Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Assignment for Tuesday, 09-20-16

Dear Mythologists,

For Tuesday, September 20, please do the following:

(1) Watch the remake of Clash of the Titans (Louis Leterrier, 2010), taking notes as you see fit. In addition to the DVD being reserved at the library, the film is also streaming on Amazon. You might wish to consider the ways in which the film improves upon — or attempts to improve upon — the original.

(2) Read Chapter 2, "Principles of Film Form" in Looking at Movies, pp. 35–63. Here you'll explore issues such as form and content, realism and antirealism, and cinematic language writ large.

(3) Read my 2015 essay on the motif of figurines in Clash '81, which, in addition introducing you to how I think about movies, and hopefully saying something interesting about the original film, might also provide you with a point of contrast between the original and the remake.

(4) Read thoroughly the Analysis page of our website and note any questions. I've tried, on this page, to detail the assignment and its objectives with clarity.

(5) Remember by noon on Tuesday to comment on this post with your choice of a sequence from Clash '10 to view in class. The guidelines for your comment (in essence, 3-4 sentences) are found under the "Class participation" section of our Syllabus page.

DC

15 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I thought the introduction of the Djinn (0:45:30-0:46:30)was an interesting scene because it integrated creatures from Arabian mythology. It seems from my limited knowledge on the subject that they are portrayed rather inaccurately. However, it took me a while for me to decide if it was an interesting example of world-building or if it was crowding an already rich mythological lore, and I'd be interested in hearing others' opinions on the matter. I'm leaning on the former, but I do see potential issues with casually presenting an Eastern myth was apart of Greek culture.

    Finally, a brief note on scene construction; I think that the wideshot at 0:45:50 conveys the scale of the threat that our protagonists are facing, and the pan reveal to the Djinn standing in an elevated position overlooking the scene conveys the control it has over the situation.

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    1. I'd also like to watch the introduction of the Djinn. Why are they here? Why introduce characters/creatures to the story which are explicitly not Ancient Greek? Why are they covered in wood? The Djinn leave more questions than anything, for me, and I find it odd that the one Djinn proves so integral to the defeat of Medusa. I think they are also a cop out, created to solve the problem of defeating the giant scorpions.

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  3. I really enjoyed the scene where Perseus visits the three witches on top of the mountain shaped like a hand (55:40-59:20). I think it's interesting that the witches were portrayed as more violent and powerful than in the previous "Clash". I also loved the scenery and themes of temptation in this scene. the only thing that bothered me was Perseus's prophecy because it never was fulfilled. Did they mean he would die eventually like all mortals or were the writers setting it up for the sequel?

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    1. I also liked this scene and the way it differs from the '81 Clash. While the Graeae are more menacing, the '10 Perseus would prefer not to fight. I thought that the '81 Perseus seemed cruel in the way he tricked the Graeae, using Bubo to steal their eye, but in this movie, the Graeae are the aggressors, who first attack Perseus and his men. His outwitting of the Graeae, by catching their eye mid-fight, reinforces his character as a reluctant hero, acting to defend his allies and unfortunately caught in a war between gods and mortals.

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  4. I enjoyed the way filmmakers handled the scene in which Hades first approaches the other gods and goddesses on Olympus (0:10:32-0:12:31). They emphasize the differences between Hades, the outcast, with the rest of the pantheon with costume, lighting, and sound choices. While the god of the Underworld, clad in black garb, cowers and crouches in slight shadow, everyone else stands tall above him with sun beams shining down on their golden clothes. Furthermore, while Zeus' voice is strong and forceful, Hades offers a hoarse whisper. By cutting to close ups of Hades and Zeus and the other gods and then panning out and showing them as a group, the filmmakers are able draw attention to the strained interaction even more. The sequence is successful in letting us audience members know that while they are all gods, Hades isn't quite one of them.

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  5. I really enjoyed the action scene with the scorpions from 40:09 - 47:00. Honestly I choose this just because I thought it was really exciting and fun, but on a more academic note it is worth comparing to the corresponding scene in the original to see how far special effects and fight choreography has come.

