The Film

It's a film adaptation of the ancient Greek myth involving Jason and the quest for the golden fleece, and it is the best movie to be produced by legendary effects master Ray Harryhausen.  Jason is sent by Pelias on a quest for the golden fleece.  Unbeknownst to Jason, he is foretold by prophecy to kill Pelias, who usurped the throne of Thessaly from King Aristo.  Pelias sends Jason on this quest in the hopes that he will die.  Sneaky, sneaky Pelias.

This baby has got it all: gods and goddesses, Harpies, mermen, the Hydra, and my all-time favorite, an army of sword fighting skeletons.



Jason and the Argonauts gets the recommendation because Harryhausen himself calls it his best work, but if you want to watch The Golden Voyage of Sinbad or Clash of the Titans, I'm cool with that too.

Why haven't you seen it?

Because you think that Star Wars: Special Edition had better special effects than the originals.    Honestly, aren't you tired of all the CGI nonsense? Don't you want to see an incredibly detailed, hand-made cyclops stomp across a beach instead?


Why should you see it?

Ray Harryhausen is a brand unto himself.  He worked on over 20 films with names like "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" and "Earth vs. The Flying Saucers", all using stop-motion animation to bring to life some of movie history's greatest monsters.  Harryhausen used the world of Greek mythology as his playground, making movies with a signature look and style.  Compared to today's CGI-generated cornucopia of blandness, Harryhausen's creations just keep getting better and better.

This clip is from Golden Voyage of Sinbad.  Watch that sassy statue dance!