Wrath of the Titans

Compared to Clash of the Titans, Wrath is a gratifying leap forward. All things considered, there was really only one thing that bothered me about the film - the English inscription on Perseus' wife's grave. Otherwise, I want to praise just about everything - from the entertaining plot, which is actually a multiple mythological family drama, to the top-notch effects (I felt like all those chimeras and cyclops were real), the actors (the Fiennes-Neeson duo, the beautiful Rosamund Pike, the impeccable Bill Nighy), the direction (Letterier would never have made such atmospheric scenes as the one in the cyclops forest or one final reconciliation), the music (a simple but striking main theme) to the hairstyle of the main character, who finally looks like he is from the period. (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)

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)

Sure, if I wanted to spit on it, I could go into any minute of runtime and pull out at least five things to criticize. However, the entire time Liebesman follows the rule "I’m not very good at this, but at least it will be noisy and fast," not letting down for even a brief moment. This can't be said of his predecessor, so no more long yawns or bleeding eyes. Worthington is fine, but the divine lineup is simply divine. PS: I would very much like to see some more serious stuff from this director. (2012-06-13)

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)