Blu-ray Review: Clash of the Titans in 2D is an improvement!

4Videosoft News - Blu-ray (not Blue-ray) also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

Clash of the Titans is a movie for people who want to see giant monsters, sword fights, and lots of CGI. The new blu-ray release eliminates some of the film’s faults but accentuates others. It also comes with a dazzling array of bonus features sure to please anyone who enjoyed the film.

Gone is the unbelievably horrible 3-D that was tacked on to the film in post-production. If you’re not going to film a movie in three-dimensions, then don’t go back and retrofit it. If you do, don’t make it a rush job. The 3-D in this film was easily the worst I’ve ever seen and critics and audiences were not happy with it. Presented in a standard flat image, Clash of the Titans works much better. A lot of the action sequences involve shaky, handheld camerawork, which does not work in 3-D. Luckily the movie looks great in high definition home video.

What about the story? Well, the story still suffers from a lack of logic, wasted characters, and a wooden performance from leading man Sam Worthington.

The heart of the story revolves around mankind’s rejection of the Greek gods and the power struggle between Zeus and Hades. Perseus (Worthington) lives to oppose the gods after his adopted father is accidentally killed by Hades. As Zeus’ half-human offspring he holds the key to the salvation of the city of Argos.

By now you all know about his quest; his search for the Stygian witches, the battle with Medusa, and the final confrontation with the Kraken. It’s a solid story but one that is almost derailed by gaps in logic. If Zeus is so dead set against Perseus’ quest, then why does he help him every chance he gets? The final scene in the movie tacks on a half-hearted answer to this question, but the real reason lies within the blu-ray’s deleted scenes.

It’s not all bad though, Warner Brothers has jam packed this blu-ray with great bonus features. The first is the “Maximum Movie Mode” which uses pop-ups, branching video, and a spectacular visual display to present interviews, effects tests, and behind-the-scenes material while the movie is playing. There isn’t much more to learn about the movie than what is presented here and I really liked how this feature looks and works. I wish more studios would make this effort in their home video presentations.

Clash of the Titans still suffers from poor writing and acting, but at least that poorly produced and unbelievably distracting 3-D is gone. I enjoyed it a lot more than I did the first time and I’ll bump up my rating a bit, but it’s still an average film at best. Fans should be delighted at the wonderfully produced blu-ray and the great special features it contains. For most, this should be a rental, but fans should happily go out and get the blu-ray.