Live Life Team
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Director: Don Chaffey
Starring Cast: Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack, Gary Raymond
This Hollywood classic story begins with Jason, the son of a fallen king, assembling a collection of the best athletes and warriors in Greece. Apparently aided by the gods, he sets sail for the mythical end of the world where he hopes to discover the mysterious Golden Fleece that will deliver him to supremacy. The legendary Ray Harryhausen was responsible for the special effects and is said to consider Jason & the Argonauts the zenith of his craft and career.
“Jason” was originally created as the first in a series. The movie uses Greek mythology as a setting, allowing for a succession of monster themed set-pieces (winged Harpies who harass a blind man, Talos the giant bronze statue woken by Hercules, etc), along with the existence of the gods themselves, who are shown as mischievously all-powerful beings who play with mortal man from upon Mount Olympus.
The iconic highlight for many is the scene with the skeleton warriors Jason must conquer in the film’s final fight sequence. A true victory of creativity over existing technology, they emerge from the ground before drawing swords and launching into hand to hand fighting with the real actors. It was approximately 30 years before CGI could provide such inspired animation in a more technically realistic style; however, that said, even now there is no way to duplicate the charisma created in Jason and the Argonauts.
