The original Clash of the Titans was a box office success when it hit theaters in 1981. Naturally, a remake would be inevitable. So once again, Perseus suits up to begin his quest to defeat the mighty Kraken which involves battling giant scorpions, retrieving Medusa’s stone-turning head, and taming the mythical Pegasus. So does the remake live up to the hype or should the classics just be left alone?

The film is vastly different from the original and has been compressed to feature more action and less talking. Perseus (Sam Worthington) is living a simple fisherman lifestyle when all of a sudden Hades appears to wreak havoc on the city of Argos. It appears that they have forgotten to give praise to the gods and in retaliation, Zeus (Liam Neeson) demands that they sacrifice the king’s lovely daughter to the Kraken or be destroyed. After Perseus’ family is caught in the middle of it and is killed, he decides to lead a small group of men on a quest to defeat Hades and extract his revenge.

It’ll be a dangerous journey but if anyone can do it, it’s Perseus. You see, he isn’t your average man. He’s actually the son of Zeus, ruler of Olympus. Even after coming to this realization, Perseus still has a deep hatred for the gods and what they have done.
Clash of the Titans appears to be about the clash between humans and gods more so than between the gods and each other as the original portrayed. In fact, Hades wasn't even a major character in the 1981 version. If you’re a fan of the original, be prepared for something very different.

While there is some high adrenaline action in the film, you’re left with the feeling of wanting more. Perseus fights some giant scorpions, kills Medusa, and well, that’s about it. Greek mythology is known for the various gods and goddesses, and apart from Zeus and Hades, they are nowhere to be found except looming in the background.  There is no ‘clash’ between humans and gods. There is no battle of epic proportions. Of course, there is the Kraken…

The Kraken is one of the best aspects of the film. Its massive octopus-like body and head practically fill the entire screen, making Perseus and Pegasus appear as little dots beside it. Unfortunately, its downfall comes not from Medusa’s head but from one of the films most boasted features; 3D.

There’s no easy way to put this. The 3D is some of the worst I’ve seen. Nothing pops out or immerses you in the film and it becomes blurry during quick cuts and close shots. It simply doesn’t look good. This is most likely due to the fact that the film was shot in 2D and then transferred to 3D separately. The visuals still look pretty good; they just don’t receive that added boost typical with 3D features.

Clash of the Titans was a film I wanted to be spectacular in every way. Greek mythology has some of the most interesting characters and it would have been so much better if the film just explored them more. Instead, you are tossed into this story involving Perseus and his quest for revenge, something he isn’t even fully aware of. It’s a lackluster attempt at remaking the original. If you do end up seeing it, don’t waste the extra money for 3D, it’s not worth it.