Gods, monsters abound in Clash

MANILA, Philippines - With larger-than-life mythical beasts, breathtaking vistas spanning the depths of hell to the heights of Mt. Olympus, and battles to the death between man and the gods, Warner Bros.’ new fantasy adventure Clash of the Titans is a mammoth spectacle that will grab audiences from the first scene and take them on a wild, 3D ride through an ancient Greece only imaginable in the 21st century.

“It’s a big, fun adventure, a big escapist movie, and I love escapist movies,” director Louis Leterrier says. “The story is heroic, it’s mythic, it’s romantic, it’s about fulfilling your destiny. There’s fantasy and fun, and it’s a bit scary, too. Add to that an unbelievable cast like Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson, and it was truly an exhilarating experience.”

With Leterrier at the helm, the stars of the film were eager to step into the mythical world. “I am always a fan of a director who is willing to take risks,” says Sam, who plays the film’s central character, Perseus. “Louis’ vision for the film was big, bold and heroic. He wanted it to be a thrilling kind of popcorn ride, and I thought, ‘Well, that’s a good director to go into battle with. I want to be a part of that.’”

Close friends Liam and Ralph, who play the roles of Zeus and Hades, respectively, agreed. “My kids encouraged me to do it,” Neeson says, “and I knew that with Louis and all the incredible computer wizards and technicians they had on the crew, they were going to make this thing just jump off the screen.”

“I’ve always loved the Greek myths and the wealth of things they can do to make special effects really kick ass now, I think, is extraordinary,” Fiennes allows. “I also thought the script had a vividness and an epic quality that was really appealing.”

A real fan of the original film, Leterrier felt a bit like a kid in a candy store during filming. “1981’s Clash of the Titans was one of my favorite movies. It was actually one of the first magical movies I ever saw. I was wowed by it. I jumped at the chance to do my own version.”

Helping to achieve that goal, a new dimension — 3D — was added to 2010’s Clash of the Titans. It fit perfectly with the filmmakers’ vision. “Even though we weren’t shooting in 3D, I designed a lot of the shots with that visual style in mind — stepping into new worlds, big creatures coming at you, fantastic images,” attests Leterrier, whose foresight turned out to be quite fortunate. “The conversion to 3D adds incredible depth to each scene, enhancing the story and providing an all-encompassing Clash experience.”

“This Clash of the Titans is a take on Greek mythology for 2010,” concludes Leterrier. “It’s a huge adventure movie, it’s a movie about family and loyalty and destiny. And it’s big, because the world of Greek mythology is big; there was no holding back. The monsters are the biggest things you’ve ever seen, and there aren’t just two or three of them, there are 12 different creatures. It’s a new world, a world we haven’t seen before, and I think audiences will have a truly memorable experience.”

Clash of the Titans opens April 3 in theaters nationwide.