Seeing Harryhausen's beautiful work presented in gorgeous color sequences is truly something to behold. Films like this kick modern CGI adventure films in the nuts and then urinate on the back of their heads as they are bent double in pain. Matthews is a great leading man. Straight faced, romantic, and able to command the screen. Thatcher is a wonderful villain. His creepy voice and seductive tricks make him a love and hate kind of guy. The film may be episodic like so many adventures, but this one starts early with a cyclops attack, making the return there one of more focus. The actors still manage to take center stage amid a fantastic world of effects. The dragon, cyclops, snake lady, giant birds, and skeleton warrior are more fascinating than anything out there today.
