Clash of the Titans Remake Trailer Tantalizes Greek Mythology Fans

It's been almost 29 years since the original fantasy epic Clash of the Titans (1981) graced theaters - and ever since then, hardcore fans of Greek mythology have been all but forgotten at the box office. The original film starred Harry Hamlin as Perseus, the mythological Greek hero who embarks upon an epic quest to save the lovely Princess Andromeda from the clutches of the dreaded Kraken - a giant sea monster. Along the way Perseus (with a little help from the Greek god Zeus and the winged horse Pegasus) must solve several riddles and overcome a horde of mythological creatures, including Andromeda's now-monstrous former suitor Calibos, a fantastically tense encounter with the snake-haired Medusa, and a final showdown with the giant Kraken itself.

Although the 1981 film featured a large ensemble cast of notable and talented veteran actors that brought the famous tale to life, it is also widely known as a showcase for the extraordinary and pioneering special effects artist Ray Harryhousen, whose stop-motion special effects lended a certain charm to the many creatures that inhabited the mythological world of the film. Sadly, the film marked Harryhousen's swan song and is the last film to feature his special brand of special effects.

The recently released trailer for director Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans remake gives indication that the new film will feature cutting edge special effects and stylized action sequences which will surely appeal to fans of Zach Snyder's 2006 Spartan epic "300" and Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It appears that many of the creatures in the new film bear more than just a passing resemblance to recent villains in "Lord of the Rings" as well as Guillermo del Toro's fantasy masterpiece "Pan's Labyrinth". Sam Worthington (Terminator Salvation) steps into the sandals of hero Perseus, whilst Hollywood heavyweights Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes assume the roles of ancient Greek gods Zeus and Hades, respectively.

Although it will be hard to surpass the charm and appeal of the original Clash of the Titans, let us hope that the remake will bring renewed interest in epic sword-and-sandals action adventure films when it is released next year.