Clash of the Titans

I actually went and saw a remake. I believe stick with the classic and leave it at that. I will have to a write post just on remakes because I could go on and on that subject alone. But my father, sister and I decided to give it a try.

I love the classic Clash of the Titans (1981) starring Harry Hamlin. My favorite character is the tin owl (kudos to the new film for giving him a cameo appearance). Ray Harryhausen’s stop action special effects were amazing (sad that was his last film). That Medusa scared me as child. The Kraken is also way better than the new one as well. I liked how the old screenplay brought in the image of the Gods using humans has pieces on a game board. It looked like the new one was going to go that way but it was just in the background and not really used.

What I liked about the new film:

Sam Worthington. Though handsome, not pretty boy image. He made a perfect every man’s hero.

I really liked Liam Cunningham’s (I think that is his name) character and the humor he brought to the film. I’m a big believer in throwing in humor in action films.

The women in the film were strong and not “look at me and how pretty I am, so save me.”

My thoughts on the film:

The two animal hunters that joined the soldiers reminded me of “The Brownies” in Willow.

Fiennes and Neeson look like they really could be brothers with their facial features. At first I thought Neeson was playing both parts.

Who knew Fiennes could look ugly?

I was surprised to see Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy) all grown up and being a solider, who would have ever thought?

Why did they put the Gods in shiny armor? It looked ridiculous. They would have looked more threatening in togas.

Stop action is cooler than computer images.

What was with the Djini? They were creepy and seemed no way related to mythology or at least to my knowledge of it.


Though the film is based on the old film, as noted in the credits, the story line is different. What really remains the same is that Perseus has to get Medusa’s head to save the princess from the Kraken. Everything else in between is different. So you can still enjoy this film for entertainment value without guilt.

(Just a side note I watched the old classic this past summer on cable and there is nudity which I never saw growing up watching it on TV so be forewarn even though it says PG.)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Wednesday night JR and I went to the Hale Center Theater in Orem to see the production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I read so many good things about it so I was looking forward to the production. I didn’t realize it was going to be a musical and I was a bit concerned how they were going to make it work but it did. I laughed so hard at one point my eyes were watering. The cast did an awesome job. My favorite actor was Natalie Wheeler. Her dead pan humor was perfect. Dave Tinney reminded me of a classic 40s film star and Brett Merritt’s energy had me rolling in my seat. All the supporting cast, production crew, etc. made it a wonderful evening out. If you get a chance catch it before it closes next week.

The only problem I had was that the guy seating next to me practically sat in my lap. Why do guys not understand you stay in the arm rest area? That includes your legs as well. Why would you want to be that close to a stranger anyways?

Happy Birthday James Garner

Happy 82nd Birthday to James Garner!

To celebrate his birthday let me recommend three must see films of his or least my three favorite films of his:

The Great Escape (1963)
Allied POWs plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.

My thoughts: This is one of my favorite war films and Garner’s character “The Scrounger” is brilliantly played.

Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)
McCullough is "passing through on my way to Australia" when he takes a job in a gold rush town. After a startling display of marksmanship he immediately arrests the youngest son of the evil landowner. A battle of hired guns begins as McCullough continues to tame the town and defeat the gunslingers with a combination of skill and wit.

My thoughts: Laugh out loud funny with so many memorable moments.

Murphy’s Romance (1985)
Emma is a divorced woman with a teen aged boy who moves into a small town and tries to make a go of a horse ranch. Murphey is the town druggist who steers business her way. Things are going along predictably until her ex husband shows up.

My thoughts: A different kind of romantic comedy that shows that love has no age.

Duke

You might well think that I would be talking about Mr. John Wayne himself being me, but I’m talking about the great men’s basketball team the Blue Devils out of North Carolina from Duke University. I have been a fan of Duke and have cheered for them each season during March Madness since Christian Laettner played for them. Remember him? He was the only college player in the 1992 Dream Team for the Olympics. Now that was a team and I could go on and on about the Dream Team but that is for another day. I am still a true BYU fan, but I have faced the facts that BYU will probably never make it to the final four (but then again look at Butler) and I have to cheer for someone. So last night I was very happy that Duke won over West Virginia. I think it was partially due to the sacrifice of my friend AJ that was willing to watch the game with me even though sports are not her thing (now that is a meaning of a true friend, to do things just because they know it will make you happy).

Tomorrow night I am sad that I have to work and miss the big game though in my heart I will be happy no matter who wins, because I am all about the Cinderella story especially since it is Butler.