14 DAY TRIAL // “Clash of the Titans,” the remake for the 1981 classic, was released in most territories this month, yet it’s already being considered such a hit that it warrants a sequel. Though shot in 2D and converted in a hurry to 3D in order to boost sales by the higher ticket price, “Clash” made quite a splash – so much so that talk of a follow-up is already ripe, Coming Soon informs.
Starring Sam Worthington as the ever-reliable demigod Perseus, Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades and Gemma Arterton as Io, the film did not really impress critics – or fans, for that matter. Lacking a solid plot, it relied too much on its larger than life characters and happenings to impress. Yet, it made over $380 million at the international box-office so far, mostly because of 3D tickets; clearly, this amount is more than sufficient to greenlight a sequel.
“The studio is eyeing a spring 2012 release for a Clash of the Titans follow-up. Director Louis Leterrier won’t be at the helm this time (he’ll still executive produce), though Sam Worthington is expected to reprise the role before he makes the Avatar sequel. Greg Berlanti will write the story while the studio looks for a screenwriter and director. The film has $388.8 million worldwide since opening at the beginning of the month,” Coming Soon writes citing a Deadline New York report.
As esteemed film critic Roger Ebert noted in his review of “Clash of the Titans,” the movie made a killing at the box office because of 3D tickets – this, despite the fact that there was little, if any, difference between seeing the film in 2D or 3D. The film is somewhat faulty but, in the end, it’s good fun if one is willing to turn a blind eye to its flaws, Ebert stressed. A sequel will probably be as successful as this first film, though it will undoubtedly be even more negatively received by the community, word online has it.
“I like this kind of stuff. I don’t say it’s good cinema, although I recognize the craftsmanship that went into it. I don’t say it’s good acting, when the men have so much facial hair they all look like Liam Neeson. I like the energy, the imagination, the silliness. I even like the one guy who doesn’t have a beard. That’s Perseus. […] So do I recommend the movie? Yes, if you intuit that this review is affectionate and have the same tolerance for goofy Greek gods as I do. One word of consumer advice, however. Explain to kids that the movie was not filmed in 3D and is only being shown in 3D in order to charge you an extra $5 a ticket,” Mr. Ebert writes in his review.