Wrath of the Titans (3D)

Stars: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Rosamund Pike, Toby Kebbell, Ralph Fiennes, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Danny Huston, Sinead Cusack, John Bell

Director: Jonathan Liebesman

Thought the gods were immortal? Think again. Attacked by their own godly weapons, they're inclined to turn to ashes. And there's war amongst them, as, for no reason that the screenplay can discern, ferocious übergod Kronos, imprisoned deep beneath the earth in fiery Tartarus and guarded by Hades (Fiennes), plans to overthrow head god Zeus (Neeson) with a little help from a traitor or two, notably Zeus' son Ares (Ramirez), the god of war.

Meanwhile, Ares' half-mortal brother Perseus (Worthington), now a widower, lives quietly as a fisherman with his young son (Bell). But not for long. Zeus is captured and, as the bad guys begin to drain him of his powers, it's up to Perseus to save mankind (again).

There are some great special effects here, as well as one or two wobbly ones - notably Pegasus the flying horse - but the film is really much huff and puff about nothing very much, and with a weird variety of accents to boot - English (Home Counties and Yorkshire), Australian, American, Spanish and Irish.

Worthington ploughs his way through the cardboard dialogue - 'You gotta be kiddin' me,' he exclaims at one point in broad Aussie - while Pike, as warrior queen Andromeda, looks startled to find herself in such action stuff, and Toby Kebbell's demigod son of Poseidon (Huston) channels Russell Brand.

Neeson and Fiennes struggle to do their best to lend some dignity to proceedings, and 3D is effectively used, as hundreds of rocks hurtle towards the screen in the explosion scenes. Lots of action against 'mansters' rather than beasties - not a dragon in sight - will satisfy the late-night crowd, who may swallow the uncouth rampage whole. But it does lack - especially in Worthington's performance - soul, humour and even enthusiasm.

David Quinlan

USA/UK 2012. UK Distributor: Warner Brothers. Colour by deluxe.
100 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 30 Mar 2012