Jason And The Argonauts - Dated... but in a good way

The real tragedy about `Jason and the Argonauts' is that it'll probably never pick up any `new' fans. It was made in 1963 and is a product of times past. It was created without the use of computers and relied on the magic of `stop motion' camerawork to create some fantastic monsters which are truly unforgettable. I would imagine much of today's youth may not `get' this film's classic charm.

It's about the Greek warrior, Jason, who gathers a mighty crew in search of the legendary Golden Fleece which will give him the power to reclaim the throne that was his by right. If you want, you can laugh at slightly overweight men in `nappies' with dubbed voices, waving swords at monsters that are clearly only added in post production. Or, you can suspend your disbelief and give the film its deserved credit for really making a memorable experience out of a fraction of what today's average Hollywood blockbuster would have at its disposal.

Films like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings (saga) are, of course, better made, better acted and with better special effects. Yet, as brilliant as they are, I doubt there have been many instances where the whole family has gathered together round the TV on a Saturday afternoon to cheer the heroes on.
Jason and the Argonauts is not as serious as Lord of the Rings. To enjoy it you need to suspend your disbelief and simply go along for the ride. It's a product of its age and, although it may be showing just how old it is right now, it's still worth a watch if you enjoy pure fun movies (and that end scene with the skeletons has to be worth an hour and a half of your time!).

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one