Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

Jason and the Argonauts is a film about imagination. It is one of those films that I wish I could have seen as a child - it would have been more than just images on a film reel, it was have been pure excitement, coupled with action, and furthered by adventure. This singular film is special effects at its birth and we have none other than the infamous Ray Harryhousen to say "thanks" to. Using the background of Greek mythology, director Don Chaffey subtly sends us on a breathtaking journey to the end of the world, into the world of a hydra, and in search of a golden fleece - truly the elements that create stories and legends. It is a fantasy about revenge, circumstance, hope, honor, and dedication. It is about Jason, a leader among men, that will stop at nothing to fulfill his destiny. Along the way, Titans show up, Hercules plunders, and we soon discover what magic belongs to the teeth of a hydra. This has been the second time I have watched this feature within the last six months, and like a good wine - it obviously continues to do better with age.



What makes Jason and the Argonauts more than just a Sunday feature on PBS is the creativity of Ray Harryhousen, marked with the compelling story of Jason and his band of Argonauts. The use of mythology is also a landmark, because it suspends the power of belief and takes us directly into the world of early civilization. The idea of pre-destiny and the somewhat forgotten cause/effect remains a powerful tool in Chaffey's cannon of opportunity with this film. A character makes a decision, the Gods (in this case Zeus) foretells the truth, and in the end - even though some believe they are headed off that one path - it eventually leads them to their final destination. Sounds confusing - right?!? I just love this concept that we, as humans, in this story were already headed in one direction without any changes - Jason was fated to get that fleece, and upset the balance of power. Impressive - and mind boggling all at the same time.

Harryhousen is most impressive in this film because he creates a world where his stop-motion figures have their own lives, their own emotions, and are more than just puppets or figurines - they are the backbone to this story. His ideas can be seen in cinema for decades to come, most memorably those infamous skeletons in Army of Darkness (an Evil Dead franchise film). But, the raw emotion that these inanimate character show is impressive. When Talos, a giant iron statue who has been brought to life, grabs his throat because Jason has caused him to bleed out - you can see the emotion through the missing eye sockets. It is more than impressive, it is a powerful representation of art pre-CGI. The fact that Harryhousen could do this, by simply moving statues in a certain way, proves that his work not only laid the groundwork for any film today, but could be better. A bit of a rant here, but as CGI becomes more of a crutch than a tool to advance the story of a film, I miss this style of animation. It involved blood, sweat, and tears, and sans computer - one can see the hard work and dedication that went into this project.

As I continue to drool over this film, I must admit - I love Jason and the Argonauts for anyone questioning my passion. I love the feel of this film, the blend of realism and religion, the hints of Bergman and modern cinema, this singular film has it all. Again, if only I had seen this film as a child it perhaps would have inspired me to expand my passion of cinema. None the less, if I ever have a child OR if one of my nieces comes to visit - this is the film of choice. I could watch this film again - right now. Gosh darn it - maybe I will ...

Found in my "Defining Moments in Film" book, there is no question what this film receives. It gets a green mark with blue stars, a new personal favorite and a staple for anyone wondering where our modern CGI derived from. Do not mock the future unless you fully comprehend the past.