Save your money for something good and enjoyable

A Brilliant Conflict

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

"...but I say 'Jason and the Argonauts.'" sayeth Tom Hanks at a special ceremony by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.No truer words were spoken, even if mister Hanks said it with tongue in cheek. For this film, perhaps appropriately narrated by mister Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, gives us Harryhausen himself as he comments on the narrative of this film that is essentially an overview of his life's work.The reason this film is so spectacular is because for those of who grew up with the science fiction and fantasy leavings of Hollywood from the silent era up through the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and even grew up with newer offerings in the 70s and 80s, we saw Harryhausen's works, and reveled in them. While others were watching films like "Citizen Kane" or "Casa Blanca", or some other film regarding the egos and passions of ordinary people who thought themselves extraordinary, the select few of us were watching the likes of "Jason and the Argonauts" or "Mysterious Island". This film honors the man who brought those films to us, and also honors those of us who enjoyed them and were inspired by them.How can a films about love in modern times, social upheavals and rifts among normal contemporary people compare to tales of a mad Victorian scientist and huckster visiting the moon and spelunking its populated interior, or voyaging with Sinbad to confront mythological creatures and a black hearted wizard? When characters of other films talk about manipulating markets or unveiling hidden loves and hatreds and how that will effect family fortunes and stock markets, the characters in Harryhausen's films are beheading Medusa, talking with Captain Nemo, battling titanic undersea cephalopods, or gunning down creatures from Roman ruins, winning the girl in the end, and no restraining legalities that seem to pulsate in "normal" films.Heroes, villains, monsters, myths and legends old and new are what Harryhausen's films are all about. The effects of stop motion weren't convincing in terms of realism, but conveyed to us a story of places fantastic and far away. Yes, we knew that the stop motion was stop motion and, unlike my film instructors at the local JC, were not absolutely convincing (sorry Dick and Joe), but it didn't matter, because the story itself required suspension of disbelief, and if you could do that for the story, then it was par for the course that you do that for the film.Harryhausen comments on stop motion, and makes the observation that you, meaning the audience and the film makers both, don't want the effects to look too real because it ruins the fantasy. I'm still debating that in my head, but his words aren't lost. I think what Harryhausen is saying is that if you make a fantasy film, or a film whose emphasis is fantasy, then you want to retain the spectacle of fantasy, no matter what the effects look like.I remember those days all those years ago watching the spectacles of ?Harryhausen's craftsmanship, and loving every minute of them. They weren't just films with special effects, but they were well edited, and sometimes even well acted in spite of budgetary constraints. These are films that, in spite of modern special effects, actually last because of the pacing and amount of artistry that was put into them. The story and overall production keep you engaged, even if you don't like the material. Space creatures, the gods of ancient Greece, monsters of folk lore, legendary sailors of classic and medieval eras, and more are what Harryhausen's body of work are all about. Classic tales brought to life through his artistry and, let's face it, wizardry. If you've seen Harryhausen's films, then see this film.Enjoy

...........................................................from Pasto,Colombia...Via: L.A. CA., CALI, COLOMBIA....and ORLANDO, FL Ever since age 10, the year of 7th VOYAGE Of SINBAD's release, Ray Harryhausen has been my #1 Favorite "Behind the Scenes" Hollywood Hero! 5 of his films are in my DVD Collection, and I've seen almost ALL his works multiple times! He worked on his last film, CLASH OF THE TITANS, in 1982, at age 62.When 7th VOYAGE was released, I remember looking at the poster and seeing Harryhausen's name listed under, "Special Effects By..." I knew I'd seen his name before, but I couldn't remember where. Within seconds of SINBAD's first scene with Harryhausen's signature "DYNAMATION" (READ: Stop-Motion) Special Effects, I realized he was the genius behind most of my other favorites: 1955-IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA-Giant Octopus tears down Golden Gate Bridge! 1956- EARTH VS.THE FLYING SAUCERS!-Flying Saucers turn our Capital into steaming rubble! 1957-20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH-Venusian Monster grows to gargantuan size, leaves Rome in ruins! After my first viewing of 7th VOYAGE, every release of a new Harryhausen movie became a MAJOR life-event for me! Between 1958 and my 1959 summer vacation in Colombia, I saw 7th VOYAGE 4 or 5 times in a movie theater. (In those days it was usually 6 to 10 years before films found there way to Broadcast TV!) Leonard Nimoy, one of Harryhausen's legion of fans since his early 20's, when "IT" was released in '55, does a commendable job narrating CHRONICLES.Oddly, one of this documentary's great strengths proves to be, simultaneously, its biggest weakness! It is refreshing that Harryhausen does a lot of the explaining himself. That's very unusual in a documentary such as this. The problem is that Ray, God Bless him, is really not accustomed nor well-suited to appearing before a camera. He mumbles a bit at times, and his delivery is clearly that of a non-professional, nearing 80! OVERALL: 9* But Recommended mostly for Special-Effects and/or serious long time Sci-Fi Buffs or to those with an Interest in History of the Cinema! .....ENJOY/DISFRUTELA! Any comments, questions or observations, in English o en Español, are most welcome!

This almost one hour documentary was included on the DVD for "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers"--a great 1950s sci-fi film. The reason why it was included as an extra is that Harryhousen did the special effects for "Earth" and so it was logical to include the documentary as well.This documentary was narrated by Leonard Nimoy and it was nice because it was NOT a superficial overview of Harryhousen's work. Instead, it started from his childhood and showed the progression of his talents as well as clips from his films. In addition to Nimoy, there are many interviews with Ray Bradbury as well as several other fans and friends. About the only thing I didn't like about this well-written and excellently constructed film were the quality of many of the film clips shown in the documentary. Many are very washed out or very green/red and SHOULD have been cleaned up first. Still, as this is the only serious negative and it's the best analysis of his work that I've seen, it's well worth seeing and will keep you riveted.

Im not 100% positive of this, mainly if its the same documentary, but I believe this is on the Mysterious Island DVD. If its not one in the same, its a great hour of very interesting information for those of us into Ray Harryhausen's work and how some of it is accomplished. I've only watched it once so far and I'm at work so I am unable to verify this.Just FYI - I'm seeing posts that it was only $5.50 at Walmart in the discount bin, I paid $7.50 at my Walmart... it wasn't in the bin yet.Some of this post should probably be in the Mysterious Island comments, however I found it appropriate for this section.