| These movies had in common that they were | | | | impressed with what I saw. |
| catching the 3D wave, but beyond that they came | | | | What I liked about this movie was the men acting |
| out quite differently, which was good to see. | | | | manly in a classic way. I was expecting something like |
| "How to Train Your Dragon" disappointed me | | | | Dragon above. I was expecting the characters to act |
| because it felt so contemporary. The language and | | | | like manly rappers who wore their armored skirts |
| the relations of all the characters were modern: start | | | | baggy and their helmets turned backwards. Instead |
| with a bright, nerdy protagonist, add overachieving | | | | they came across as being fairly classic in their |
| girl and mocking classmates, a busy misunderstanding | | | | bonding relations, and I liked that. |
| dad, and a comic relief gym teacher... all from the | | | | I liked the mix of allies that comes to surround |
| 2010's. Why the movie makers bothered with the | | | | Perseus. |
| viking/dragon motif became the movie's main | | | | That said, there was a whole lot that bothered me.o |
| mystery. | | | | The basic story premise that the people of Argos |
| I was modestly impressed with how much violence | | | | would actively rebel against the gods didn't work for |
| the movie makers could dish out without actually | | | | me. They may ignore them, not show enough |
| hurting anyone. Until the end of the movie, all the | | | | humility, but to actively rebel? That would only |
| deadly attacks are near-misses -- no dragons or kids | | | | happen if the gods were doing something such as |
| are harmed in the watching of this movie until the | | | | heavy taxation, of which there is no mention in the |
| last battle. (Fish don't fare so well. ) | | | | movie.o All of the gods except Zeus and Hades just |
| Adding to the contemporary feel was watching the | | | | sit around. I know that having them do something |
| vikings drive their ships as if they were SUV's -- no | | | | would make the story unbelievably complex and long, |
| one rowed...how can you show a viking ship without | | | | but still... If I was a god, I'd want to be doing |
| people rowing? -- and the sails never looked like they | | | | something.o I didn't like Medusa's temple. I liked the |
| were propelling anything. They looked as functional as | | | | peaceful, serene, 81 version much better. It looked |
| tail-fins on 60's American cars. | | | | like a livable place, this one didn't, and the contrast of |
| The final attack on the island train-wrecked my belief | | | | the peaceful look with the sneaky violence worked |
| suspension. Among other things:o Father attacks this | | | | for me.o The underwater scenes didn't work for me |
| new target without scouting?o The catapaults are | | | | at all. They were too deep and ran too long. Only if |
| enough to knock a hole in the side of this volcano?o | | | | Poseidon showed up to help Perseus would I have |
| The big T-Rex dragon never found this weak spot | | | | accepted them. And, as mentioned above for |
| before the catapaults opened it? | | | | Dragon, the triremes move around without rowers |
| Which made the end of the movie even more | | | | and little wind.o The Kraken gives us the now-classic |
| ho-hum than the contemporary motif I'd been | | | | CGI roar. Happily, the rest of the CGI cast looked |
| watching all along did. So, overall, the movie gets a | | | | much more original. I liked that. |
| big ho-hum. | | | | So, in the end, I was much happier to see Clash in |
| I was not expecting much from Clash of the Titans. I | | | | this remade version than I was to see Dragon, and |
| saw the 1981 version when it came out, and I was | | | | that surprised me. |
| not impressed then. This time I was favorably | | | | |