It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

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.....

This was meant to be a serious sword-and-sandal epic. However, in NYC, the TV ads for the film were made, believe it or not, by Mel Brooks! Mel made it seem like a quickie satire of the genre rather than the more-or-less straight story it was meant to be. The ads were hilarious; sample voice-over while showing scenes from the movie: "See hand maidens, foot maidens, all kinds maidens (this with a Yiddish accent). See the crazy lady with snakes in her hair; see a nice Cyclops. See 'My Son, the Hero'." The movie is long forgotten, but anyone who heard Brooks' promos have never forgotten them. It was a preview of the inspired lunacy to come.

'Arrivano i titani' is a charming little movie, that does not try to be anything else than it really is: a silly comedy bound around a story about man gods, real gods and half gods.King of Crete Cadmo (Pedro Armendáriz) kills his wife after he has learned a secret of immortality. He then marries his mistress, who has taught him the secret, but in doing so he hears a of his fate: when his daughter Antiope (Jacqueline Sassard) falls in love will he meet his doom, but he can't prevent that by killing the girl, as he will die at the same moment the girl.In order to escape this future Cadmo imprisons his daughter, so she can't see any men and announces himself as a god and denounces all old gods, who of course get upset and send a man, or actually a titan Kritos (Giuliano Gemma), who in the same time must redeem his brothers, who also have angered the great Jupiter. And guess who he falls in love with.Anyway, this all gives a setting for rather witty word play, some funny physical comedy and so on. Friends are made and enemies are killed and the good guys always finish in the last moment. Nothing too complicated really, as in truth, this movie would be just as funny with out the supernatural aspect, though it doesn't hurt.In style the style resembles a lot TV series like Hercules. The spirit is adventurous and only fools would take it too seriously.

Cadmo, the King of Crete (Pedro Armandarez) has learned the power of immortality from his mistress. He kills his wife and takes his mistress as a wife. For this, the Oracle tells him he will `die' at the hand of infant young daughter's future love. Should King Cadmo kill his daughter, he will perish at the same moment. Cadmo locks his daughter away. The only man she can see is Cadmo. The Greek god Jove, visits Hades, where his children, the Titans, are bound in eternal torment for their transgressions. Like Hercules, the Titans are half-men, half god. Jove directs the youngest of the Titans, Krios (Giuliano Gemma), who is the savviest, but physically weakest of the Titans, to deliver Cadmo to Hades. In return, Jove will free all of the Titans.Dubious subject matter for a comedy. But, after a slow start, that's just what this `sword and sandal' adventure is, largely thanks to a witty performance by Gemma as Krios, good `Jackie Chan' or `Crimson Pirate' style stunts and a few good sight gags, the funniest being the `sword' which Krios must use to fight Rator (Serge Nubret). In fact, the film bares a lot of resemblance to `Crimson Pirate,' right down to a mute sidekick. That is not to say `My Son the Hero' is as good as the classic `Crimson Pirate,' but it is DEFINITELY work a look.Terrible dubbing, but good color cinematography, fine sets, fairly good special effects and amusing, tone-setting music. The Turner Classic Movies print is pristine. Too bad they showed `My Son, The Hero' in `pan and scan.' Hopefully, they have a letterbox copy sitting in their vault somewhere.