Jason and the Argonauts
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.99 You Save: $7.99 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.95 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Jason and the Argonauts
Movie Review: What A Shame
Summary: 3 Stars
With a big budget, some great effects and some well known actors I had big hopes for this movie. My God was I disappointed. Jeremy London as Jason pulled the movie down. He had no charisma, no sense of leadership...I can't be bothered to go on about him. He just spoiled the movie from the start. Apart from him, I have no problem with the rest of the cast, more with the script. Sure there are plenty of encounters with monsters and the like, but no sense of danger of excitement. Half the cast never use swords, they just walk around and hope large clumps of rocks will fall on their foes. I think I can compare the movie to someone who has just woken up in the middle of the night and is dreamily performing functions like making a drink, but not really aware of what they're doing. I think my faith in Hallmark Entertainment is waning after the dire Journey To The Centre Of The Earth and now this...So why three stars? Well for Tv, its watchable enough. It could have been so much more, that's all. Jason's search for the golden fleece is classic storytelling and has everything from action to drama, personal tragedy to triumph...but in the hands of Hallmark it has been reduced to great looking scenary and some nice props...
If you liked the original 1963 movie, you'll still prefer it and leave this movie feeling like you've been cheated. Please someone tell Jeremy London to start acting when the director yells ACTION. I don't think the director ever yells WALK AROUND LOOKING MISERABLE AND BORED...not unless he is making a movie about people who saw this one.
Movie Review: Jason And The PC Argonauts
Summary: 3 Stars
Fairly decent adaptation of the classic Greek saga, "Jason" tries to find an even balance between special effects, dialogue and pacing - and succeeds for the most part. The CGI FX are actually impressive to a degree as the winged Harpies look very menacing. With the inclusion of an African and a women, the sailors of the Argo reflect todays Politically Correct environment, not the actual historical world of Greece (I'm surprised they didn't include a Hispanic, Asian and Homosexual). Anyway, director Nick Willing ("Alice in Wonderland") and writers Matthew Faulk and Mark Skeet establish the journey's purpose very quikly, never allowing subplots to interfere with the quest.And the voyage itself is exquisite. From rich Turkish locations, fertile landscapes and crystal bodies of water to elegant sets at London's Shepperton Studios, "Jason" takes nothing but lush routes and vibrant paths. As the maniacal monarch with an evil past, Hopper is electric; MacFadyen and Williams are naughty as the gods who display ulterior motives; and the rest of the supporting players, especially Thompson, shine. Jason London is tough and handsome, but he often seems out of his league, sparring with vet thesps like Jacobi and Cirian Hinds. Still, his boyish charm goes a long way in establishing sympathy for a motivated ruler-to-be.
All in all a pretty decent film for Television.
Movie Review: Immpresiove Actors,Immpresive Acts,Worst Storyline
Summary: 3 Stars
I must say I enjoy it,It was a good movie untill some...things tickled me:First,It's Romance -gladly only two small sexual parts of adult scenes- almost turn it into a nightmare. I never heard or read in my whole life such a humiliating adulterous scene from the true Argonauts Scripture. Damn, I hate the sex part so much!!
Second,the scripture told All(I say it again ALL) the Argonuters return home safely including Argos and Hercules and there the story ends, where Jason feasting at his palace with the argonauters! I never read that Argos, owner and maker of the Argonauts and Hercules die in such a pitiful way after their return!. Not just that, Hera is NOT Hercules' mom and she HATES Hercules and Zeus is ASIDE with Jason. Such a bad thing it alls turned to a nightmare.
But again I Praise Hallmark Team for another piece of art.I can't resist It's a great design adventure. 100% as Fantasy indeed, 0% as value of mythology. Start to read mythology books, Hallmarkers. This time read it carefully, and you won't find any fakeness for such precious high-valued-art. It's true Myth made by man ant illusion. But you don't realize it took part at civilization.
By the way...Why Harpies,or should I say Sirens (Let's teach that old antique island prophet to spell, that it was not H-A-R-P-I-E-S, It was S-I-R-E-N-S...)was thin as paper and bad looking if they have the everlasting-food-prospered table?
Movie Review: Sluggish version of the Jason legend
Summary: 3 Stars
When I saw this latest version of the story of Jason and his search for the fabled Golden Fleece was scheduled for broadcast on the Hallmark channel I was intrigued. Not only did the movie feature not one, but two of the most beautiful women in Hollywood today - Natasha (`Species') Henstridge and Jolene (`Enterprise') Blalock, but it also promised four hours of grand entertainment.
Why then was I, about an hour into it, looking wistfully over at my DVD collection and in particular the classic Harryhausen version of the tale and contemplating what could have been.
Essentially put, this new adaptation of the Greek legend is a dud. Not only is the lead actor wholly unconvincing throughout but the action is tired, the narrative too drawn out and the pace sluggish. It does not help either that Henstridge's part (although top billed) is essentially nothing more than an extended cameo and that Blalock is unrecognizable (after watching her in a scene it was only her voice that clued me in to it being her).
Also why is it that the set design and effects looked cheaper and less convincing than they did four decades earlier?
All in all this was a huge disappointment and something Hallmark should have done better. For an example of the channel getting these made-for-television features/mini-series right check out the simply superb and very entertaining `La Femme Musketeer.'
Movie Review: An O.K. movie.
Summary: 3 Stars
I really loved the 1963 version of "Jason And The Argonauts". I was really hoping that this newer version would put that one to shame. Unfortunately, i was disappointed. Not that this new version was horribly bad. It was just so-so. It has a few good special affects. But nothing spectactular that really jumped out at me. The movie is not real fast moving, and it's a little long. Jason himself, as stated in some of the other reviews, is not really exciting to watch in this movie. I was kind of disappointed by that, as i thought he did a good job in "Party Of Five". The actor for Hercules was a good choice, though, as was the actor for Orpheus i felt. All in all, i'd say this movie is definitely worth watching once or twice, but not something to run out and buy on DVD for your permanent collection.