with the generic Clash 2, but it’s rubbish anyway.

Below is the full press release plus a synopsis and you might as well know it’s another post-conversion 3D job. Boo sucks to that!

Production On “Clash Of The Titans 2″ Underway For Warner Bros. Pictures And Legendary Pictures

Stars Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson Once Again Gods at War

Burbank, CA, March 21, 2011 — Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic action adventure sequel to “Clash of the Titans,...

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures has recently announced that production has officially started for for Clash of the Titans 2. Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson are all back to reprise their roles. We reported earlier that the sequel to Clash of the Titans would be Wrath of the Titans, but that new title is no where to be seen in this press release, so maybe they haven't settled on an official name yet.

I wish I could be more excited about this sequel, but the first film was so bad I honestly have no desire to watch this one. What do you think?

Here's the full synopsis for the film:

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus—the demigod son of Zeus—is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Just last week, we told you about Warner Bros. Pictures and their apparent fear of putting their Gods in the forthcoming sequel to Clash of the Titans up against Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation of The Hunger Games and moving the release date for Wrath of the Titans, directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, Odysseus) from March 23rd to March 30th, 2012.

Now, we have the official press release announcing the start of principal photography, and something interesting I noticed is the fact that the press release is still calling it Clash of the Titans 2, rather than the Wrath of the Titans, which was confirmed as the title by actor Liam Neeson back in December. Has the studio changed their mind on the title, or do they still think it’s a secret?

Check out the press release below for all the details.

Official Press Release:

Production on “Clash of the Titans 2...

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have begun production on Clash of the Titans 2, the sequel to 2010's Clash of the Titans, which will see Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson reprising their roles. Check out their official press release:

Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' epic action adventure sequel to Clash of the Titans, being directed by Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles). Returning to star in the film are Sam Worthington (Avatar) as Perseus, and Academy Award&#174 nominees Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient, the Harry Potter films) as Hades and Liam Neeson (Schindler's List, Taken) as Zeus.

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus-the demigod son of Zeus-is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans.

Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic action adventure sequel to “Clash of the Titans,” being directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle: Los Angeles”). Returning to star in the film are Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) as Perseus, and Academy Award® nominees Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient,” the “Harry Potter” films) as Hades and Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List,” “Unknown”) as Zeus. A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus—the demigod son of Zeus—is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago,...

Stars Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson Once Again Gods at War Film scheduled for a March 2012 Release

Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic action adventure sequel to “Clash of the Titans,” being directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle: Los Angeles”). Returning to star in the film are Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) as Perseus, and Academy Award® nominees Ralph Fiennes (“The English Patient,” the “Harry Potter” films) as Hades and Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List,” “Unknown”) as Zeus.

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus.the demigod son of Zeus.is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader,...

Rejoice! Looking to wash away the taste of the Clash of the Titans remake! We are, too. Hopefully the latest news from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will get you as giddy as it has us!

From the Press Release

Embark on an adventure with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment when the epic odyssey Jason and the Argonauts is released on Blu-ray Disc on July 6, 2010 for the Slp of $24.95. Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen (Clash of the Titans, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad), who turns 90 this year, solidified his mark as a stop-motion master when this movie hit theaters in 1963. Harryhausen’s use of the medium exhilarated audiences as they followed Jason on his journey, encountering behemoth bronze statues, multi-headed serpents and the iconic animated armed skeletons. Through these effects, Harryhausen gave this mythical tale new legs and a provided an enduring spectacle for audiences. Viewers can now take this journey in...

Pictured Above: Ray Harryhausen and his Medusa from Clash of the Titans. Photo courtesy of Ray Harryhausen.

Director Louis Leterrier has raised a box office monster from the deep with his remake of the classic Clash of the Titans, this time starring Sam Worthington as the heroic Perseus who takes on the terrifying creatures of the ancient world.

It comes nearly three decades after the original Clash of the Titans roared on to the big screen.

Back in 1981, the Titans were directed by Desmond Davis and brought to life by the stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen, the film's co-producer (with Charles H. Schneer) and creator of special visual effects.

Harryhausen's meticulously-animated creatures - from an era before computer-generated effects - are by now as legendary as the beasts themselves, with his work also seen on screen in such films as 20 Million Miles to Earth (1957), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), One Million Years B.C....

Sam Worthington in Clash of the Titans

Photo: Warner Bros. As someone that once loved the original 1981 Ray Harryhausen-produced Clash of the Titans, I now look back fondly at that picture, but recognize it as a silly (nearly) 30-year-old epic romance. I can only look back with nostalgia and fond memories. I imagine Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans remake will make a similar impression on the youth of today, though this is a much more rock 'em-sock 'em telling of the original story, but still just as silly. Boasting updated effects, gooier scorpion deaths and an even larger monster from the deep, this remake places action first, story second and characters last. Yet the story itself is fun enough that I was able to have a good time.

