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"CLASH OF THE TITANS" (2010) (Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Heavy Extreme Heavy Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Extreme None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Extreme Heavy Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: A mythological demigod fights as a human as he sets out on a quest to avenge the murder of his family and save a princess and her people from an evil god and his gargantuan beast. PLOT: Things aren't going as well as planned up on Mt. Olympus. Having created man to fuel his and the other god's immortality via their prayers, Zeus (LIAM NEESON) isn't pleased that his creations are getting cocky and deciding they don't need their gods anymore. When an honorary statue to Zeus is felled by humans, his brother, Hades (RALPH FIENNES), emerges from the underworld and lays waste to the rebels. He also sinks a nearby fishing vessel, killing the father, Spyros (PETE POSTLETHWAITE), and everyone else in the family save for Perseus (SAM WORTHINGTON), the now young adult adopted son. Rescued by others, he's taken to the seaside city of Argos where the king and queen are leading their people in the anti-god revolt. It's there that Perseus learns, much to his shock, that he's actually a demigod, son of Zeus and a human queen who was then put to death by her king husband (JASON FLEMYNG). He also discovers that he has a guardian angel of sorts, the ageless Io (GEMMA ARTERTON) who informs him of his mission in life. That becomes complicated when Hades reappears and informs the royalty and citizens of Argos that he will unleash his fearsome monster creation, the Kraken, on them in ten days if they don't sacrifice Princess Andromeda (ALEXA DAVALOS). The king will have no part of that and thus agrees to send Perseus, accompanied by a contingent of soldiers led by Draco (MADS MIKKELSEN), on a quest that will hopefully result in the demise of both Hades and his gargantuan monster. Along the way, however, Perseus and his team -- that eventually also adds Sheikh Sulieman (IAN WHYTE), chief of the wooden Djinn people -- must deal with an array of fearsome and dangerous beings, such as the now superhuman, former cuckolded king, Calibos (JASON FLEMYNG); an array of enormous scorpions; the Stygian witches; Medusa and her turn-to-stone inducing gaze; and, of course, Hades and his Kraken. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into mythology and/or "sword and sandal" related action movies and/or are fans of anyone in the cast, they might show some interest. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: SAM WORTHINGTON plays a young man who learns, following Hades killing his entire family, that he's a demigod and that Zeus is his father. But he wants no part of being a god and instead wants to fight like a man to bring down both Hades and his Kraken beast. He shows courage and perseverance in following his vengeful quest. LIAM NEESON plays his father, leader of the gods who created humans in order to have their prayers fuel his immortality, but isn't happy that they're now rebelling against him and the other gods. Accordingly, he reluctantly gives permission to Hades to take care of the matter. Along the way, he encourages Perseus to join him and thus not be destroyed. RALPH FIENNES plays his evil brother, one of the three leaders of the gods who's been banned to the underworld but is let loose to deal with the human uprising. He gives the people of Argos ten days to sacrifice the princess or else he'll unleash his Kraken beast on them. He also plots to undermine both Perseus and Zeus along the way. JASON FLEMYNG plays a former king and now disfigured but superhuman being working for Hades who wants to destroy both Zeus and Perseus. GEMMA ARTERTON plays Perseus' guardian angel of sorts who's always been watching over and helping direct his life. A woman afflicted with agelessness, she also serves as his informant. ALEXA DAVALOS plays the princess of Argos who must contend with being the one singled out for a demanded sacrifice to appease Hades. MADS MIKKELSEN plays the leader of the warriors assigned to accompany Perseus on his quest. He's initially reluctant and skeptical, especially since Perseus is part god, but helps train and then fights alongside him. IAN WHYTE plays the chief of the wooden Djinn people who fights alongside Perseus and the others. PETE POSTLETHWAITE plays Perseus' adoptive human father who raises and instills in him the desire to do something about the gods and the way they treat mere mortals. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this action/adventure flick that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of just a handful of minor expletives and colorful phrases, while a sparring scene briefly turns sensual (but nothing too steamy) and some comments are made about gods "taking" (raping) women in the past (one flashback shows the moments leading up to that, including a view of the woman's bare back). Violence consists of humans battling a variety of mythological beings, beasts and monsters, with related injuries and deaths (including the decapitation of the half-human, half-snake Medusa). Some of that has bloody results and those scenes, moments of peril and the visuals of the various creatures, monsters, ghouls and such could be unsettling, suspenseful and/or scary to some viewers, especially much younger kids. The fighting and such might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while bad attitudes and tense family material are also present. Alcohol is presumably present in goblets but never identified as such. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, a few moments of lightning at night near strobe intensity, while another scene features flashes of lightning at night. