Jason and the Argonauts

Rating:
Summary: Felt like reading myth stories when a kid
Review: I've really enjoyed this, especially the second time around. Putting your critical facilites on hold for three hours and just enjoying the tale for it's sheer adventure and wonder, which is why i enjoyed reading myths as a kid, isn't that hard to do as it's a really well done fantasy film if given a chance. This is actually a really good film, the first time i saw it i thought it was just allright, but now i think it's great and if you like good fantasy films, there's lots to enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Jason in the English Class
Review: I've used *Jason and the Argonauts* in my freshman English classes (high school) after our unit on the *Odyssey*. I thought it would complement the *Odyssey* nicely by expanding the students' understanding of the Greek concept of the hero while exposing them to another Greek myth, *Jason and the Golden Fleece*, on which this is based. (It takes liberties, but....) The special effects are not up to the standard kids have come to expect from movies nowadays, but they're passable, and the kids really did get into the story line and the characters.

Rating:
Summary: Jason in the English Class
Review: I've used *Jason and the Argonauts* in my freshman English classes (high school) after our unit on the *Odyssey*. I thought it would complement the *Odyssey* nicely by expanding the students' understanding of the Greek concept of the hero while exposing them to another Greek myth, *Jason and the Golden Fleece*, on which this is based. (It takes liberties, but....) The special effects are not up to the standard kids have come to expect from movies nowadays, but they're passable, and the kids really did get into the story line and the characters.

Rating:
Summary: It's so romantic...
Review: It is perfect for everyone who loves a happy ending love story. Jason and Media are ceratinely perfect for each other!

Rating:
Summary: Good enough Voyage to take
Review: Jason and the Argonaunts is probably one of the best-known Greek myths, and this movie tells it adequately. Jason London plays Jason, the son of King Aeson and Queen Polymele (Diana Kent) whose kingdom is overrun by Aeson's evil brother Pelias (Dennis Hopper) who kills Aeson and marries Polymele. Jason however, manages to escape, and is brought up by the centaur Chiron in a peaceful enviroment where he has no memory of his violent past except for images that appear to him in dreams. When Chiron finally tells him the truth, giving him a necklace of his mother which displays the sign of Hera, queen of the gods, Jason sets off to reclaim his destiny. Once home he finds his kingdom downtrodden and poverty-stricken as Pelias sends more and more men to their doom in the quest for his greatest desire - the Golden Fleece. When Jason appears, Pelias strikes a deal - Jason will fetch him the Fleece, or else his mother's life will be forfeit.
And so the journey begins - on board the ship The Argo, with a hand-picked crew that includes the musician Orpheus, the huntess Atalanta, the mightly Hercules and eagle-eyed Zetes, Jason and his men face dangers such as harpies, the sea-god Poseidon, man-killing Amazons and rocks that crush anything that sails between them. But they are being watched - the sorceress Medea, the protecter of the Fleece has her eye on 'the boy with the pleasent face', and her father and suspicious brother are concerned for the safety of their precious Fleece.

The first half of these movie is exellent, and very accurately portrayed in accordance to the myths, (ie Jason's missing sandal, Chiron, and Hera's disguise). I was especially impressed that they called the love god by his Greek name - Eros, instead of the Roman Cupid, which is a mistake that many people make. The second half however changes a little - it is Jason and the crew attempting to snatch the Fleece on enemy territory. They are more liberal with making changes to the original story (for instance Hercules describes himself as being sent to protect Jason by Hera - however, Hera hated Hercules in the myths!). I also felt there was an unsatisfactory ending with two many loose ends that weren't tied up.
However, the battle scenes were good (though I'm sure I spotted someone being killed with a javelin that never touched him), as were the special effects, sets and very historically accurate costumes. Some people claim Jason London wasn't very good as Jason, but he could have been worse, and Jolene Blalock made Medea an interesting heroine (though they understandably cut down on Medea's original bloodthirstiness). All scenes that involved Zeus and Hera in Mount Olympus were wonderful, with the clouds reflecting their moods, as was the scene in which Zeus attempts to seduce Medea. Also watch out for Natasha Henstridge as Hypsipyle, Queen of the Amazons.
So overall, this is a good enough movie to watch more than once, though in my opinion the first half is much better than the second, and they could have done a better job of completing sub-plots (such as Atalanta's secret love for Jason) to make it a more rounded-up ending.

Rating:
Summary: A worthy successor to the original
Review: Jason and the Argonauts is a traditional adventure story, enhanced by dazzling special effects, beautiful locations and great characters. The story is pretty much the same as the 1963 version. Jason, rightful King of Ioclis, sails out with a crew of many talents to find the golden fleece for the evil King Pelias so he can take the throne (although this time, he is saving his mother as well). This TV movie outdoes its predecessor in many ways, including more action, a younger and more adventurous Jason, a continuation from where the original ended and a rousing climax. Plus, Pelias is a villain that you'll actually hate. This comes strongly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: It'll enthrall kids and young teens, others will be bored.
Review: Jason and the Argonauts is a watchable enough adventure film. It has all the makings of an epic: mostly impressive special effects, clashing sword battles, high adventure, and a three-hour length. But, unfortunately, it's never all that engaging or interesting. After a fine opening, the movie never really picks up momentum for an incredibly long time. That is, not until the last 35 minutes, which is really quite exciting, featuring monsters, sword fights, but there's not really much else to go on.

