MovieChat Forums > Clash of the Titans (1981) Discussion > I will take dated stop motion effects ov...

I will take dated stop motion effects over CGI anyday!

posted 11 years ago by LaPfieffer92
13 replies | jump to latest

its not only the effects I loved about this movie, but the whole look of everyone, the costumes, the old fashioned story telling, the movie felt more like something you'd see in the 50's or 60's, not the 80's. but that's what I loved about it, a amazingly handsome persius with great hair, beautiful princess, great bad guy, great sets. you just don't see that anymore. its quite depressing. the recent "remake" I hadn't even seen it and don't plan to, this movie didn't need a remake. but they are remaking everything under the sun these days. terrible. the new guy is not only butt ugly but bald! uugh!

Realism, Remakes and Unnecessary Sequels are ruining movies!

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] GreatWhiteApeofBarsoom 11 years ago

I absolutely agree.

Requiescat in pace, Krystle Papile. I'll always miss you.

[–] PreachCaleb 11 years ago

Harryhausen knew how to give his creations personality and character. Compare his Medusa to the one in the remake:

Harryhausen's Medusa is menacing and methodical. It crawls around and the lighting gives her a horrendous and ominous look.

The remake's Medusa looks and moves like a cartoon characer.

CGI has nothing on Harryhausen.

Straightedge means I'm better than you.

[–] mws91 11 years ago

I agree. Using something tangible like clay figures, miniatures, anamatronics and the like makes it more beleivable.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] michael-abatemarco 9 years ago

I agree. Harryhausen was (mostly) a one-man show. The insertion of stop-motion and live action was not an easy thing to achieve and the miniature sets were impressive, too. There was about a dozen people, all together, who worked on the effects in this film. Compare that to the remake which lists well over 100 people on the effects team and I have to wonder, what exactly makes people think that cgi is a cost-effective measure as compared to practical effects? Sure the remake had a larger budget but I assume those 100 plus techs had to be paid and the result was less than stellar. The remake has a contemporary look not so very different than a lot of the other cgi heavy action films being made today. It is not a stand-out by any means (although I've seen cgi done much worse). What I think the original had going for it was a the ability to take you out of time and place you into the timeless realm of myth. The only other movie that does that for me the way Clash does is Excalibur. The Clash remake does not.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 11 years ago

I agree. When I think of stop-motion effects—all physical effects, for that matter—I think of blood... sweat... tears. Something that someone put a great deal of work into. I’m not saying CGI doesn’t take talent, but there’s just something to be said about a special effect you can touch.

[–] Yanyawa 11 years ago

Boy you hit the nail on the head. CGI is killing movies for me. Maybe it's because I'm an 80s kid and can't get into the look of CGI but they are so over doing it. Thanks for a great post. I saw the remake and walked away very disappointed.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Yanyawa 10 years ago

Well said!

[–] angelosdaughter 10 years ago

Agree. I don't care for so much CGI in modern movies. I loved this version, and it has some of the greats: Lawrence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Claire Bloom, Susan Fleetwood, et. al. The young couple Harry Hamlin (Perseus) and Judi Bowker (Princess Andromeda) were so attractive. The remake was a disaster. And what's with all the shaved heads on the heroes? I prefer the original '300 Spartans' with Richard Egan as King Leonidas over the comic book-based modern remake. Everyone raved about 'Gladiator'. For me, too much CGI; 'Spartacus' (I think 1960) with Kirk Douglas was infinitely superior. I am not completely opposed to CGI, but it is overused, and actors enhanced with it (the Hobbit movies) seem wooden and inauthentic.

I could be a morning person if morning happened at noon.

[–] residentevil6901 9 years ago

I agree, I love this movie and watch it all the time, I thought the remake was cool and all but this one is so much better. I like the look of real sets compared to CGI sets.

[–] huzdaman 8 years ago

This movie is epic in every sense. The scale, the scope, the visuals...it does hearken back to the sword-and-sandal films of the 50's and 60's without the schlock.

What's interesting to me is that it came out the same year as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Two movies great in their own way, yet couldn't be more different in terms of aesthetic and budget.