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So as I sit down to write this review of Clash of the Titans, a much beloved film that is finally getting its long-coming DVD debut, I am trying to figure out just how to describe such sights as the huge sea monster that arises from the ocean after Zeus orders mass destruction, or the miniature arena where Zeus plays with his brown clay action figures. And I didn't even get to the enormous scorpions, the two-headed dog, or, of course, that nimble little vixen Medusa. These characters are of course famous in mythology and it's all a splendid tale, but Desmond Davis' film is so visually inventive and wildly spectacular, it's hard to come up with the words to do it justice. For better or for worse, it has to be seen to be believed.

It really is Ray Harryhausen's show, as he uses his famous miniatures and stop-motion creature creations to create a universe unlike any that had ever been put onscreen. While George Lucas and John Dykstra were using motion- control cameras to capture the visual fluidity of the Star Wars universe, Harryhausen was perfectly content to stick with the tried- and-true methods of stop-motion animation. Yes, it's dated, but Pegasus, the swamp creature and all their buddies all look all right, marvels of detail-oriented clay and model animation, delightfully and cheerfully antiquated. It hasn't aged all that well, the staggering "go-motion"-esque filming technique, which while provocative at the time, looks positively cheesy now.

But I can understand how devotees of the film feel about their beloved Clash of the Titans. This is one of those movies that you either love unconditionally or discard completely ten minutes in. Yet while the early-on flood sequence looked pretty cool, in took only a few minutes before I was genuinely confused by the narrative of the film. Ignoring the more recognizable mythological implementations of certain characters, we tried to figure out why this perfectly dry guy was holding his breath underwater (I think it was Neptune, king of the sea), and why, exactly, all these people were being killed in the first place. But then again, I am admittedly rusty since the days of high school English Greek Mythology, so perhaps some knowledge of the subject will boost one's enjoyment of the film.

In any case, if you're at all excited about Clash of the Titans' arrival on DVD (and it is likely you are, if you're reading this), you're not going to get the lavish two-disc special edition you were hoping for, and this relatively bare-bones release will just have to do. But newcomers, be warned. This is one of those films I watched on cable innumerable times when I was younger, but now it feels all ridiculously over-the- top, filled with dramatic and emotional exaggeration that some may find tough to swallow. But don't take my word for it, I couldn't even get my cousin to understand the concept of Chewbacca...

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, this transfer is just okay and does leave a bit to be desired. Color saturation is really flat - aside from the beams of almost metallic light that emanate from behind Zeus' head when he's atop his throne, everything here is more than a little faded. Detail is a bit fuzzy and soft, and shadow delineation is largely wanting. On the plus side, the print is mostly clean, especially for a film with so much effects work, and there are only a few blemishes that may distract. Not a terrible transfer, but definitely not up to par.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

Presented in English 2.0 Dolby surround, like the transfer this mix is equally so-so. Separation of the dialogue and especially the music and effects is minimal, aside from the occasional nice effect. Dynamic range is poor, with both high and low end m murky and indiscernible. The music still sounds quite nice, but a sound-effects-laden film like this really screams out for a full-on 5.1 remix.

Also included is a French 2.0 mono dub, English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Thai and Bahasa subtitles, and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

Again, this section of the DVD is all right, but doesn't house anything out-of- the-park. The Conversation with Ray Harryhausen has its moments, but it's a mere shell of the excellent The Harryhausen Chronicles documentary that was included on the 20 Million Miles to Earth DVD. That documentary was well-researched and interesting, whereas this one, while illuminating at times, is for Harryhausen completists only.

We also have a Maps of Myths and Monsters gallery which is fairly extensive but not particularly in-depth, and the film's original theatrical trailer.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

No ROM extras have been included.

Parting Thoughts