Rating: 
Summary: Harryhausen At His Best!
Review: Practically everyone with a passing interest in sci-fi films or mythology knows about "Jason and the Argonauts", so I won't go into detail about the film's plot here. I'll limit my comments to the quality of the films direction, acting and it's special effects. If you are one of the few who aren't familiar with the movie/story, a quick check of this films other reviewers will quickly bring you up to speed. Until the advent of CGI, it was considered by most to be the epitome of the art of F/X and to many (myself included), it's still one of the best. Ray Harryhausen pulled out all the stops when making this film and it shows! The movie itself has a tried and true plot, good acting and excellent production values. The special effects by Harryhausen, even using todays computer generated effects, have seldom been equalled, much less surpassed. If you can only own one Ray Harryhausen film, THIS is the one to get. If you have a choice, buy the DVD. You get a number of special features, such as the Harryhausen Chronicles, and you get to see the film in widescreen (worth it alone). Even if you aren't a fan of Harryhausen, I'd still get this movie. It's a classic story told in a way that everyone from 6 to 66 can enjoy. And, there are always those spectacular Harryhausen special effects!!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Fantasy Films Ever Made.
Review: By the time, Jason and the Argonauts was made in 1963, Ray HarryHausen was already an established special effects master who had been involved in a number of good science fiction/fantasy films, among them; The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and Mysterious Island. Here he once again teamed with Composer Bernard Herrman for a film adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts where both the effects work and the rich musical score worked to create a film that is every bit as entertaining today as it was when it was first made in 1963. The screenplay was well written and the cast of actors did a great job. The film is pretty faithful to the Greek myth and a lot of the effects including a masterful sequence where Jason and his men fight a band of skeliton warriors, looks just as good today as it did then, and makes many of today's CGI effects seem video-gameish. I think this film plus later work like One Million Years BC and Clash of the Titans, shows that many of the creatures featured in these effects films had a certain humanity and realisism to them, that CGI just can not recreate.
Rating: 
Summary: "I Know of a tree at the end of the world"
Review: Someday. Someday I'm going to invest on a 50' screen television and
this is going to be the first movie I watch,The way it's suppose to
be seen in all it's Fantasy Sword & Sandal glory. Again as in "The
7th voyage of Sinbad" Columbia pulls no stops in presenting a great
story with mythical characters & monsters abound. Talos, the bronze
giant, The devilish harpies, The seven headed Hydra who guards that
of the golden fleece and of course the battle of the seven skeleton
warriors which is now film folklore. Harryhausen's effects combined with Herrmann's music score
(Is there any conductor's work more thunderous than Talos'march?)
are top notch As are the cast of Honor (Goldfinger) Blackman and
Nigil McGullis and Todd Armstrong. I always thought it was great
to have Hercules portrayed as his older self and not in the same
beefcake manner traditionally presented at that time(Speaking of
this film raised the bar for sword & fantasy to follow (none ever reaching it's status "Hercules in the haunted world" "Goliath and
the Dragon" to name a few) I only gave the dvd 4 stars because of
lack of the "HarryHausen Chronicles" and the ORIGINAL trailer.
Rating:
Summary: Ray is still the master. His work is still good.
Review: It's amazing that so many science fiction/fantasy movies that were made in the 40's and 50's seem to be more outdated with each passing year. They were largely B-movies and deserve to be forgotten. But much of Ray Harryhausen's work still looks good, and that's easy to see why because he worked very hard on his stop motion models work and kept redifining how to process the visual effects fim work into the live action scenes so that it looked both beliveable and realistic. He also formed a good working relationship with composer/conductor Bernard Herrmann whose music added to the sense of wonder that Ray created with his stop motion work. This movie was the best project they ever worked on. Great story, great actors, and very smooth editing of both effects work and music score. If you only buy a few of Ray's movies on DVD, get this one, as well as 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Mysterious Island. They are all great.
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Stop-Motion Fun
Review: Fans of Ray Harryhausen's stop motion animation process will have a field day with JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, which Harryhausen considered his best work. And certainly Harryhausen's special effects are the highlight of this film, which is generally based on the ancient Greek myth of Jason's search for the golden fleece. The film as a whole is very much like a superior sword-and-sandal epic of the 1950s and 1960s, very colorful and over-run with manly men and beautiful dancing girls. A bit slow to start, but once the story line is established the pace leaps forward--and we are treated to some of Harryhausen's most enjoyable creations, including Talos, the bronze statue; two of the most evil looking harpies you can imagine; a really nasty hydra; and Harryhausen's most famous (and his own personal favorite) bit of work: an attack by skeleton warriors. In the wake of computer generated graphics, Harryhausen's work may strike some as dated, but this is actually part of its charm, for we will never see its like on screen again; it has a certain visual appeal not found in contemporary films, and Harryhausen's creations always have remarkable personality. On the downside, however, some of the film's other techniques have not aged as well, and the use of rearview projection is extremely noticeable (and often annoying) to the modern eye. Still, even those who aren't overly enthusiastic about these types of special effects will find the film an excellent choice as a "family night" film. As for Harryhausen fans--the film is a must-see, must-own, and must-watch as often as possible!
