I always find with these stop-motion animation films that the wonderful Harryhausen creations always far out-act the human talent! Sadly, here is no different - Todd Armstrong in the title role and Nancy Novak as " Medea" are as wooden as the Argo in this retelling of the ancient Greek myth. It is still, however, an exciting action adventure though, with plenty of episodes to keep it moving along as Jason fights monsters and treachery to seek out the legendary Golden Fleece from the distant land of Colchis. It's got a decent enough, largely British, supporting cast with Honor Blackman standing out as his patron "Hera" and Nigel Green making for a wonderfully over-the-top "Hercules", but the spoils definitely go to Talos, the Harpies and the skeleton battle is fabulous.
**_Swords & Greek Mythology in the Mediterranean_** Jason (Todd Armstrong), the rightful heir to the throne of Thessaly, Greece, gathers a crew of intrepid sailors to find the magical Golden Fleece, a quest that brings clashes with a 100’ bronze statue, a couple harpies, the venomous Hydra and a squad of sword-wielding skeletons. “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963) is a sword & sandal flick based on Greek Mythology with Ray Harryhausen’s stop motion special effects, which were state-of-the-art at the time. It’s very similar to "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" from five years earlier and on par in all-around entertainment. You can’t beat the scenic Mediterranean locations, the vessel, the costumes and the mystical action sequences. The fight with the skeleton warriors only runs three minutes, at most, but it took Harryhausen four months to produce it. Unfortunately, this isn’t as compelling, story-wise, as “Ulysses” (1954) and “Mysterious Island” (1961) or future flicks like “Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger” (1977) and “Conan the Barbarian” (1982). Those movies feature a fairly prominent female presence to counteract the sweaty men in loin cloths; this one doesn't. Sure, Nancy Kovack is on hand, but she doesn’t show up until well past the hour mark and not enough is done with her. The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot on the coasts of southern Italy (Salerno) with studio stuff done in Rome and Shepperton Studios, just west of London. GRADE: B-
A musical film about the adventures of the wandering musicians from Bremen such as Troubadour, Donkey, Dog, Cat and Rooster. In one of the towns Troubadour falls in love with a Princess and makes up a plan how to get the King's confidence.
Movie Star Rating : 7 Read More
Wallace and Gromit have run out of cheese, and this provides an excellent excuse for the duo to take their holiday to the moon, where, as everyone knows, there is ample cheese. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive.
Movie Star Rating : 7.5 Read More
Wallace rents out Gromit's former bedroom to a penguin, who takes up an interest in the techno pants created by Wallace. However, Gromit later learns that the penguin is a wanted criminal.
Movie Star Rating : 7.8 Read More
Wallace's whirlwind romance with the proprietor of the local wool shop puts his head in a spin, and Gromit is framed for sheep-rustling in a fiendish criminal plot.
Movie Star Rating : 7.5 Read More
Cheese-loving eccentric Wallace and his cunning canine pal, Gromit, investigate a mystery in Nick Park's animated adventure, in which the lovable inventor and his intrepid pup run a business ridding the town of garden pests. Using only humane methods that turn their home into a halfway house for evicted vermin, the pair stumble upon a mystery involving a voracious vegetarian monster that threatens to ruin the annual veggie-growing contest.
Movie Star Rating : 7.1 Read More
A magical blend of choreography, stop-motion and live action, Stories from a Flying Trunk captures the enchantment of three classic stories from Hans Christian Andersen. Conceived, written and directed by Oscar nominated Christine Edzard and featuring the dancers of the Royal Ballet, choreographed by Frederick Ashton. The Kitchen contains household objects which come to life and hold an animated conversation. The Little Match Girl updates Andersen's heart-rending tale to London's East End in the late seventies. Little Ida is an inspired celebration of dance featuring members of the Royal Ballet.
Movie Star Rating : 0 Read More
A newly dead New England couple seek help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.
Movie Star Rating : 7.4 Read More
Based on Verne's book The Mysterious Island, five POWs escape from a camp in a balloon during the Civil War and crash-land on an uninhabited island in the Pacific. Trying to settle with their lives they find someone is helping them.
Movie Star Rating : 5.7 Read More
As the Earth wrestles with its agonizing birth, the peoples of this barren and desolate world struggle to survive. Driven by animal instinct they compete against the harsh conditions, their giant predators, and warring tribes. When two people from opposing clans fall in love, existing conventions are shattered forever as each tribe struggles for supremacy and Man embarks on his tortuous voyage of civilization.
Movie Star Rating : 6.1 Read More
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2024 - Movies (May 13th)
Hit Man 2023 - Movies (May 13th)
Godzilla x Kong The New Empire 2024 - Movies (May 13th)
Deadbolt 2024 - Movies (May 12th)
Mesterjátszma 2023 - Movies (May 12th)
A Whitewater Romance 2024 - Movies (May 12th)
Phantom 2023 - Movies (May 12th)
Nikki Glaser Someday Youll Die 2024 - Movies (May 12th)
The Jack in the Box Rises 2024 - Movies (May 11th)
TMZ Presents The Downfall of Diddy 2024 - Movies (May 11th)
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd 2023 - Movies (May 11th)
Imaginary 2024 - Movies (May 11th)
Youll Never Find Me 2023 - Movies (May 11th)
Squealer 2023 - Movies (May 11th)
Uncropped 2023 - Movies (May 10th)
Not Another Church Movie 2024 - Movies (May 10th)
Poolman 2023 - Movies (May 10th)
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 2024 - Movies (May 10th)
Foil 2023 - Movies (May 10th)
The Last Stop in Yuma County 2023 - Movies (May 10th)
The Image of You 2024 - Movies (May 10th)
Panorama - (May 13th)
Mr. Birchum - (May 13th)
MSNBC Reports Andrea Mitchell Reports - (May 13th)
Come Dine with Me- The Professionals - (May 13th)
Harry Wild - (May 13th)
Smiling Friends - (May 13th)
Escape to the Country - (May 13th)
Garden Rescue - (May 13th)
Alan Titchmarshs Gardening Club - (May 13th)
Snapped - (May 13th)
I Kissed a Girl - (May 13th)
Gemma and Gorka- Life Behind the Lens - (May 13th)
Race Against The Tide - (May 13th)
Love Triangle - (May 13th)
Canadas Ultimate Challenge - (May 13th)
Bar Rescue - (May 13th)
Customer Wars - (May 13th)
The Farmer Wants a Wife - (May 13th)
The Summit - (May 13th)
When Calls the Heart - (May 13th)