In comparing this one to the first film, the biggest difference is the motivation of the lead character Perseus...

The original .Clash of the Titans. released in 1981 had such a huge impact on me as a child that I immediately devoured everything pertaining to Greek mythology. Ray Harryhausen.s imaginative stop-motion animation may look archaic now, but back then, it opened a whole new world to children like me.

Yet for all its gods and monsters pomp and circumstance, the original .Clash of the Titans. starring Harry Hamlin as Perseus was loveably cheesy and campy. So I.ve always thought that the film would benefit from a remake. I was wrong.

The new .Clash of the Titans. has all the necessary ingredients to become an engaging mythical adventure. The film has eye-popping special effects and Ralph Fiennes stealing scenes as the god of the underworld, Hades.

The one main element that the new film lacks is the most important component in this genre, and that is magic. If the...

Warner Brothers is set to “release the kraken” this Friday, April 2… so, Wamg is set to release the Movie Geeks, wielding their swords of cinematic heroism to establish the most epic Top Ten list of Mythological Masterpieces… ever! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is devoted to the great Greek mythological stories of heroes, gods and monsters.

10. Hercules (1997)

You know why this movie is on this list? It’s not because it was Disney’s last, great, hand-drawn, animated film of the ’90s. It wasn’t. The film’s not great, but you have to hand it to whatever genius decided the perfect voice for Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, would be James Woods. Best. Voice casting. Ever. Rip Torn voicing Zeus? Another stroke of genius. This was also probably the first time many kids born in the early ’90s became privy to the voice of Charlton Heston, who does the narration.

By the year 1981 the film world had already been rocked by the arrival of a tiny film called Star Wars. Special effects were never going to be the same again and yet stop-motion pioneer Ray Harryhausen wasn’t going to let a little thing like George Lucas change the way he went about his work.

Clash of the Titans was going to be his swansong and he knew full well that the industry was changing, but rather than adapt, he thought it best to stay true to his roots and call it a night.

It may not be the best film he had worked on but it remains one of the most memorable cinematic experiences in my life. I didn’t see the film on release, in fact I wasn’t born until 1983 but I will never forget the first time I was introduced to Perseus.

I was in primary...

With director Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans getting released on April 2nd, we’ve been given a ton of Clash related swag to giveaway to some of our readers. We’ve got hats, hoodie’s, a metal Medusa head with a letter opener, a key tag with shield, and a number of other cool items. If you’d like to see what we have and how you can enter to win, hit the jump!

If you aren’t familiar with Clash of the Titans, the film has an international cast including Sam Worthington (”Avatar,” “Terminator Salvation”), Academy Award® nominees Liam Neeson (”Taken,” “Schindler’s List”) and Ralph Fiennes (the “Harry Potter” films, “The English Patient”), Gemma Arterton (”Quantum of Solace” and the upcoming “Prince of Persia”), Mads Mikkelsen (”Casino Royale”), Jason Flemyng (”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Alexa Davalos (”Defiance”).

What you need to do is email thecollidermailbox@gmail.

Warner Bros. has released 10 movie clips from director Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans and you can check them out after the jump. Starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton, Jason Flemyng, Danny Huston, and Alexa Davalos, the film gets released April 2 in 3D. I caught a screening last night and while I probably shouldn’t say too much as there is an embargo, it’s a very fun popcorn movie that moves extremely fast. I think the running time was 1hr. 46 minutes. In fact, if I had one comment to the studio, I would have liked the film to have slowed down a bit as it moves so fast you barely have time to take a breath.

Also, while they wanted to show us the movie in 3D last night it wasn’t ready, as the post production schedule is extremely tight so we saw the normal 2D version.

Warner Bros. has released 41 high resolution images from director Louis Leterrier’s Clash of the Titans and you can check them out after the jump. The reason they went online today is the press junket is in Los Angeles this weekend, so they’ve released all the promotional items. It also means clips from the film will hit the net this weekend, so check back for those.

I’m actually going to a screening of the film tonight and I think it’s the first time anyone outside of the studio will get to see the film. While I don’t know if there is an embargo, if there isn’t, I’ll tweet what I thought. Clash of the Titans stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton, Jason Flemyng, Danny Huston, and Alexa Davalos.

Here’s the synopsis:

In “Clash of the Titans,” the ultimate...

