I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Hallmark Entertainment continues their adaptation of classic adventure stories and films with this remake of the stop-motion classic JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. Some may say that the need to remake this already classic movie is a pointless one; personally I like to make up my own mind so I gave this miniseries a go.It is a miniseries that disappoints and delights in roughly equal measure. Sadly, the convention of today's television means that a lot of - shall we say "sentimentality" creeps into things, with also a lot of modern cheesiness which is definitely not cool. As in CLASH OF THE TITANS, we repeatedly get to see the gods in the sky bickering as Jason embarks on his voyage, except that this time Zeus is some young American bloke - I think not! Sadly, JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS also has a tendency to show things which should really be left to the imagination - do we really need to see Zeus' hand come down from the clouds and stir the ocean to create a typhoon, or for him to drink from the ocean and gargle with the water? This is childish stuff, and the actor and actress playing Zeus and Hera are far too young for their parts anyhow. Being family entertainment, the worrying trend to spoon-feed the audience by having the characters speaking modernised language and sometimes slang is apparent here, but not overwhelmingly so.A modern movie is limited in what it can do by what has come before. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS falls into the trap of using clichés, and a lot of them too, which is probably unavoidable these days. However, most of the clichés are disguised well so that hopefully you won't recognise them. The themes of a boy prince escaping from a villain has been done to death yet it shows up again here to passable effect. Thankfully, this film does have a lot to recommend it. A stalwart cast of major actors in minor parts, familiar bit players, and some international talent (I was pleased to see that the cast includes several British actors as well as the expected Americans) make things easier to handle. The budget shows here too, and authentic filming in the likes of Turkey gives the movie a colourful, atmospheric look which counts for a lot.The cast is a mixed bag. Mainly at fault is Jason London, playing a rather wimpy Jason. Firstly, he's just too young to look as if he should be leading a ship full of older men, and secondly he's just not heroic enough. I wasn't convinced in his various abilities at all. Don't get me wrong; London isn't a bad actor in this film, but he's simply wrong and shouldn't be in it. Hopper is fun as always as the villain, and Derek Jacobi virtually unrecognisable as the blind wise man Phineas. The actors playing the crew of the Argo are a mixed bunch but most of them, as in Adrian Lester's case, put in good, solid performances with their assorted personalities. Sadly, Frank Langella is wasted in the minor role of King Aertes who doesn't get to do much.Most impressive of all is Brian Thompson as Hercules. Physically he looks the part with his beard and muscles, and he also has the charisma to pull off the role too. Much better than pretty-boy Kevin Sorbo in any case. Peplum fans will be pleased to hear that Hercules is up to his old tricks in this movie, lifting ships single-handedly, uprooting trees whole, fighting armies and destroying temples with his strength alone. Way to go, Brian! Although JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS can't hold a candle to the '63 version, it is a fair attempt to tell the story in a new way, and it's nice to see that people are still making these mythological movies - however corrupted by modern sensibilities they may be - in this day and age. Fun and pretty to watch, but deeply flawed.

Everyone likes the vintage film the most, I was never really into the original, perhaps that is part of the reason that I think that "Jason 2000" is just fine, in fact I would call it a knockout way to begin the century! The year 2000 was not exactly swarming with quality content on the big or small screen, so "Jason 2000" holds a special place a being a "2000 highlight".I love nearly everything about this production, the fake CGI creatures do a bit of damage, but just about everything is fine. The whole cast, including Jason, is outstanding. I have a soft spot for fantastic sea adventures and the footage of the ship in danger is well filmed. There is even a bit of dark comedy involved in the way the bad guy kills people...it was funny to me at least.The DVD special features reveal that the production was rushed a bit too much, perhaps that explains why the Jason actor was not able to give everything he had to his performance. The actor complained that he was tired due to lack of sleep. Despite this issue, I was not bothered by his acting at all (but many other reviewers are bothered by him).A less talked about element is the high quality grand music score that plays over the show, giving some scenes a huge lift. Is there some reason that this kind of music is less used in film/TV these days?

of course this miniseries is nothing spectacular and wont be remembered but its still good to watch I'm not a Greek mythology expert but i am familiar with the story and this is quite faithful to the myth. to the question about Atalanta, she was not in the original film yes but she did appear in the myth. some historians say Jason wouldn't allow a woman on the ship but in other versions she is part of it. the whole crush on Jason thing isn't right though. Jason London of course is not stand out as the hero but he does play the role well enough Brian Thompson is an excellent choice for Hercules, too bad he didn't have more focus but the "fall of Hercules" was greatly done Jolene Black looks amazing as Medea and has the right look for the part. she can be a bit wooden at times but what can you do? Natasha Henstridge could have been given a bigger role and her segment in the story was a bit boring but it was in the myth as for Orpheus why are so many people outraged that he was black? its not like he was talking in urban slang and acting like a pimp. he was cool and the actor portrayed him well Dennis Hopper of course was annoying as his voice droned on but i guess that is good as he was playing a villain and so he made us hate him the other actors were all good apart from this one guy with a Geordie accent who had good sight. his lines didn't fitthe action sequences were very well done. Poseidon looked cool and real enough, the dark rocks scene was exciting and the fight with that dragon was well choreographed. i didn't like the harpies or the bull because the CGI looked a bit bad on them but the action was good. the flee from Colchis was brilliant and quite exciting. the last part of the movie is kinda pointless especially a scene where Zeus tries to seduce Medea. of course the ending is complete bull as Pelias was killed by Medea and sneakily. her and Jason did not become king and queen and the tale did not have a happy ending. overall it is good entertainment and a decent stab at adapting a famous myth

For some people 'Jason and the Argonauts', one of the most representative tale of the rich Greek Mithology, is one the most intense adventure yarn of all times. For this reason, maybe, this story - with more than three thousand years - is always returning to delight children and adults. This new TV version is an accurate and well done entry of the classical adventure. The movie - starring young Jason London as Jason - has a correct cast (with an impressive Dennis Hooper as the cruel King Pelias) and extremely good special effects. Maybe the movie is a bit too overlong which causes some uneven development of the plot, with some parts less interesting than others. For example, the movie goes down when the argonauts are made prisoners in the island of the Amazon women. But there's other great moments: the fight to take the 'Velocino' and the fight against the Minotauro. Although some old guys will remember and miss the old movies about Heroic Greece - especially the movies made with the assistance of the master of the special effects, Mr. Ray Harryhausen - this new version is capable and well done.