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are some flying scenes in the film as well as varying degrees of camera movement (some of which is bouncy), and those might be exacerbated by the 3D effects if the film is viewed that way. Read our review of the original, 1981 version of "Clash of the Titans." ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE The King of Argos holds a goblet and Andromeda is given one, but she takes it over to the recently rescued Perseus. Before he can have any, however, a soldier slaps him hard. Calibos holds a goblet and then throws it down. BLOOD/GORE The queen of Argos sarcastically asks if they should be afraid of soiling themselves in regards to rising up against the gods. Hades causes the queen of Argos to age rapidly (her skin turning that way). We see what appear to be human skulls in the background of a cave where Calibos is located. We see Calibos who's disfigured with deep scars and missing chunks of flesh on his head and back (presumably from the previous lightning strike on him in the past). Calibos kills one soldier (heard but not seen) and then tears that one or another soldier in half (briefly seen). More battling follows, including Draco cutting off Calibos' hand (we see the slightly bloody stump as well as the severed hand that then starts to transform into something else). We then see some blood on the ground and Perseus orders that they follow that to find him. We then see more blood hitting and then sinking into the sand. During a battle with gargantuan scorpions, some soldiers are impaled by the tails (little if no blood), while another has goo regurgitated or otherwise poured down on him from one. Io throws something that partially severs one's tail, while Perseus is swallowed by one, but then bursts from its body, covered in goo. We see a big, gaping wound on Perseus' arm (from where Calibos earlier bit him) and it starts to spread on his arm, causing him pain from that and the related poison. We later see that again and Sheikh Sulieman tries to heal that with some sort of fiery substance. Sheikh Sulieman initially appears to have a disfigured and/or scarred face until we learn that he's of a tribe of wooden people and his face is made up of various pieces of wood. Perseus and others seek out and then finally encounter (in some ruins) a trio of witches with deformed and eyeless faces, with one holding a large eye in her hand. The witches then attack the soldiers and grab a young one, with Perseus then snatching the eye (and attached optic nerve) and threatening to destroy it if they don't release the soldier. We also see various human skeletal remains near those witches. Perseus decapitates Medusa with his sword. We not only see the severed head, but also the headless body (and neck stump) that stumbles about. Perseus later uses that severed head to turn a monster to stone. Perseus has some dried bloody cuts and scrapes on his face and neck following a battle. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Various soldiers in Argos initially have bad attitudes toward Perseus, especially when they learn he's a demigod. Hades threatens to destroy Argos and its people (via the Kraken) unless they sacrifice Andromeda in the next ten days. There are several references to gods going down to Earth and "taking" (raping) human women. We learn that Hades is actually conspiracy against his brother Zeus, and his plan to get revenge on the humans is actually a ploy to become more powerful and get revenge on Zeus. Perseus and others seek out and then finally encounter (in some ruins) a trio of witches with deformed and eyeless faces, with one holding a large eye in her hand. The witches then attack the soldiers and grab a young one, with Perseus then snatching the eye (and attached optic nerve) and threatening to destroy it if they don't release the soldier. People raid the palace in Argos, knocking down guards. They then come out with Andromeda, and tie and dangle her from a structure as a sacrifice for the Kraken. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling, suspenseful or scary to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Similarly, the related visuals of the various monsters and beasts might have the same effect. While fishing, Spyros finds and retrieves a large box/coffin from the sea, opens it, and finds a dead mother but still alive (the young Perseus). Various soldiers topple an enormous statue of Zeus from a cliff and it lands in the sea, nearly swamping Spyros' fishing vessel. Just then, winged creatures emerge from the sea and attacked the soldiers (who are armed with swords). When they're done snatching up all of them, the winged creatures merge into a swirling storm that then turns into an enormous Hades who smashes the fishing ship, sinking it. Perseus swims down and tries to rescue his family, but can't (and witnesses his father drown). The winged horse Pegasus rears up in front of Perseus. Gargantuan scorpions emerge from the ground and attack Perseus and the soldiers. They cut off some of the legs of one that then hits various men. This battle goes on for several minutes, with various close calls for the humans, others being attacked and/or killed (including at least two being impaled by the scorpions' tails, with one person then flung off). During this, Io throws something that partially severs one scorpion's tail, while Draco gets atop one of them, first driving a sword and then spear down through it, killing the beast. Perseus is swallowed by one, but then bursts from its body, covered in goo. When they think they've won, the humans then find themselves surrounded by even bigger scorpions. Perseus and others seek out and then finally encounter (in some ruins) a trio of witches with deformed and eyeless faces, with one holding a large eye in her hand. The witches then attack the soldiers and grab a young one, with Perseus then snatching the eye (and attached optic nerve) and threatening to destroy it if they don't release the soldier. Those witches inform Perseus of prophecy that he will die in his quest. Perseus and his dwindling team arrive at the River Styx and then spot the skeletal type ferryman approaching in his ferry that's pulled by scary-looking souls that go up and down in the fog-covered water as they head toward the humans. Perseus and his small team enter Medusa's ruined lair, looking for the creature but aware that they must avoid looking into her eyes. As they slowly proceed, we see her serpent like tail slithering about. An arrow is then fired from her into one soldier, knocking others off a precipice. Perseus stabs his sword into the side to stop his fall and he grabs Sheikh Sulieman, but another soldier falls a long way (to his presumed death). The half-human, half snake Medusa (with writhing snakes for hair) then stares into one soldier's eyes, turning him to stone (he then falls away and shatters upon impact). Medusa then fires arrows at others, including Perseus who she then chases, with various close calls for him and a precarious leap over a precipice. Sheikh Sulieman then slices her and she gazes into his eyes, but that does nothing to him. He then purposefully explodes, followed by one soldier riding a falling piece of stone that lands on Medusa's tail, impaling her to the floor. She then turns that person to stone, but Perseus uses his shield as a mirror to guide his attack on her. He leaps through the air and blindly swings his sword, decapitating her. Her headless body then stumbles about and eventually falls into the fiery precipice, resulting in an explosion of fire. Perseus uses Medusa's head to turn the gargantuan Kraken to stone, but its pieces then start falling off, landing on some people. Perseus' sword gets a lightning charge that then blasts Hades back into the underworld. Andromeda ends up falling into the sea, with stone Kraken pieces falling around her, with Perseus diving in and swimming underwater to save her. GUNS/WEAPONS At various points in the film, soldiers carry swords, spears and/or bows and arrows (Medusa also uses the latter to fire at humans) and use them to battle a variety of beings and beasts. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "So says the bastard son of a god," "Pray to your damn father," "You foolish boy," "Ease your storm," "And whoever the hell you are" and "Don't look the bitch in the eye" (said about Medusa). The fighting, stunts and other action might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. A male doomsayer tries to incite his followers by placing his own arm into a fire, thus leaving that burned. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous, action-oriented and heavily dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 damn and 1 hell. SEX/NUDITY As Io describes the event, we see a flashback to Zeus arriving in disguise in a queen's chamber and taking (raping -- not seen) her there. We briefly see her bare back as he goes to get on her. A male doomsayer is shirtless in Argos. There's talk of Poseidon "taking" (raping) Medusa in the past on the floor. Trying to train Perseus of how to battle Medusa, Io hits him several times in surprise attacks. But he eventually ends up on top of her (both clothed, but breathing hard) and as she places her hand on his chest plate armor she tells him, "Ease your storm." Medusa wears something resembling a bra-like top over her breasts. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES While fishing, Spyros finds and retrieves a large box/coffin from the sea, opens it, and finds a dead mother but still alive (the young Perseus). Perseus loses his entire family (and watches his father drown while trying to save him) after Hades smashes and sinks their fishing ship. As Io describes the event, we see a flashback to Zeus arriving in disguise in a queen's chamber and taking (raping -- not seen) her there. We briefly see her bare back as he goes to get on her. The king enters at the end of this and is so enraged that he orders her and the later newborn killed. He's then struck by lightning but still manages to throw the box/coffin containing her body and the still alive infant Perseus into the sea. Draco mentions his 16-year-old daughter being dragged down to the underworld in the past (meaning she died or was otherwise killed). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The myths and related characters used in this story. Revenge. Polytheism. The comment that humans' prayers to the gods are designed to fuel the latter's immortality. Perseus refusing to use any gifts from the gods on his quest and instead being determined to fight as just a man. VIOLENCE Various soldiers topple an enormous statue of Zeus from a cliff and it lands in the sea, nearly swamping Spyros' fishing vessel. Just then, winged creatures emerge from the sea and attacked the soldiers (who are armed with swords). When they're done snatching up all of them, the winged creatures merge into a swirling storm that then turns into an enormous Hades who smashes the fishing ship, sinking it. Perseus swims down and tries to rescue his family, but can't (and witnesses his father drown). A soldier pushes one person down. Andromeda takes a goblet over to the recently rescued Perseus. Before he can have any, however, a soldier slaps him hard. A vortex of twisting and burning sand (or something similar) enters the royal palace of Argos, sucks up the various soldiers (presumably killing them) and then blasts out their weapons and such back at Perseus. Perseus is shoved back to a pillar, punched in the