Wrath of the Titans (2012)

 

You might be wondering: why did the rather mediocre remake of 'Clash of the Titans' warrant a follow-up? The answer is of course: money, as it didn't do too poorly at the box office. And even though this one isn't a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, it is a damn sight more entertaining and fun and - the horror! - this time the story actually makes sense and the characters are likable!

I know, right?

We pick up the story about ten years after the events of the first one, and Perseus is now just a humble fisherman with his son. Io has passed away, but they manage. But all is not well in the realm of the gods, as their power is diminishing. So Ares conspires with Hades to enslave Zeus and free Cronos, their father. Of course this will mean the end of the world, because it always does, doesn't it? 

So here's Perseus, now sort of obliged to save his father from the depths of Tartarus. But he gets some help in the shape of Agenor, a son of Poseidon and navigator supreme (and also a bit of a loser) and Andromeda. She is now queen of Argos and suddenly a blonde, as Alexa Davalos is replaced by Rosamund Pike. But even Andromeda now goes along for the journey to find Hephaestus, who can show them the way into Tartarus. 

You will get the rest: a few obstacles, Cronos breaks free, some characters get a redemption arc, applause at the end as everything falls into place. 

In essence, there isn't much new in any respect, but this film feels more like a cohesive story. There is a journey of sorts here, and not just in a metaphorical sense. You understand better what the characters' motivations are and why they are off to certain places and it just flows more naturally. 

What is also a vast improvement is the fact that this time you might actually care for the people on display. Sam Worthington isn't slumming and it makes a huge difference. Toby Kebbel is supposed to be comic relief as Agenor, but he is pretty engaging. Also, Rosamund Pike is a feisty Andromeda and even if she doesn't get all that much to do, she leaves an impression. You can believe she is a battle hardened queen, yet still human. 

As there are only a few gods left, thre isn't much to say. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes are fine as always and Bill Nighy is Bill Nighy playing Hephaestus. Ares, however, is probably the blandest of villains, as his entire motivation comes from jealousy, daddy issues and penis envy. The CG representation of Cronos exudes more of a threat and personality than this guy. 

'Wrath of the Titans' is decent enough to warrant a watch, if you have some time to spare. It isn't anything remarkable, but it is okay for light entertainment. It's a damn sight better than the first, but nothing so far has topped the magic of the 80s original.