Rating:
Summary: WHITHER THOU GOEST
Review: Let's forget the 1963 version and Ray Harryhausen's incomparable stop motion animation, and look at this Hallmark made for TV version on its own merits. Handsomely filmed and epically proportioned, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS is a rousing, sometimes outstanding, version of this classic Greek myth. Nick Willing keeps the action moving fairly quickly, although at times it seems to outstay its welcome in terms of length. A surplus of padded shots including the hull of the Argos traipsing through the waters. Most of the special effects are very good: I particularly liked having Zeus and Hera in the heavens; it was not only metaphorically neat, but it was visually beautiful as well. Angus McFadyen as Zeus and Olivia Williams as Hera looked divine. The special effect that was below par was the mechanical bull; it seemed not only anachronistically out of place, but it looked cheesy. Also, the skeletons were nowhere near as frightening as those in Harryhausen's version (oops, I slipped and made a comparison!). The others, however, particularly the Harpies and Poseidon were ingenuous.
Brian Thompson's Hercules was the best performance; he seemed not only gigantically strong, but his bragging about his historic seven deeds was a nice addition. Dennis Hopper was basically boring as the evil king, and Frank Langella wasn't strong enough either. Natasha Henstridge's bit as the Amazon queen was fetching. The main problem with the cast was Jason London, who did not have the maturity or strength to carry the role. He seemed like a weak leader, one I would have been remiss to follow. London just doesn't have the chops to play such an integral role.
Overall, though, it's an entertaining version of the myth and looked sumptuous. Simon Boswell's score was also a highlight.

Rating:
Summary: Enchantingly beautiful, historically accurate scenes
Review: My wife and I just watched this one together and we immediately decided to add it to our library. If you are looking for a sex and violence fix, this is not it (that's easy enough to find elsewhere), but it provides rewards of its own. There are not that many out there that you can show to a mixed audience of kids and adults and keep them all engaged, but this is one that can (my wife and I have 95 years of mortal life and 19 years of college between us, and it kept our attention).

In the very opening scenes the degree to which the scenery and clothing puts you in the right time machine in the Bronze Age was striking. It only got better later on, from the ship itself to the soldier's swords, even the style of the beards and crowns the kings wear. The scene shifts from Olympus to earth are imaginative and powerful, and the non-human characters, from monsters to gods, are inventive and convincing.

The dialog is not always inspired, but the characters keep your attention with what they are given, and enough plays upon their faces that you don't rally notice. Some of their most powerful moments are wordless anyway, from Jason's exhaustion after his test to Medea's anguish when she thinks he has been killed trying to get the golden fleece from the dragon. The story ends when the quest is completed, so Medea's bloody revenge as a dishonored princess is not included, but that would be another story anyway. It is a good telling of the ancient epic, taking no more liberties with the plot than is allowable for genuine folklore, with a nod or two toward issues in our own society, yes, but still centering on the ageless concerns of what makes a hero -- from a prince favored by a deity (but resented by another) to an ugly thief (for whom an act of selfless integrity may also take herculian effort); the dilemmas of loyalty in love and deadly risks -- from a common soldier to a gifted princess; the temptations of power -- in an ageless Olympian god who can bless, or destroy at a whim if he lashes out in anger, to corrupted mortal kings and princes. If this one doesn't give you images you will want to savor in your mind, and some ideas on how to relate to basic human issues in the news, whether it's to talk to your kids or chuckle with your best friend (my wife, in my case), you're not trying.

Rating:
Summary: If only they had thought about it more...
Review: No matter what anyone says, this film is by far & away superior to the 1962 Todd Armstrong movie. I own both on DVD and watched them on consecutive nights for comparison. There was no comparison. The 1962 film is full of very stilted acting and the story is incomplete [plus, the ending is rather "sudden"]. The acting in the present version is better (although not always perfect - more on that later), the script is smoother, and the storyline is more inclusive of the Greek myth.

One of the best features of the present film is its presentation of the Gods. They are seen as being both awe-inspiringly powerful, yet at the same time full of petty emotions and childish jealousies. These anthropomorphic tendencies infused into almost all-powerful entities is precisely how they are depicted in Homer's ILIAD. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS picks up on this aspect more than any other film on Greek mythology that I have seen.

For the most part, the casting of this movie is superb. Although it becomes readily apparent that Jason London was picked due to his good looks rather than his acting talents, he is nonetheless adequate. Jolene Blalock is terrific as the sultry, mysterious and exotic Medea. Dennis Hopper plays a wonderful ruthless & whacked-out Pelias (of course, whenver you give Hopper a character who is whacked out, you can be sure that he will deliver). Likewise, Frank Langella is perfect as the manipulative king of Caucaus, and seeing the legendary Derek Jacobi as Phineas is a treat. Brian Thompson plays a good Hercules, and has a far superior physique to Nigel Green, who played the strongman in the 1962 version.

A nice plus for this film is that it adds a few other characters from Greek mythology to the crew of the Argo, such as Atalanta and Orpheus. What is even better is that they actually made them both into major contributing as opposed to being merely ornaments.

Although there are a few holes in the plot @ the end of the movie, where they never really engage Pelias' army (or perhaps they simply forget about it......hmmmmm....maybe Aristotle would call it DEUS EX MACHINA?), this is a very good effort and well worth watching. Highly recommended, especially for those who are interested in the archives of Greek mythology.