Ray Harryhausen's Hit list

JPickettIII · April 04, 2013, 02:34:59 PM

His movies were actually ahead of their time if you think about. The affects are still really good, even for today.

Take care.

John

alandhopewell · April 04, 2013, 02:47:01 PM

I can't say that I have a favorite....I love all of them, but especially the ones I got to see at the theater....

7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD
JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
MYSTERIOUS ISLAND
FIRST MEN IN THE MOON
GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD
CLASH OF THE TITANS

This was done by his mentor, who gave us KING KONG, and MIGHTY JOE YOUNG....WILLIS O'BRIEN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cq-3JvqcMA

tracy · April 05, 2013, 01:15:37 PM

Quote from: WingedSerpent on April 02, 2013, 07:41:05 PM
His Medusa is one of his more inspired creations-especially because she is one of the only really ugly Medusa designs in film. Harryhausen said that when looking for inspiration, he found that most sources just depicted her as a normal looking (sometimes even beautiful) woman, just with snakes for hair. Even when gorgons weren't so attractive, they really weren't all that ugly.

He made her more ugly, and more reptilian which makes her one of his best creations.

Excellent point.

WingedSerpent · May 07, 2013, 06:34:50 PM

Given the news, I felt I should post on this thread out of respect.

Favorites.
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
One Million Years B.C.
20 Million Miles to Earth
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Clash of the Titans
Valley of Gwangi

JaseSF · May 07, 2013, 08:14:59 PM

I can't think of a film by Harryhausen I didn't enjoy and find fun. I consider the following to be some of his best work:

1) The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
2) Jason and the Argonauts
3) 20 Million Miles to Earth
4) First Men in the Moon
5) Mysterious Island

Also have a real soft spot for the rest of his work too especially Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and It Came From Beneath the Sea. His creatures all had such personality...something so very few of today CGI creatures have.

JayJayM12 · May 08, 2013, 03:58:34 PM

Quote from: JaseSF on May 07, 2013, 08:14:59 PM
I can't think of a film by Harryhausen I didn't enjoy and find fun. I consider the following to be some of his best work:

1) The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
2) Jason and the Argonauts
3) 20 Million Miles to Earth
4) First Men in the Moon
5) Mysterious Island

Also have a real soft spot for the rest of his work too especially Earth vs. the Flying Saucers and It Came From Beneath the Sea. His creatures all had such personality...something so very few of today CGI creatures have.

That would be a pretty tough list to argue with!

RCMerchant · May 09, 2013, 07:46:48 AM

Quote from: JayJayM12 on April 04, 2013, 12:43:09 PM
Quote from: RCMerchant on April 03, 2013, 08:49:54 PM
Question-why is this in the BAD movies section and a piece of s**t like MANBORG is in the GOOD movie section???

Question - why are you attacking Manborg AGAIN in a thread about something totally different when you haven't even seen it? Just because it doesn't look like something you would like, doesn't make it bad. It's not a cheesy CGI-filled, video game movie - it is a SPOOF (probably not the right word) of those types of movies. I am a HUGE Harryhausen fan and NOT a "kid who grew up with video games", so maybe my perspective isn't that far off from yours. Give it a shot or don't, but Manborg is NOT keeping Harryhausen out of the "Good" category. Unrelated...

Quote from: RCMerchant on April 03, 2013, 08:57:40 PM
I guess if yer a fan of video games-and Im not-MANBORG would appeal to you-but it cant hold a candle to THE 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD or JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. Its f**king made for kids who grew up with video games.Its CGI bulls**t! Ray did his stuff by hand-the real deal,Lucille.

It's not TRYING to hold a candle to Harryhausen. The Astron-6 guys, who made Manborg, knew exactly what they were making. It's a VERY comedic take on the types of movies that were inexplicably popular in the 80's. I feel like you are assuming, from the trailer, that it was an ACTUAL attempt at making a serious movie, but failed miserably. If anything, that speaks to how good it is - they created something that fits the time and mood of the movies that they were poking fun at. Would you call Black Dynamite a bad movie because some of the dialogue is corny and the boom mike keeps popping in? No, it was intentional as an homage to Blaxploitation flicks that actually HAD that happen...

