Les titans

This amusing Muscleman epic picture has mythological remarks , as it appears , ¨Los Titanes ¨, in Classical Greek mythology, they were members of the second order of divine beings, descending from the primordial deities and preceding the Olympian deities . Based on Mount Othrys, the Titans most famously included the first twelve children of the primordial Gaia (Mother Earth) and Uranus (Father Heaven). They were giant deities of incredible strength, who ruled during the legendary Golden Age, and also composed the first pantheon of Greek deities. As they had overthrown the primordial deities, the Titans were overthrown by younger gods, including many of their own children - the Olympians - in the Titanomachy (or "War of the Titans"). The Greeks may have borrowed this mythology from the Ancient Near East . The film deals with a nasty King called Cadmo (Pedro Armendáriz) makes a covenant with an evil devil in order to get away after murdering his wife , marrying his lover Ermione (Antonella Lualdi) and subsequently defies the Greek Gods . Likable Krios, (Giuliano Gemma) the youngest of the Titans, is assigned by the Olympian deities to punish Cadmo , as he may be the least strong of the seven brothers whose strength comes from their mother , earth-goddess Gaia . He arrives on Crete, the kingdom of the mighty king Minos , impresses him as gladiator , gains his trust, falls in love with his daughter , a gorgeous young called Antiope (Jacqueline Sassard) , joins forces with another gladiator , Rator , and faces off mortal soldiers as well as Medusa who has on head plenty of serpents . But then he is caught and chained to wall . With help his brothers , The Titans , Krios finds out both Minos's human sacrifice-cult and a dark conspiracy to seize power helped by hidden forces .

The picture is a fun sword and sandals epic with stirring adventures , struggles , absurd humour , irony , bizarre scenarios and turns out to be quite entertaining . This is a giant spectacle shot in Spain with acceptable production design , colourful cinematography and evocative soundtrack . There is plenty of action in the movie , guaranteeing some shots or stunts every few minutes . Funny and thrilling screenplay , including tongue-in-cheek, by prolific Ennio De Concini , adapted by the same filmmaker Duccio Tessari . The comic relief in charge of Crios/Gemma character was written by scriptwriter/director Duccio Tessari , who often uses humorous touches , for example , his various Spaghetti Western . Nice acting by Gemma as a sympathetic Titan , he is by far the smartest , and thus their natural leader . Giuliano is very fine , he ravages the screen , he jumps , bounds and leaps , hit and run . Gemma as a brave and two-fisted Titan is terrific , subsequently the would play similar role in other Péplum and Spaghetti . Gemma , along with Anthony Steffen and Gianni Garco , results to be one of the greatest stars of the Spaghetti genre . Gemma in his beginning worked as stunt-man , practiced many sports in his life, boxing, gymnastics, such as is well proved at the movie . Then the director, Duccio Tessari, gave him the first role as protagonist in the film " The Titani" and the first spaghetti western films where he often worked under the name of Montgomery Wood , playing Western as ¨A pistol for Ringo¨, ¨The return of Ringo¨ and others as ¨Adios Gringo¨, ¨Arizona Colt¨, ¨The price of power¨ , ¨Day of anger¨ and later ¨California¨. However, his first big opportunity came with the important Italian director, Luchino Visconti in ¨El Gatopardo¨ this was followed by important roles in "Angelica" , ¨Tenebre¨ , ¨Young Lions¨ and ¨The master touch¨. Then he played his most significant roles in ¨Il Deserto Dei Tartari¨ and ¨Il Prefetto Di Ferro¨ . In the movie appears usual support actors from Peplum as well as Spaghetti . Being a France/Italy/Spain co-production turns up several Spanish actors such as Fernando Rey , Rafael Albaicín and Fernando Sancho , Spaghetti Western regular . Besides , appearing famous Eurotrash babes such as Jacqueline Sassard , Antonella Lualdi Tanya Lopert and Ingrid Schoeller . As usual , colorful cinematography by Alfio Contini with gaudy colours and groundbreaking atmospheres . It was shot on location in Manzanares Del Real , Colmenar Viejo , Madrid , Spain , where in the sixties and seventies filmed a lot of Spaghetti/Paella Western . Agreeable music score being well conducted and splendid leitmotif ; it's full of enjoyable sounds and lively score by Carlo Rustichelli .

