Jason and the Argonauts (2000)
Country: US
Technical: col 180m TV
Director: Nick Willing
Cast: Jason London, Jolene Blalock, Dennis Hopper, Frank Langella, Natasha Henstridge, Derek Jacobi, Brian Thompson, Olga Sosnovska, David Calder, Adrian Lester, Angus MacFadyen, Olivia Williams, Ciarán Hinds, Mark Lewis Jones
Synopsis:
Jason's father's kingdom of Iolcus is usurped by his wicked uncle Pelias, but he escapes. Years later he returns to claim his rights and only gets away this time by offering to go in search of the Golden Fleece of Phrixus.
Review:
Well researched and mounted, and more faithful to the original story, this makes an interesting companion piece to Don Chaffey's 1963 version. Unwieldy as a film, perhaps, it nonetheless keeps up a good pace, has its share of exciting fights and is even ambivalent about Medea at the end. It is impossible to do these rambling legends justice in a 90 minute feature; all in all, this is about as effective a rendition as one could wish for, suitable expecially for schools with its emphasis on teamwork and comradeship. One cavil: all the talk of destiny comes across as rather pat alongside this Jason's modern teenage weak-spirited surliness, though again, a flawed Jason is faithful to the source.
Country: US
Technical: col 180m TV
Director: Nick Willing
Cast: Jason London, Jolene Blalock, Dennis Hopper, Frank Langella, Natasha Henstridge, Derek Jacobi, Brian Thompson, Olga Sosnovska, David Calder, Adrian Lester, Angus MacFadyen, Olivia Williams, Ciarán Hinds, Mark Lewis Jones
Synopsis:
Jason's father's kingdom of Iolcus is usurped by his wicked uncle Pelias, but he escapes. Years later he returns to claim his rights and only gets away this time by offering to go in search of the Golden Fleece of Phrixus.
Review:
Well researched and mounted, and more faithful to the original story, this makes an interesting companion piece to Don Chaffey's 1963 version. Unwieldy as a film, perhaps, it nonetheless keeps up a good pace, has its share of exciting fights and is even ambivalent about Medea at the end. It is impossible to do these rambling legends justice in a 90 minute feature; all in all, this is about as effective a rendition as one could wish for, suitable expecially for schools with its emphasis on teamwork and comradeship. One cavil: all the talk of destiny comes across as rather pat alongside this Jason's modern teenage weak-spirited surliness, though again, a flawed Jason is faithful to the source.
Country: US
Technical: col 180m TV
Director: Nick Willing
Cast: Jason London, Jolene Blalock, Dennis Hopper, Frank Langella, Natasha Henstridge, Derek Jacobi, Brian Thompson, Olga Sosnovska, David Calder, Adrian Lester, Angus MacFadyen, Olivia Williams, Ciarán Hinds, Mark Lewis Jones
Synopsis:
Jason's father's kingdom of Iolcus is usurped by his wicked uncle Pelias, but he escapes. Years later he returns to claim his rights and only gets away this time by offering to go in search of the Golden Fleece of Phrixus.
Review:
Well researched and mounted, and more faithful to the original story, this makes an interesting companion piece to Don Chaffey's 1963 version. Unwieldy as a film, perhaps, it nonetheless keeps up a good pace, has its share of exciting fights and is even ambivalent about Medea at the end. It is impossible to do these rambling legends justice in a 90 minute feature; all in all, this is about as effective a rendition as one could wish for, suitable expecially for schools with its emphasis on teamwork and comradeship. One cavil: all the talk of destiny comes across as rather pat alongside this Jason's modern teenage weak-spirited surliness, though again, a flawed Jason is faithful to the source.