Wrath of the Titans

A CGI ride that the creators of the old Clash of the Titans would take a single look at before spitting and stomping on the copy of the film with rage. Because everything not done in the old-fashioned way here is done digitally. And these digital orgies are really brutal. Maybe this is the reason that this film is terribly crazy, bordering on insane. It is, however, entertaining, and suited for our times. It’s actually just as dumb as the first instalment, with the added bonus of the camera that barely allows the audience to see a thing, but the authors still think that it creates the feeling of being there with the gods and fighting side by side with Sam Worthington. This made me knock one star off my rating. (2013-07-07)

Enemies swarm one after another and Jonathan Liebesman lets all kinds of mud piles explode, but the charm somewhat fades. Sam Worthington's fierce expression could easily carry even a much weaker film, but this time around he has to take on a bit of routine, where the unforgettable battles like the scorpions from the first installment are missing. Chimera or settling the score with Kronos are still enjoyable, though on the other hand, the Cyclops and the Minotaur partly feel like forced attractions that the producers insisted should not go missing from an ancient fantasy saga. When even Rosamund Pike cannot fully sustain the role of the recast Andromeda (in a performance that is unnecessarily distinctive and incomprehensibly different), the final impression is unexpectedly sad. Yet where the creators redeem themselves is in their fearlessness in dealing with superior beings. I did not expect such a harsh body count, and because I don't insist on adhering to Eduard Petiška's stories (it's not history, but mythology), I remained pleasantly surprised at least by that. The feeling that this vengeful campaign against the Titans could have been done a class better, however, remained. (2012-06-25)

Definitely better than the first one. The technical prowess of this sequel is undeniable, especially when it comes to the work with sound and the very clear action (although I expected more based on the trailer). At the same time, the action scenes are very inventive and, in some moments, quite unconventional. What kills it are the boring dialogues, the overused plot structure of dividing tasks, getting acquainted with the main mission, going somewhere to get something, and destroying the main villain. Along the way, someone occasionally helps, someone dies, and so on. Essentially, it's sterile boredom. But thanks to the visuals and Worthington’s solid performance, it's passable. Finally, the 3D actually works as 3D and it's not just for the sake of it, another improvement compared to the first installment. (2012-04-28)

I just now noticed that this is a two-parter. As you can see, I didn't need the first one. I didn't find any Wrath of the Titans, but just a lot of jealousy and bitterness. Which I guess is fitting for a family of gods. You give one son one too many lollipops and you can worry about the one less gifted stabbing you in the back. But it wasn't that bad. There was always something banging, splashing, stabbing... so as an action movie, fine. No deep Greek myths and legends. (2013-05-25)

Robert Graves must still be turning in his grave, but perhaps not so frequently this time. Because you have to admit that Wrath of the Titans provokes no wrath at all in its viewers and so is certainly a lot more bearable and better than Clash of the Titans. However, more bearable and better doesn’t mean that it’s bearable and good. (2012-03-29)