Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes

Supremely silly but jolly good fun to watch, Clash of the Titans is no history lesson in Greek mythology. It's an unapologetic popcorn movie with awesome fight sequences and monstrous mythical beasts.

It's also the kind of campy film in which Liam Neeson plays Greek god Zeus, dressed in a shiny silver suit, whose heavenly abode Mount Olympus is designed as a Las Vegas attraction, and who must keep a straight face while delivering the film's cheesiest yet most memorable line: "Release the Kraken!"

Sam Worthington stars as Perseus, an orphaned demigod drawn into the battle between man and the gods when Hades, lord of the underworld (played by Ralph Fiennes) threatens to unleash the giant sea-monster Kraken on the city of Argos.

Perseus must team up with the few remaining members of the Argos army who weren't wiped out by Hades and his flying monkeys, even as he's watched over by gorgeous guardian angel Io (played Gemma Arterton). Before he can vanquish the 800-foot tall Kraken however, Perseus and his fearless cohorts must visit some grotesque witches, do battle with giant scorpions, slay Medusa of the famous snake-hair, and save Princess Andromeda of Argos (played by Alexa Davalos).

If all you're looking for is some mindless fun, Clash of the Titans delivers on its promise, even if the plot itself is all over the place and sometimes hard to follow. The CG creatures are smoothly integrated into the scenes, although some of them do look unusually rubbery, and from some angles even the Kraken appears too fake to fear.

Despite being dressed in a short skirt for most of the film, Sam Worthington makes a convincing action hero; and even if you're a fan of the original 1981 version -- just as campy, by the way -- it's hard to deny that in their cheesiness itself lies much of the charm of these movies.

I'm going with three out of five for director Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans. It's the latest addition to my list of guilty pleasures. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride!

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