Wrath of the Titans 3D (12A)

Tony EarnshawHHHHH

This sequel to Clash of the Titans focuses less on classic Greek myth than a wannabe alternative version that sidelines the gods and monsters of the first film (itself a remake) and trots out a 21st-century tale masquerading as ancient legend.

This is a men-on-a-mission action flick in which hi-tech kit has been replaced with olde worlde weaponry. The script fares even worse. Aussie Sam Worthington’s antipodean tones can do little but further mangle the appalling dialogue leaving it to Brits Bill Nighy and Toby Kebbell to play it for laughs.

Wrath of the Titans tells of a civil war fomented by the dark god Cronos, who persuades the demigod Ares to betray traditional gods Zeus, Hades and Poseidon.

Cue the return of Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes and Danny Huston. But such heavyweights are cast aside as director Jonathan Liebesman concentrates on Perseus (Worthington) and his merrie band of warriors including Amazonian queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike).

The beasties that drove the first film forward are here rationed to an alarming degree, popping up periodically to propel the story on,. A climactic battle for the future of mankind is scrappily delivered with snap editing and overpowering special effects attempting (and failing) to bolster the sub-Tolkien fantasy.

The film is being offered in 3D on Imax screens – a mistake when the giant image only serves to draw attention to the join on Neeson’s all-too obvious hairpiece.