¨Arrivano i Titani" also titled "Sons of Thunder" or "My Son, the Hero" or "The Titans¨ was well directed by Duccio Tessari . This Italian writer / filmmaker Duccio Tessari so consistently mixed the good with the mediocre that it became quite impossible to know what to expect from him next . He wrote several Westerns as ¨A fistful of dollars ¨, ¨A train to Durango ¨Seven guns for McGregor¨ , ¨The return of McGregor¨ . He directed five Western with abundant touches of humor as ¨Vivi o Preferibilment Morti¨, ¨Don't turn the other cheek¨ and ¨Zorro¨ with Alain Delon and of course ¨Ringo ¨and sequel , mostly starred with his fetish actor Giuliano Gemma . Rating : 7 , entertaining and amusing movie that will appeal to ironic Peplum buffs .

King Cadmos of Crete murdered his wife to be with his evil mistress Ermione to the displeasure of The Gods. He is prophesized to die when his daughter Antiope grows up and falls in love with a man. In turn, Cadmos makes himself God and then Antiope into his High Priestess which keeps her away from all men. Jove makes a bargain with the smartest and weakest Titan, Krios (Giuliano Gemma). Krios is to bring Cadmos down to Hades and Jove will release the rest of the Titans.

I like Giuliano Gemma. He's doing a wise-cracking fish-out-of-water, all with a smile. He doesn't seem to take his situation that seriously and that is refreshing. Sometimes, these spaghetti sword and sandal flicks can be too serious. The story is a mishmash of various mythologies and names. I thought they would do a buddy movie with Rator, but that doesn't last long enough. At times, the pacing is too slow, but I still had some fun.

Here's one entry in the sword and sandal cycle that is pretty enjoyable, as it blends fantasy elements into the standard strong man vs evil king story. It even manages to foreshadow the 'stranger' themes of spaghetti westerns in its final scenes. Giuliano Gemma is the likeable hero who takes on the evil King Cadmus of Crete, who has struck a deal with the devil (so to speak)in order to get away with murdering his wife. Director Tessari seems to have had a reasonable budget here: too bad the pan and scan print is what is currently available. Incidentally, the rumours attributed to both the Maltin guide and the Psychotronic Film Guide are wrong: there's no evidence that any of the dubbing was done to achieve comic effect (though there are some intentionally funny moments).

The screenwriters do not seem to take this story seriously;neither does Giuliano Gemma ,who dyed his hair in blond (?),and whose dynamism and good humor save the movie from absolute tedium.The writers cash in on all sides,from Oedipus's curse to the Cyclop;we even catch a glimpse of Prometheus (ouch!my liver!) and the gorgon in a cock and bull story.The rest of the cast includes Italian Beauty Antonella Lualdi ,with a hideous hairdo and Jacqueline Sassard,who disappears from the screens after Chabrol's "les Biches " -she remains one of the French cinema biggest mysteries:what happened?some even said ,without any evidence,that she was dead;see for that matter the site "Etoiles Filantes"-and who is very good-looking (and good natured in the film,for she falls for the hero,in spite of his macho words about marriage).Serge Nubret ,who plays the dumb gladiator, was a famous body builder and he passed away recently.

If you do not want to think too hard.....

Delightful sword and sandals comedy!

First and foremost, this is a comedy masquerading as and action fantasy. So, don't take it too seriously. Giuliano Gemma owns the screen as our hero, Krios. He is charming and incredibly likeable. Serge Nubret is his sidekick, and he is so ripped his muscles have muscles. Jacqueline Sassard is the breathtakingly beautiful love interest that needs to be rescued not once but twice.

The plot is really just a series of excuses to setup funny adventure scenarios. There are many references to ancient Greek and/or Roman gods and legends. There's a gorgon and a cyclops and some ancient depictions of hell. It's a good time!