Wrath of the Titans (Mungle)

It allows you to simply buckle up and go on an action-filled thrill ride.

When Clash of the Titans released a few years ago it left a bad taste in the mouths of many viewers. Horrible up conversion from 2D to 3D, a plot overran with mediocre moments, and more a fizzle than a sizzle when it came to action. So with the new Wrath of the Titans, you have to wonder if it is a repeat of the same errors or did they in fact learn from their mistakes. Luckily for us it is the latter.

In this sequel Zeus (Liam Neeson) is kidnapped by his son Ares (Édgar Ramírez) and his brother Hades (Ralph Fiennes). Ares is all upset because Zeus has grown soft when it comes to Ares half-brother Perseus (Sam Worthington). Hades is still holding a grudge because of his banishment. Seems even gods can’t overcome sibling rivalry. Perseus is content living as a human, raising his son, and making a living as a fisherman. But he finds he must join Andromeda (Rosamund Pike) and Agenor (Toby Kebbell) to not only save Zeus but the world as a whole. So together they journey to the underworld for one hell of an adventure.

This installment had everything that Clash didn’t; larger than life titans, wall to wall action, humorous sidekicks, and a 3D experience that will at times twist and turn your insides. They spend little time setting up unnecessary storylines and instead jump right into the action. From there on it is one herculean battle after another. It is a solid story and you have no question to what is going on. It allows the father/son dynamic to remain forefront without bogging down. Perseus’ only desire is to keep the world safe for his son. In doing so he has to reconcile with his own father. We get it; now go fight a big Cyclops!

The animators did a splendid job with the special effects and the creation of the mammoth beasts. They are gnarly and disastrous. Also the creation of the labyrinth of the underworld is unique and visually captivating. It has elements of the worlds that Peter Jackson created in the Lord of the Rings films. The 3D is subtle so you get lots of depth without a grainy finish. The entire film pops exactly where needed.

Two outstanding supporting characters are Agenor and Hephaestus (Bill Nighy). They add the right amount of humor to give you a break from the action. It isn’t campy or forced. There are unexpected moments that will have you bust out laughing. Still it never takes you out of the moment but instead adds a humanistic element to the otherwise unbelievable scenarios.

Wrath of the Titans is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action. Just because you add fantasy in there doesn’t make the violence less intense for the kids. The scary titans and battles between men and gods might be a little intense for your younger family members. Even if they saw the first one you are better off keeping this at 15 and over. Probably not a good date night film but for a father and older teen it is spot on. The father/son bound in the film is strong so it may lead to a few man hugs or high fives afterwards without any awkward moments during the viewing. I give it 4.5 out of 5 bearded warriors. It gave us exactly what we need in this type of movie. It allows you to simply buckle up and go on an action-filled thrill ride.

 Review copyright 2012 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission.