“Jason and the Argonauts” was officially released in 1963 (same year Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low came out) earning praise from critics and movie goers alike. However, it was a commercial flop. Overtime, it continues to gain appreciation from movie buffs and Greek mythology enthusiasts. I have one good reason why I wanna review this classic adventure fantasy flick. Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated “The Odyssey” will be released on July 17, 2026. Which is my birthday month. As a huge fan of Mr. Nolan, I got plans to watch movies based on Greek mythology to keep myself occupied.
This review contains no SPOILERS. I’m giving you a chance to see this classic adventure film.
Sharp & Rusty Qualities
Sharp: The Cast including Todd Armstrong as the titular character all did a decent job for their respective performances.
Ray Harryhausen (Mighty Joe Young 1949, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Clash of the Titans 1981) crafted Special Effects techniques that were decent back then including Practical, Stop Motion, Animatronics and Front Projection. The legend also served as an associate producer.
Don Chaffey (Pete’s Dragon 1977) did a solid job directing.
Beverly Cross (Clash of the Titans 1981) wrote the script making sure some plot elements were properly written.
Fun Facts
- In 1992, Tom Hanks called Jason and the Argonauts the greatest film ever made.
- Mr. Harryhasuen declared this film as his personal favorite.
- Christopher Nolan confirmed he grew up watching the special effects legend’s work. He mentioned him as a key influence to The Odyssey.
- Hercules factors in as a crew member of Jason’s ship. Speaking of which, the former went on to battle the Hydra in Disney’s animated adaptation.
Random Thoughts
- When I was in middle school, probably in eighth grade, my literature class only read and studied The Odyssey. We didn’t learn about Jason and the Argonauts.
- I think Ben Affleck’s Oscar winning historical thriller, “Argo” was named after Jason’s ship.
Bernard Hermann (Psycho 1960, North by Northwest, Vertigo) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Action Sequences are splendid. Seeing Jason fight mythological creatures including the Hydra and skeletons makes me wanna replay the “God of War” games.
Cinematography’s shot naturally lacking technical issues.
Pacing felt normal. I wasn’t miserably bored since the beginning. Still better than Disney’s “The Sword and the Stone.” Sorry it was a dud.
Costumes and Set Pieces were manually decorated.
Jason’s chemistry with his crew, the Gods and Hera serves as the main highlight.
If you own a DVD/Blu-Ray copy, Peter Jackson provides audio commentary talking about Ray Harryhausen’s legacy. Peter also provided audio commentary on King Kong 1933 in a two disc special edition. The film that inspired him to become a filmmaker.
Rusty: One member of Jason’s posse dies from the Talos giant. How did he die? By trying to retrieve a spear. Nobody would ever do something incompetent in real life.
The last scene sets up a sequel. Unfortunately, it never came into fruition. It would’ve been nice to continue Jason’s adventures.
The Final Verdict: B, FOR BIGGER & BETTER!
Despite two drawbacks, Jason and the Argonauts is a pretty decent classic fantasy adventure flick. I think it deserves to be digitally restored by The Criterion Collection. Ray Harryhausen’s legacy continues to inspire filmmakers such as Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg & Christopher Nolan. If you’re gearing up for the latter’s highly anticipated The Odyssey as I am, check out Jason and the Argonauts.
Which movie based on Greek mythology should I watch and review next? Please leave a comment.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 