“The greatest film
ever made.” Says Tom Hanks of “Jason and
the Argonauts.” Damn it, he might not be right, but he’s not far off. How
can you argue? This is absolute movie magic beauty: Giddy
childish wonder watching wide-eyed as a group of men take on the gods and battle skeletal beings
risen from the ground, all for honor. The director is Don Chaffey, but this is
Ray Harryhausen’s gem: The special effects guru dreamed up those skeletons and
the myriad giants and monsters and living ships that make up this classic. Screw CGI, this is the stuff of a boy (and girl’s) deepest imagination. The
plot veers way off the Greek religious record as Jason (Todd Armstrong), lost
son of a dead king, captures the Golden Fleece to –- unknown to him -– reclaim his
rightful throne in an adventure that should spawn 100 sequels. Along the way, Jason
finds a ship, Argo, brave warriors, and adventure and love, and monsters, and I will stop. Ditch Jason. The hero is Harryhausen. Dig those skeletons battling men to the death. This is what it meant to be young in
1963! A
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