Hallmark Entertainment continues their adaptation of classic adventure stories and films with this remake of the stop-motion classic JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. Some may say that the need to remake this already classic movie is a pointless one; personally I like to make up my own mind so I gave this miniseries a go.
It is a miniseries that disappoints and delights in roughly equal measure. Sadly, the convention of today's television means that a lot of - shall we say "sentimentality" creeps into things, with also a lot of modern cheesiness which is definitely not cool. As in CLASH OF THE TITANS, we repeatedly get to see the gods in the sky bickering as Jason embarks on his voyage, except that this time Zeus is some young American bloke - I think not! Sadly, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS also has a tendency to show things which should really be left to the imagination - do we really need to see Zeus' hand come down from the clouds and stir the ocean to create a typhoon, or for him to drink from the ocean and gargle with the water? This is childish stuff, and the actor and actress playing Zeus and Hera are far too young for their parts anyhow. Being family entertainment, the worrying trend to spoon-feed the audience by having the characters speaking modernised language and sometimes slang is apparent here, but not overwhelmingly so.
A modern movie is limited in what it can do by what has come before. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS falls into the trap of using clichés, and a lot of them too, which is probably unavoidable these days. However, most of the clichés are disguised well so that hopefully you won't recognise them. The themes of a boy prince escaping from a villain has been done to death yet it shows up again here to passable effect. Thankfully, this film does have a lot to recommend it. A stalwart cast of major actors in minor parts, familiar bit players, and some international talent (I was pleased to see that the cast includes several British actors as well as the expected Americans) make things easier to handle. The budget shows here too, and authentic filming in the likes of Turkey gives the movie a colourful, atmospheric look which counts for a lot.
The cast is a mixed bag. Mainly at fault is Jason London, playing a rather wimpy Jason. Firstly, he's just too young to look as if he should be leading a ship full of older men, and secondly he's just not heroic enough. I wasn't convinced in his various abilities at all. Don't get me wrong; London isn't a bad actor in this film, but he's simply wrong and shouldn't be in it. Hopper is fun as always as the villain, and Derek Jacobi virtually unrecognisable as the blind wise man Phineas. The actors playing the crew of the Argo are a mixed bunch but most of them, as in Adrian Lester's case, put in good, solid performances with their assorted personalities. Sadly, Frank Langella is wasted in the minor role of King Aertes who doesn't get to do much.
Most impressive of all is Brian Thompson as Hercules. Physically he looks the part with his beard and muscles, and he also has the charisma to pull off the role too. Much better than pretty-boy Kevin Sorbo in any case. Peplum fans will be pleased to hear that Hercules is up to his old tricks in this movie, lifting ships single-handedly, uprooting trees whole, fighting armies and destroying temples with his strength alone. Way to go, Brian! Although JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS can't hold a candle to the '63 version, it is a fair attempt to tell the story in a new way, and it's nice to see that people are still making these mythological movies - however corrupted by modern sensibilities they may be - in this day and age. Fun and pretty to watch, but deeply flawed.
It is a miniseries that disappoints and delights in roughly equal measure. Sadly, the convention of today's television means that a lot of - shall we say "sentimentality" creeps into things, with also a lot of modern cheesiness which is definitely not cool. As in CLASH OF THE TITANS, we repeatedly get to see the gods in the sky bickering as Jason embarks on his voyage, except that this time Zeus is some young American bloke - I think not! Sadly, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS also has a tendency to show things which should really be left to the imagination - do we really need to see Zeus' hand come down from the clouds and stir the ocean to create a typhoon, or for him to drink from the ocean and gargle with the water? This is childish stuff, and the actor and actress playing Zeus and Hera are far too young for their parts anyhow. Being family entertainment, the worrying trend to spoon-feed the audience by having the characters speaking modernised language and sometimes slang is apparent here, but not overwhelmingly so.
A modern movie is limited in what it can do by what has come before. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS falls into the trap of using clichés, and a lot of them too, which is probably unavoidable these days. However, most of the clichés are disguised well so that hopefully you won't recognise them. The themes of a boy prince escaping from a villain has been done to death yet it shows up again here to passable effect. Thankfully, this film does have a lot to recommend it. A stalwart cast of major actors in minor parts, familiar bit players, and some international talent (I was pleased to see that the cast includes several British actors as well as the expected Americans) make things easier to handle. The budget shows here too, and authentic filming in the likes of Turkey gives the movie a colourful, atmospheric look which counts for a lot.
The cast is a mixed bag. Mainly at fault is Jason London, playing a rather wimpy Jason. Firstly, he's just too young to look as if he should be leading a ship full of older men, and secondly he's just not heroic enough. I wasn't convinced in his various abilities at all. Don't get me wrong; London isn't a bad actor in this film, but he's simply wrong and shouldn't be in it. Hopper is fun as always as the villain, and Derek Jacobi virtually unrecognisable as the blind wise man Phineas. The actors playing the crew of the Argo are a mixed bunch but most of them, as in Adrian Lester's case, put in good, solid performances with their assorted personalities. Sadly, Frank Langella is wasted in the minor role of King Aertes who doesn't get to do much.
Most impressive of all is Brian Thompson as Hercules. Physically he looks the part with his beard and muscles, and he also has the charisma to pull off the role too. Much better than pretty-boy Kevin Sorbo in any case. Peplum fans will be pleased to hear that Hercules is up to his old tricks in this movie, lifting ships single-handedly, uprooting trees whole, fighting armies and destroying temples with his strength alone. Way to go, Brian! Although JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS can't hold a candle to the '63 version, it is a fair attempt to tell the story in a new way, and it's nice to see that people are still making these mythological movies - however corrupted by modern sensibilities they may be - in this day and age. Fun and pretty to watch, but deeply flawed.