Bloody Visuals to Clever Claymation

A brutal king, murderous armies, and long expositions about fate. Monsters, myths and brave men willing to fight against both. Ah, where would we be without ancient Greece?

This weekend, we are reminded why these classic tales get so many iterations. This particular tale is that of Theseus and his battle against the bloodthirsty King Hyperion. The wicked king has gathered an army of monsters, all hellbent on finding a fabled artifact to make themselves masters of the world. It seems nothing can stop him, until a young stonemason named Theseus vows to avenge his murdered mother. He gains the aid of an oracle and a small band of loyal followers, embracing his destiny in a desperate battle against an evil tyrant.

This week, I am stretching all the way back to 1963.

I believe in the power of Greek myths, but have grown weary of the special-effect-infused nature of modern iterations. Modern directors have warped the stories to fit action movie stereotypes, so I wish to distance myself from such laziness. Instead, I will look at a film that follows the original story while still attempting to dazzle. Keep in mind that impressive in 1963... well... it is a bit different for us.

This week, I will speak about "Jason and the Argonauts."

Now, you may notice that gold emblem in the bottom left of the picture. That denotes the involvement of special effect wizard Ray Harryhausen, an auteur with few equals. His art... well, let's just say it doesn't hold much weight in modern cinema.

There is a reason we don't see claymation too much anymore.

There are exceptions, but nearly all are children's movies. "Jason and the Argonauts" is not too appropriate for the youngsters. They can watch it and enjoy it, but the themes will sail over their heads. However, the action scenes are undeniably charming. The hydra and skeleton fights have gone down in cinema history for being far beyond their time. Both required meticulous effort and hours to produce (imagine moving each head of a hydra in minute increments, trying to make stills look like they are moving. Yeah). Sure, they don't look real now, but the old-school charm is enough to make them shine.

However, the effects are not the only thing here. The movie also has substance, as the topic of fate is pretty directly addressed. This is a dressed-up literature class, and that makes this move special. In fact, nearly every movie that has the "Ray Harryhausen Emblem" effortlessly combines weighty topics with the oft-dismissed art of modeling clay.

The Final Stretch:
I have a problem with movies that rely on effects. In our technological advancements, average movie-goers have become more inclined to follow a film with bigger effects and set pieces. This has forced studios to pour all their money into such profit barrels, and this is woefully tragic. I have no problem with the occasional mindless action movie, but the market is more oversaturated now than ever before. Movies like "Jason and the Argonauts" were considered mindless entertainment in their day, yet they approach weighty topics with a delightful sense of whimsy. Modern bloodbaths approach nothing of substance, and rely only on spectacle to pull cash from pockets. Meanwhile, "Jason and the Argonauts" gets ignored because it does not possess a grandiose sense of gory realism. This is the way film and time work, but nothing suffers quite as much as special effect spectacle. After all, in 30 years, we will look back at "Immortals" and laugh at the underdone effects.