Rating:
Summary: Jason's Argonauts and Bernard Hermann's Experiment in music
Review: This legendary film about the greatest voyage in all the world in search of the greatest quest (The Golden Fleece) is a delight to the eyes and ears. There is a good script here and some wit included. The acting is fair to good as well as the effects by the master of stop motion, Ray Harryhausen. Every kid remembers the Skeleton army that Jason and his crew fight in the climax of this picture and some scenes are forever etched in the memory of our youth when we first saw this in the movies. But I feel that the most memorable moment is when Jason holds Olympic games for men to compete for a place on the Argo. Hercules (a believable performance by Nigel Green) and Hylas work magic in a discus competition and their friendship leads to Hylas's demise on the Isle of Bronze at the hands of Talos, one of the Titans of ancient mythology. Overlooked, but no less important is the great Bernard Hermann's musical score, an experiment in music of an orchestra with no stinged instruments and full of deep and clanging cymbals and horns that has become as much a part of this picture now as his music in "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The DVD brings back some of the color that was dimmed by the years, but one important scene, the Temple of Hermes where Jason is called up to Olympus is still grained and damaged with a bit of darkening. Perhaps the words spoken at the time ring true as Jason speaks unknowingly to Hermes himself when he states that if he chose to believe in the Gods he would not have chosen a fallen one, and in response Hermes says "Sometimes the Gods argue among themselves, then great winds blow and temples fall" This film needs major restoration work and deserves to be preserved for the future. Now the real question on everyone's mind is what eventually happened to the Golden Fleece? Well, any kid who grew up in the 60's in Philadelphia can tell you that a local guy who had a daily show on CBS here, Gene London is the current owner and keeps it in a chest in his basement and he whips it out on occasion to heal people, just like it worked on Media in the movie!
Rating:
Summary: More Harryhausen greatness
Review: This is a great popcorn movie - swashbuckling, mythic, and a little quaint by today's effects standards. The effects, acting, and visual style all work together well, though. It can't be compared to today's movies any more than Charlie Chaplain can. Once you allow yourself into its mood, it's great entertainment. Treasure is captured, danger is faced, and other-wordly foes are defeated. Keep it around for a rainy saturday, and make sure you have popcorn.
Rating:
Summary: HARRYHAUSEN & the ARGONAUTS...
Review: This ia a superb rendering of the quest for The Golden Fleece by Jason and the Argonauts. Todd Armstrong is excellent as a brave, charismatic, fiercely independent Jason leading his band of Greek warrior heroes (Nigel Green plays Hercules)into danger and epic adventure. Nancy Kovack is bewitching as the love-smitten Medea who helps Jason. Honor Blackman...of GOLDFINGER fame...plays Hera, Zeus' queenly consort who is Jason's Olympian Protector and Guide. The real star of the show, however, is the SUPER-DYNAMATION special effects of Ray Harryhausen. Again and again...from Jason's visit to Mount Olympus-interview with the Gods; to the passage of the Argo/Ordeal of The Clashing Rocks; to the final battle with The Children of the Hydra's Teeth who guard the Fleece...Harryhausen bedazzels with wonderous integration of live action, matte painting and his justly reputed Stop-Motion model photography. The film is complemented with a stirring, often majestic musical score (Bernard Herrman conducts The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra). Director Don Chaffey employs the resouces of good film making to make myth live and testify to the unique skill of RAY HARRYHUASEN as one of few technical artists who keep voyages like that of The Argonauts timeless, magical, and fun.
Rating:
Summary: Beware Talos!
Review: ...and the image of that giant bronze statue of Talos coming to life is as good as i remember from childhood. this is Ray Harryhausen at his finest -- well, ok the Golden Voyage of Sinbad is really good too with the animation of Kali. i agree that the acting leaves a lot to be desired, but Harryhausen saves the day with the sequences between the Argonauts and... huge Talos, the Harpies, the Hydra and of cause the skeletons! Harryhausen's creations just convey so much character that it's at times still clearly above the CGI effects. the story line runs fairly true to the myth although abridged to fit a movie. the film quality in the DVD is good; the picture is sharp but could have been cleaner and the option to see it in widescreen really is a must. one of the bonus items is an interview of Harryhausen by John Landis which talks mostly about the effects used in the film... and is interesting but better if Landis could stop figiting. overall an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable film.
Rating: 
Summary: Movie deserves a better DVD release....
Review: Well, if you look at only the movie, then you get your money's worth. It's done in widescreen with great picture and sound quality. regretfully, Colombia/Tri-Star did not put in many bonus features, such as a more detailed making of featurette to tell how the movie was made and all the wonderful effects work. Instead, Ray is reduced to talking to a not so bright John Landis about the making of the movie and Landis's interviewing skills are about as professional as a nine year old. Maybe one day, they will give this movie a more worthy DVD release. Then this barebones edition.
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