tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846359166562077036.post7481938008673339755..comments2023-09-03T14:15:51.995-07:00Comments on CinemaSpection: Episode 41: The Valley of GwangiCinemaspectionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03677204852599391459noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846359166562077036.post-20941820524694449472016-12-08T05:19:30.778-08:002016-12-08T05:19:30.778-08:00I wonder if part of that may be that with Harryhau...I wonder if part of that may be that with Harryhausen's effects being the primary draw for audiences, his longtime producer Charles Schneer felt there was less need to find just the right script or an enthusiastic director and that decent actors would be enough. I imagine few A-list actors of the period were willing to play second-banana to a cyclops or a giant vulture.<br /><br />I do think the movies where Harryhausen's creations are the focus worked better. This movie wastes far too much time on Franciscus and Golan's love story when we just want to watch Gwangi do his thing. Meanwhile you look at Beast From 20,000 Fathoms or Twenty Million Miles to Earth where everything in the movie revolves around the monsters and those films work so much better.<br /><br />And I totally agree: Jason is the best.Cinemaspectionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03677204852599391459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846359166562077036.post-44833182253157629472016-11-14T21:41:10.428-08:002016-11-14T21:41:10.428-08:00One of the few Harryhausen films I haven't see...One of the few Harryhausen films I haven't seen, and yet the episode hits on issues I've had with most of his films. A couple are really good (still think Jason is his best), but as creative as Ray was, many of his works were stunted by not pairing him with strong writers or directors, leaving much of the film surrounding his effects largely mediocre and bland. He never really found that key collaborator who took his work and ideas to the next level, which is a shame.NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.com