Jason & The Argonauts

Product Information

The film is one of the mythically-themed fantasies scored by Bernard Herrmann. Apart from being the composer's fourth collaboration with Ray Harryhausen ( The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, and Mysterious Island, made in 1958, 1960, and 1961 respectively), Herrmann also scored the science fiction films The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959). [6] [7] For years, 16mm copies of Jason placed Medea's temple dance way out of sequence, before the Argonauts reach Colchis. The Blu-ray of course fixes this while improving on all earlier home video releases. Grover Crisp of Sony wisely chose a slightly taller 1:66 aspect ratio, which adds image to the top and bottom of the frame while placing narrow pillars at the sides of the HD image. Harryhausen purists will be pleased to see less cropping of the effects. The added color detail of Blu-ray brings out hidden character in the main title artwork, and gives the green highlights on Talos' bronze skin more definition. Likewise, the Golden Fleece is returned to its impressive sparkly-but-organic look -- the golden glow effect has been toned down quite a bit. He sets out to build a ship and recruit a crew. Men from all over Greece compete for the honor of joining his quest. Because their ship is named the Argo after its builder, Argus, the crew are dubbed the Argonauts. Among them are Hercules, Hylas, and Acastus, who was secretly sent by his father Pelias to sabotage the voyage. As an added bonus, Sony has also included the film's original mono mix for purists not wishing to experience the 5.1 presentation. Like the transfer, this is a near-reference restoration and easily the finest presentation Argonauts has ever seen on home video. The picture looks pretty good on this DVD, and is available in both widescreen (1.85:1) and full screen pan and scan formats. The audio, Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, is relatively clear throughout. Special features include subtitles (English, French, and Spanish), the original theatrical trailer, short production notes inside the case, and a lengthy interview with Ray Harryhausen conducted by John Landis, featuring clips, still photos, and even a prop or two from the films.

It is this classic look and animation that makes JATA an iconic movie. But there is more of value in it. Audio choices are English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Mono with English subtitles and English captions for the hearing impaired.

For fans of mythology, it's a lightweight and easy to digest retelling of one of the most enduring tales of the Hero's Quest. It's not a recent problem either: look how few Universal horrors or Hammer classics were available on VHS in the UK until the mid-90s. Even at the peak of the VHS retail boom you couldn't even own a complete set of Bond films in widescreen on video until they finally got around to releasing OHMSS in 1995 a couple of years after they'd released widescreen versions of the other Bond films. First of all, we see a movie that is pretty close to the Greek legend. Compare it along these lines to "Clash of the Titans" (the re-make especially) that hobbled Norse and Greek myth together and made up almost everything else. This movie was intellectually much more honest.

Zeus, all powerful yet surprisingly gentle (this is a guy who could fry you in an instant with a thunderbolt) spends quality time with Hera, Queen of the Gods (and his wife). The legends tend to focus on their many arguments and Zeus' infidelities, but here, we see a couple whom we suspect actually do like each other. Refreshing interpretation. Shot in Eastman Color, the film was made in collaboration with stop-motion animation visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen and is known for its various legendary creatures, notably the iconic fight scene featuring seven skeleton warriors. Although it was a box-office disappointment during its initial release, the film was critically acclaimed and later became a cult classic. The film, for those who might not know, is about a man named Jason, an explorer searching for a magical tree called the Golden Fleece. Once he finds the tree, he will regain his rightful ownership as the King of Thessaly. But nefarious foes await Jason and his able crew as monsters, both man and magical, are out to stop him before he reaches his destination. and the Argonauts' ability to deliver rousing action and adventure that are derivatives of its storyEin Beispiel: Der Sohn von Phelias (der eigentliche Antagonist) begleitet Jason auf der Suche nach dem goldenen Fließ. Auch wenn er an allen möglichen Stellen sich versucht gegen Jason aufzulehnen, was Situationsbedingt dann jeweils auch Sinn macht, ist die Enttarnung durch Jason doch sehr unglaubwürdig und einfach sehr schlechtes Storytelling- bzw. schlecht geschriebener Dialog. Todd Armstrong, who plays Jason, is a relatively unknown actor, and from what I have seen, didn't go much beyond this film. Some reviewers say his performance is wooden, but I would disagree. The script doesn't give him many good lines or play up his emotions well, and that's not his fault. What he does bring to the film are some wonderful facial expressions as he delivers those not-so-inspiring lines. It's a pity his career didn't go much further, I saw real potential in him, and I enjoyed him very much as Jason. At the special ceremony for the Academy Award for Technical Achievement held three weeks before the 1992 Academy Awards, Ray Harryhausen was honored with a lifetime-achievement award. The ceremony's host, actor Tom Hanks, remarked: "Some people say Casablanca or Citizen Kane. I say Jason and the Argonauts is the greatest film ever made". [22]

Compre la película con un super descuento, al principio imagine que mi pedido se quedaría ahí por meses como suele pasar con estas raras ofertas con vendedores externos, pero para mi sorpresa el vendedor lo despacho rápido y le doy mil gracias por ello. Das Bildformat ist im langweiligen 4:3 Format auf der DVD. Das ist aber wahrscheinlich auch dem Zeitgeist geschuldet.In the 60's artists took pride in their work and the money men knew they had to give money for the artists to produce art. sound effects don't stray far from center-front, either, though various atmospheric elements -- gently For more about Jason and the Argonauts and the Jason and the Argonauts Blu-ray release, see Jason and the Argonauts Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on July 14, 2010 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5. Finally nearing Colchis, Acastus challenges Jason's authority and fights him. Disarmed, Acastus jumps into the sea and disappears. Jason and his men land and accept an invitation from King Aeëtes to a feast. Unknown to them, Acastus has warned Aeëtes of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece. Aeëtes has the unwary Argonauts imprisoned, but Medea, having fallen in love with Jason, helps him and his men escape. In mythology, the Argonauts encountered Talos on their return journey after they had obtained the Golden Fleece. He was defeated not by Jason, but by Medea casting a spell on Talos, causing him to remove the bronze nail from his ankle which kept the ichor inside. The mythological Talos guarded Crete, not the "Isle of Bronze", and was protecting not a treasure, but Queen Europa.

The film ultimately omits the story of Medea killing and butchering her own brother, Absyrtus, to help Jason and the Argonauts escape; [12] and also the episodes with Cyzicus, the Gegeines and the Argonauts' stay on the isle of Lemnos. that's still relevant and exciting even in this, the era of practically seamless computer-generated from the center speaker. Dialogue is nicely balanced and effortless throughout. Most of the picture'sFazit: Nicht historisch Korrekt, nicht die neusten Spezialeffekte und teils absurde Dialoge -aber nostalgiebedingt sehr unterhaltsam, lassen mich bei „Jason und die Argonauten“ auf immerhin 4 Sterne kommen. And, like the myth, it stands the test of time. It's re-playable and entertaining every time. Our modern technology just makes it easier to study and understand WHY it is such a fine motion picture. But when the film grabs your attention with its epic action set pieces and stylized effects, from stop-motion mastermind Ray Harryhausen, the film is an absolute blast. There are so many truly terrific action and/or monster sequences/battles in this film – it's a genuine marvel just to look at them. device because it's so universal in appeal. Who can't dream of a ring of invisibility, countless riches,