Im NOT attacking MANBORG-I was merley stating is Harryhausens classic. And this thread should be in GOOD movies-and a flash in the pan direct to video thing should be in BAD movies. OH-and most spoofs are just that-SPOOFS! Im talkng classic fantasy films here-not a Saterday Night Live smug spoof made by punks who can be my kids.

PS-never seen BLACK DYNAMITE-seen IM GONNA GET YOU SUCKER and AIRPLANE.
I'll give MANBORG a try-I might like it! But it still aint Harryhausen. I dont dislike MANBORG-I just love Harryhausen.
And yer right-I judged a movie before I seen it. I might even like MANBORG-but as a whole I dont like "spoofs". I'll give it a spin. We good?
And I aint apoligizing. Harryhausen trumps most ANYTHING.

JayJayM12 · May 10, 2013, 10:34:07 AM

Of course we're good! I always enjoy your posts! Like I said in my post, 'spoof' is actually not really a good word for it. It's more of an homage. The humor comes pretty organically I'd say.

And, you're right - Harryhausen should DEFINITELY be in the good flicks section! Going to a Harryhausen tribute screening of Clash of the Titans, Jason & The Argonauts and a surprise title this weekend, in fact. Can't wait!

RCMerchant · May 10, 2013, 11:13:59 AM

Quote from: JayJayM12 on May 10, 2013, 10:34:07 AM
Of course we're good! I always enjoy your posts! Like I said in my post, 'spoof' is actually not really a good word for it. It's more of an homage. The humor comes pretty organically I'd say.

And, you're right - Harryhausen should DEFINITELY be in the good flicks section! Going to a Harryhausen tribute screening of Clash of the Titans, Jason & The Argonauts and a surprise title this weekend, in fact. Can't wait!

Sounds like a good time! Have fun,brother!

JayJayM12 · May 10, 2013, 11:25:22 AM

Thanks, man!

WingedSerpent · May 10, 2013, 09:45:46 PM

Valley of Gwangi is a good one. One of the highlights is the scene where the cowboys rope Gwangi. Harryhausen had to match their ropes to the model. It was the little details like that, which make for immersion into the world easier.

Also I give Ray credit for using some not quite as famous prehistoric animals in his movies. Everyone expects- Tyrannosaurs, pterodactyls, sauropods, and ceratopids. But Valley of Gwangi has an Eohippus-a prehistoric horse, and a Strithiomimus. Probably not that high on a lot of favorites list. One Million Years B.C has a giant sea turtle called an archelon show up. Fun fact: One of the cavemen calls this creature by its actual name

316zombie · May 21, 2013, 08:55:05 PM

my personal fave is the snake lady, i think it's in golden voyage of sinbad?

BoyScoutKevin · May 26, 2013, 01:21:28 PM

Quote from: 316zombie on May 21, 2013, 08:55:05 PM
my personal fave is the snake lady, i think it's in golden voyage of sinbad?

316Z, if you are thinking about the snake lady that turned men into stone, then you are probably thinking of "Clash of the Titans" from 1981. "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" had a centaur, a griffin, and a multi-armed statue in it, my favorite special effect, but I don't remember a snake lady being in it.

WingedSerpent · May 26, 2013, 03:46:10 PM

Quote from: BoyScoutKevin on May 26, 2013, 01:21:28 PM
Quote from: 316zombie on May 21, 2013, 08:55:05 PM
my personal fave is the snake lady, i think it's in golden voyage of sinbad?

316Z, if you are thinking about the snake lady that turned men into stone, then you are probably thinking of "Clash of the Titans" from 1981. "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" had a centaur, a griffin, and a multi-armed statue in it, my favorite special effect, but I don't remember a snake lady being in it.

Maybe your talking about the Snake Dancer from The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIarWyasPTY