Historic Greek Professional Recommends 1981’s Conflict Of The Titans Regardless of Inaccuracies

1981’s Conflict of the Titans obtained reward from an professional on Greek mythology, regardless of the film having some notable inaccuracies. Dr. Daisy Dunn, a classicist who’s written a number of books on Historic Greece.

Conflict of the Titans stars Harry Hamlin because the hero Perseus as he battles Medusa and the Kraken to save lots of the Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker). Laurence Olivier as Zeus, Maggie Smith as Thetis, and Ursula Andress as Aphrodite additionally star. Maybe the film’s most memorable element is Ray Harryhausen’s particular results work.

Some inaccuracies Dunn particulars in her Historical past Hit video on YouTube embody Medusa having the physique of a snake; that the character Calibos (Neil McCarthy) is an invention, “primarily based on nothing historic that I can establish;” and questioning why the Kraken will not be referred to by its identify in Greek fantasy, the Cetus. Mechanical owl Bubo is generally omitted.

But she says that none of that hindered her general enjoyment of the film, which she mentioned she would watch once more. Finally, she wasn’t uncomfortable with the film’s varied tweaks to Greek mythology, saying:

“This can be a movie that is been knowledgeable by myths, and myths have been ceaselessly altering, they have been ceaselessly being retold by totally different poets and totally different writers. So I feel they’ve actually taken the concepts and so they’ve run with them.”

Amongst her favourite components of the film have been the performances by the actors taking part in the Greek gods and goddesses, in addition to Harryhausen’s pre-CGI particular results, which “make this movie.”

What This Means For Conflict Of The Titans Legacy

Dunn is not alone in having fun with 1981’s Conflict of the Titans. The film has a 63% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 71% optimistic rating from audiences. That far outpaces the 2010 remake starring Sam Worthington, with its 27% critics’ rating and 40% viewers rating (and a memorable Pitch Assembly video). ScreenRant additionally beneficial it as an important fantasy film.

As Dunn factors out, since this can be a film primarily based on myths, relatively than a film primarily based on historic sources, these inaccuracies are completely acceptable inventive licenses. Her largest critiques on the invention of Calibos and altering the Cetus identify to Kraken are extra about not understanding what they delivered to the film.

Our Take On Conflict of The Titans Inaccuracies

It’s positively fascinating to listen to from an professional on historic Greek mythology about what’s correct and what are Hollywood creations in Conflict of the Titans, and I agree along with her wholeheartedly that none of those inaccuracies needs to be the deciding think about whether or not you benefit from the film or not.

One level I’ve to disagree with Dunn, nonetheless, is whereas I can perceive her questioning why the filmmakers modified Cetus to Kraken, “launch the Kraken” simply sounds higher.

Dunn’s mentality over inaccuracies in Greek mythology also needs to be one thing we think about with Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey popping out in 2026. In all probability greatest to let the Oscar-winning director resolve how he needs to interpret Homer’s epic story.