gut and then held down close to a fire grate before being released. As Io describes the event, we see a flashback to Zeus arriving in disguise in a queen's chamber and taking (raping -- not seen) her there. We briefly see her bare back as he goes to get on her. The king enters at the end of this and is so enraged that he orders her and the later newborn killed. He's then struck by lightning but still manages to throw the box/coffin containing her body and the still alive infant Perseus into the sea. A soldier uses his shield to knock down a person. One soldier purposefully bumps Perseus when the latter is kneeling down to fix his footwear. To show Perseus how he must fight, Draco spars with him, including tripping and holding his sword on him. That becomes more intense, but Perseus quickly picks up what he must do and disarms Draco, sending his sword flying off where it impales a tree. Calibos kills one soldier (heard but not seen) and then tears that one or another soldier in half (briefly seen). He then kicks Perseus down a long hill (he careens down it) and then comes at Perseus with his sword. He then ends up biting Perseus' arm while an arrow is fired into his shoulder. He then kills many soldiers and grabs Perseus, but Draco cuts off his hand and Calibos flees (he's later found again, is hit, and continues to bleed). Gargantuan scorpions emerge from the ground and attack Perseus and the soldiers. The humans cut off some of the legs of one that then hits various men. This battle goes on for several minutes, with various close calls for the humans, others being attacked and/or killed (including at least two being impaled by the scorpions' tails, with one person then flung off) and damage to ruins. During this, Io throws something that partially severs one scorpion's tail, while Draco gets atop one of them, first driving a sword and then spear down through it, killing the beast. Perseus is swallowed by one, but then bursts from its body, covered in goo. A male doomsayer tries to incite his followers by placing his own arm into a fire, thus leaving that burned. Sheikh Sulieman tries to heal Perseus' arm wound with some sort of fiery substance that causes him pain. That results in soldiers grabbing and pulling Sheikh Sulieman away and he must then battle them. Draco throws Perseus to the ground while angry at him. Perseus and others seek out and then finally encounter (in some ruins) a trio of witches with deformed and eyeless faces, with one holding a large eye in her hand. The witches then attack the soldiers and grab a young one, with Perseus then snatching the eye (and attached optic nerve) and threatening to destroy it if they don't release the soldier. There's talk of Poseidon "taking" (raping) Medusa in the past on the floor. Trying to train Perseus of how to battle Medusa, Io hits him several times in surprise attacks. Perseus and his small team enter Medusa's ruined lair, looking for the creature but aware that they must avoid looking into her eyes. As they slowly proceed, we see her serpent like tail slithering about. An arrow is then fired from her into one soldier, knocking others off a precipice. Perseus stabs his sword into the side to stop his fall and he grabs Sheikh Sulieman, but another soldier falls a long way (to his presumed death). The half-human, half snake Medusa (with writhing snakes for hair) then stares into one soldier's eyes, turning him to stone (he then falls away and shatters upon impact). Medusa then fires arrows at others, including Perseus who she then chases, with various close calls for him and a precarious leap over a precipice. Sheikh Sulieman then slices her and she gazes into his eyes, but that does nothing to him. He then purposefully explodes, followed by one soldier riding a falling piece of stone that lands on Medusa's tail, impaling her to the floor. She then turns that person to stone, but Perseus uses his shield as a mirror to guide his attack on her. He leaps through the air and blindly swings his sword, decapitating her. Her headless body then stumbles about and eventually falls into the fiery precipice, resulting in an explosion of fire. Calibos impales Io and throws her body back against a rock, mortally wounding her (but she later shows up alive again). Perseus and Calibos fight, with sword attempts, punches and such, with Perseus eventually running Calibos through with a sword, causing him to turn back into a human before falling away. People raid the palace in Argos, knocking down guards. They then come out with Andromeda, and tie and dangle her from a structure as a sacrifice for the Kraken. A large wave from the Kraken moving underwater washes over various people and structures. The Kraken's enormous tentacles smash down onto buildings and people in Argos, resulting in damage and deaths. Winged creatures attack Perseus, who's riding Pegasus, while in flight. Perseus causes one to be clotheslined and fall to the street where humans attack it, while an enormous scorpion snags another out of midair with its claw. After one grabs Medusa's head (in a bag), Perseus pursues that, barely avoiding the Kraken snapping its jaws on him. They eventually crash and Perseus and it fall from the sky and land in a fire, but Perseus rolls out from that and is okay. The Kraken wipes out large ships and more structures in Argos. Perseus uses Medusa's head to turn the gargantuan Kraken to stone, but its pieces then start falling off, landing on some people. Perseus' sword gets a lightning charge that then blasts Hades back into the underworld. Andromeda ends up falling into the sea, with stone Kraken pieces falling around her, with Perseus diving in and swimming underwater to save her. Reviewed March 30, 2010 / Posted April 1, 2010

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