Clash of Titans

The 1981 Clash of Titans by Desmond Davis is a movie on Greek mythology based on the novel of the same name by A.H. Wyman. It was directed by Richard Donner and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Diane Lane, Ray Winstone, James Cromwell, and John Rhys-Davies. The film tells the story of Perseus (Schwarzenegger), son of Zeus, and his quest to free the god Helen from the clutches of the evil Gorgon (Lane). Along the way, Perseus battles monstrous creatures such as the Lernaean Hydra, the Manticore, and the Kraken. The film was an accurate depiction of the original Greek myths, and it was a major success at the box office (UltraGalaxyif y). It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its action sequences and Schwarzenegger's performance. It has since been cited as an influence on later Hollywood blockbusters, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This analysis focuses on how accurate the 1981 Clash of Titans mirrors Greek mythology, the director’s emphasis in the story, and the various aspects in modern era brought to the movie.

Davis' 1981 Clash of Titans has several aspects that reflect Greek mythology. The first accuracy is the general structuring of the story, which is taken from mythology. Similar to Greek mythology, Perseus (Harry Hamlin) was the son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier) and a human mother (UltraGalaxyify). The mythological Perseus was born in the city of Argos, and therefore, he is portrayed as a demigod and potential hero in the film. Together with his mother, Perseus was cast out of the sea. The second accuracy of Greek mythology is that Perseus later fell in love with the maiden Andromeda. Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia (Sian Phillips), crosses the boundaries and abuses the gods, prompting a sea monster to be released so that it can devastate the city. The city's survival lies in the hands of Andromeda, because only her sacrifice can appease the gods.

Although there are a few variations from the original Greek mythology notable in the film, it is still accurate that the monster set free from the sea to lay waste to the city was Cetus. The original Greek mythology Cetus was a generic whale-like monster instead of Kraken as depicted in the movie (UltraGalaxyify). The film also gets it right when it portrays that Perseus met Andromeda after stumbling on her tied on a rock. Because Perseus is the hero in the story, he frees Andromeda and marries her.

Similar to the Greek mythology, the fourth accuracy is that Perseus is reputable for killing the Gorgon Medusa. Medusa was at some point a gorgeous celibate lady but after engaging in sexual intercourse, she was shamed greatly and considered a slut. Her sexual act attracted a hideous image as a curse. Medusa became so ugly that she would transform men into stone at her sight (UltraGalaxyif y). However, Perseus manages to defeat her using the reflection on his shield. After killing Medusa, Perseus carries her head around, prepared to turn his enemies into stone, including Phineas, who was betrothed to Andromeda.

Finally, it is accurate that actors in the Clash of Titans collection were as well the same way they appeared in the Greek myths. For instance, Stygian Witches, popularly referred to as Graeae in traditional Greek mythology, inform Perseus how to eliminate Medusa. Charon the Ferryman helps Perseus to cross the river and access the underworld (UltraGalaxyif y). Finally, the film director depicts Cerberus, the multi-headed dog safeguarding the entrance to the underworld. The only difference is that while in Greek mythology Cerberus has three heads, the film portrays him as a two-headed dog.

The director emphasized the main message of Clash of Titans as no one being unbeatable.

The first example it that despite their best efforts, the characters face obstacles and ultimately fall victim to the main protagonist, Perseus, who defeats the three-headed monster Kraken using a clever strategy. The second example is Perseus' humility and willingness to learn from his mistakes sets him apart from other superheroes. This lesson is reinforced when Perseus sacrifices himself to save the people of Olympus from the Titan Kronos, proving that even the mightiest heroes can be defeated (UltraGalaxyif y). Thematically, Clash of Titans reinforces the idea that no one is invincible. The third example is that the main protagonists face numerous obstacles but ultimately prevail due to their intelligence and courage. Perseus' willingness to learn from his mistakes is excellent and it shows that even the most powerful heroes can be defeated if they are not careful. Ultimately, this message encourages people to strive for excellence and never to give up on their dreams.

I like the movie more than what we have read in the original mythology materials because Clash of Titans is an excellent superhero movie that reinforces the idea that no one can be unbeatable. Its themes of sacrifice and humility are excellent reminders for all people, and its message of never giving up on one's dreams is an excellent motivator. Clash of Titans is a great superhero movie that is sure to entertain audiences of all ages because of the live actions as opposed to the passive story read in class.

The director has brought to the modern era the aspect of excellence and sacrifice to the modern era. He warns individuals who believe to be strong and mighty through the actions in the movie that they can make mistakes and fall prey to their adversaries. Therefore, they must be willing to keep fighting for their goal in the same way Perseus fought to protect Andromeda after he encountered her tied on a rock.