Louis Leterrier's epic 3D fantasy Clash of the Titans finally arrives in theaters on April 2nd. To celebrate this highly anticipated film starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and Gemma Arterton, we're giving away some awesome swag in our new Clash of the Titans contest! This bevy of bountiful prizes includes a Chalice for drinking your Mead, a Metal Medusa Head and Letter opener for answering all of your fan mail for being such a big winner, a key tag, hats, t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and more. This stuff isn't going to be around forever. Don't let Medusa turn you to stone before you can enter, because you'll need this Clash of the Titans Butt Kicker Kit if you ever hope to defeat the Kraken. Here's how you can win:

We're giving away the following prizes:

Chalice with Metal Coaster in Wooden BoxMetal Medusa Head with Letter OpenerKey Tag with...

Chicago – The Winter Olympics coverage on NBC made it impossible for viewers to ignore the fact that there is indeed a “Clash of the Titans” remake coming out in April. This may seem redundant, since the vast majority of modern fantasy has in some way ripped off Greek mythology. Both “Harry Potter” and “Percy Jackson” include a variation on Medusa, the reptilian villain with snake hair and a stoney stare.

Medusa has been giving young moviegoers nightmares for decades, thanks to Ray Harryhausen, whose distinctive stop-motion effects have enhanced cinema since the early 40s. Their herky-jerky movement has a life and immediacy that simply can’t be mimicked by today’s all-too-fluid CGI. 1981’s “Titans” marked the last time Harryhausen served as “special visual effects creator.” It’s a tribute to his mastery that the film still has a timeless grandeur, despite the fact that its effects now seem to...

If you look over producer Kevin De La Noy’s resume on IMDb, it’s kind of awesome. The reason is he’s worked on movies such as The Princess Bride, The Dark Knight, Braveheart, The Fifth Element, even Saving Private Ryan. While his job titles have ranged from location manager, production runner, producer, and assistant director, he’s still been involved in some of the biggest movies over the last two decades.

Anyway, when I got to visit the set of Clash of the Titans outside of London last August, I was able to participate in a roundtable interview with De La Noy. During our extended interview he talked to us about why they wanted to remake Clash, the use of CGI versus practical effects, how they were filming around the world, and he explained the secrets of making a big movie come together. If you’ve ever wanted...

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first official poster for the highly-anticipated remake of Clash of the Titans, which will be released in theaters nationwide on March 26, 2010. This is a pretty bad-ass one-sheet with star, Sam Worthington, holding up the head of Medusa.

Based on the 1981 film of the same name, written by the late Beverley Cross, Clash of the Titans is directed by Louis Leterrier from a screenplay by Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi (Aeon Flux), story by Travis Beacham and Hay & Manfredi. The film revolves around Sam Worthington as Perseus on a mythological journey joined by Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) as Io, Perseus’ mysterious spiritual guide throughout his journey; Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale) as Draco, who takes up his sword to join Perseus’ quest; Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Acrisius, a one-time king-turned-hideous beast; and Alexa Davalos (Defiance) as Andromeda, a princess doomed to...

Assume Crash Positions for Boeing-boeing at Florida Rep!

Florida Repertory Theatre announced the opening of its High Flying 12th season with one of Broadway's hottest comedies, Boeing-Boeing.

Open now Boeing-Boeing tells the story of a swingin' American in Paris and the three beautiful stewardesses he calls fiancée, fiancée and fiancée.

"Boeing-Boeing is one of the funniest plays of all time, and we're very excited to kick our new season off with such a brilliant comedy," said Florida Rep Producing Artistic Director and Boeing-Boeing director, Robert Cacioppo. "Florida Rep is only one of eight or nine theatres in America fortunate enough to get the rights to produce Boeing-Boeing, so Southwest Florida audiences are very lucky."

Boeing-Boeing is a sidesplitting comedy that soars in the stratosphere, and is first-class entertainment that will have audiences unfastening their seat belts and rolling in the aisles. Set in 1960's Paris, it is the hilarious story of Bernard,...

I'm so excited for this film! "Clash of the Titans" is one of my childhood touchstones and although there's a part of me that doesn't want it remade, I'm looking forward to seeing Director Louis Letterier's ("The Incredible Hulk") vision!

Look at all the exciting news about casting news we broke here, and here.

And here's more "Clash of the Titans" shooting day info from our pals at IGN:

Based on the 1981 film of the same name, written by the late Beverley Cross, Clash of the Titans is directed by Louis Leterrier from a screenplay by Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi (Aeon Flux), story by Travis Beacham (Dog Days of Summer) and Hay & Manfredi. The film is produced by Basil Iwanyk, who produced the drama We Are Marshall for Warner Bros. Pictures, and Kevin De La Noy, who last served as an executive producer on the studio's blockbuster The Dark Knight.

Principal photography began Monday on Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' epic action adventure Clash of the Titans, being directed by Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk). The film stars Sam Worthington (upcoming Terminator Salvation and Avatar) and Academy Award® nominees Liam Neeson (Taken, Schindler's List) and Ralph Fiennes (the Harry Potter films, The English Patient).

In Clash of the Titans, the ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Neeson) and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds.