Weekly Movie Thread #51 Tribute to a Legend

[MekaGojira3k]

[Henry88]

[O.Supreme]

[O.Supreme]

Greetings All,

Looks like Jason is the winner. Depending on how late I get back from Star Trek tonight, I may enjoy Jason & The Argonauts before turning in, otherwise it will definitely be tomorrow. But feel free to enjoy all these films if possible!

[MekaGojira3k]

Jason and the Argonauts is a great film. Out of Harryhausen's films I feel like this is
2nd to 7th Voyage. Mostly because I never get bored during Voyage though there
are moments here and there in Argonauts that I don't care for.

What I do care for are the amazing effects work, most notably the Skeleton army.


I'm also incredibly fond of the Hydra. I like the movie. I think it's beautiful to look at,
but for some reason it lacks whatever it is that makes me adore The 7th Voyage of
Sinbad. *shrug*

[The Real McCoy]

[Xenorama]

I had just watched it right after Ray's passing, and here's some thoughts on it-

http://xenorama.blogspot.com/2013/05/ja ... -1963.html

really enjoyed it this time around.

[Alpha OTS]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Psycho Soldier]

Watched this earlier today and was suitably entertained. As others have said, the Hydra and the skeletons are easily the highlights, though I think the latter meet their 'deaths' a little too easily. Talos is okay. I felt that he lacked something in terms of personality, but the whole 'giant iron statue' thing works pretty well. The harpies aren't particularly great. In terms of both looks and personality, they're probably among Harryhausen's weakest creations.

[MekaGojira3k]

I love Talos. Say what you will about anything else in that sequence, but that first moment when he turns to look at Hercules is amazing. So creepy. Love it.

[Alpha OTS]

I watched 7th Voyage recently too, and compared to Jason, 7th Voyage is definitely the more "fun" movie. It has that adventurous tone between seriousness and lightheartedness that Jason, although coming very close, never quite pulls off. I also think 7th Voyage has the better problem to resolution setup, whereas Jason has Hera to provide the answers he needs to resolve the problem to advance the story. Not quite a deus ex machina, but its in the ballpark.

I was going through the extras on the Jason dvd, and there's an interview of Harryhausen by Leonard Maltin(sp?). One of them at one point says that Jason and Clash of the Titans are used in some classes to help teach Greek mythology. Which leads me back to my main criticism of Jason, it's trying to be a strict adaptation. Although they do mention that Talos in the mythology is only man-sized and kills people by heating himself up to a pre-molten level and then hugging his opponents to kill them. I much prefer Harryhausen's changes, because it makes for a far better scene. 7th Voyage by contrast, doesn't have to live up to any established mythos. It picks and chooses as it wants, rather successfully.

[Psycho Soldier]

[MouthForWar]

[O.Supreme]