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  6. I would like to watch Perseus' final encounter with Calibos. It's a very powerful scene when Perseus finally accepts his birthright and help from the gods. Also we get to see Calibos transform back into Acrisius who then tells Perseus to not become a god with his last breath. Furthermore, I believe that the 2010 film had a more accurate portrayal of Calibos compared to the 1981 film. They did have multiple technological advances however, the 1981 version made Calibos look like an ugly satyr, whereas the 2010 put in the effort to make him look actually deformed. --Willa

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  7. I want to take a look at the early scene where Perseus and his family witness the destruction of Zeus's statue, and the death of his family. I want to focus on this scene because it is the great fulfilled promise of this movie. This movie tries to make you think there will be some massive man versus god conflict in it, but it never delivers on this. It is wishy washy about who the gods are, their opinions on mankind, and man kinds opinions on them. I also would like to compare this motivation to the way Perseus is motivated in Clash 1981. I personally believe this is a stronger more interesting motivation. This scene sets in motion a lot of ideas and promises, for a new, gritty, intense, Clash of The Titans. And I think it is a good scene to look at to talk about which of these ideas worked, and which didn't.

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  8. I want to take a look at the early scene where Perseus and his family witness the destruction of Zeus's statue, and the death of his family. I want to focus on this scene because it is the great fulfilled promise of this movie. This movie tries to make you think there will be some massive man versus god conflict in it, but it never delivers on this. It is wishy washy about who the gods are, their opinions on mankind, and man kinds opinions on them. I also would like to compare this motivation to the way Perseus is motivated in Clash 1981. I personally believe this is a stronger more interesting motivation. This scene sets in motion a lot of ideas and promises, for a new, gritty, intense, Clash of The Titans. And I think it is a good scene to look at to talk about which of these ideas worked, and which didn't.

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  9. I'd like to look at the scene right after Cassiopeia's "challenge" when Hades appears at the banquet wreaking havoc (17:15-20-30). The shots and blocking (?) choices hint at Perseus' demigod status before Hades reveals it. The CGI effects surrounding Hades are fascinating as well--in comparison to the mortals, he seems larger than life and performing outside the rules of space and time, a perspective we see rarely in Clash 1981.

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  10. I would like to see the scene where Perseus goes to the underworld and calls for Charon to transfer him (1:05:00-1:06:10). I am very interested in comparing the cinematic depiction of Charon between the 2010 and 1981 movie. I noticed that whereas both movies depict Charon as an apotropaic figure, the new movie does a much better job in creating the right post-apocalyptic feeling surrounding Charon’s figure, while paying more attention not only on the ferrymen himself, but also on details like his boat.the gorgon-like ladies who drag it etc.

    -Frini

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  11. I think it would be interesting to revisit the scene where Perseus and Danae are cast into the sea. While it has some similarities to the 1981 film, it also has certain key differences. For instance, in both films, the case that they are tossed into the sea in is constructed much like an elaborate casket. Yet while in the 1981 film the skies are simply a little cloudy, in the 2010 film there is an absolute tempest going on as the case is thrown into the sea, and the acting is much more overdone (which is really saying something in comparison to the 1981 film).
    However, it is important to note that I feel that the relevance of this scene is not only primarily comparative. Even without comparing it to the 1981 film, it still creates an grim atmosphere that contributes to the film.

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  12. I would like to revisit the scenes with Medusa (from her first sighting around 1:13:37 to her death around 1:17:49). I think the differences between the lair and the Gorgon herself from the original movie to this one are striking, and add a lot of elements to the new take on the myth. In particular, I would like to focus on the humanization of the Gorgon, both through her back story and the fact that the animation shows her as a very beautiful woman (and much more human in appearance than in the original movie).

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  13. I would like to at the opening scene of the movie ( 0-5 minutes) to discuss the difference between this and the opening of the 1981 version. Rather than jumping right into the movie, the narrator (Io) talks about the background of the Gods and Perseus through a voiceover. I thought this technique made the opening less dramatic but gave the viewer more information. Also, the fact that the director decided to show cosmological scenes in the background during the narrative makes it seem more dramatic and nebulous.

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