Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011) User Reviews

Splendid tribute to a great man

[Leofwine_draca · 9/10 · 6 May 2014]

RAY HARRYHAUSEN: SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN is an affectionate tribute to the great man and all of his work. This documentary is loaded with interviews with big name directors who found themselves influenced by Harryhausen's work - the likes of Spielberg, Jackson, Del Toro and plenty more besides - along with lots of clips of cool monster action and filmed segments from the special effects genius himself.

For anyone with even the slightest love or fondness for the great old effects pics of old, this is a must see. The format of the documentary explores the master's work in chronological order, starting out with his earliest efforts in the 1940s and concluding with his 1981 epic, CLASH OF THE TITANS. There's no negative stuff here, just a celebration of the techniques that made his films so famous. The running time flies past and you're left wanting more; what else is there to say than that?

Truly Definitive

[gavin6942 · 9/10 · 18 November 2013]

What can be said other than what the plot says: This is the definitive documentary about Ray Harryhausen. Aside from interviews with the great man himself, shot over five years, there are also interviews and tributes from Vanessa Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Peter Lord, Terry Gilliam, Dennis Muren, Rick Baker, John Landis, Ken Ralston, Guillermo Del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and many more.

What more can you say than that? If you know and love Harryhausen or dislike him (if this is possible) or have never heard of him, there is no end to the line of folks making movies that can tell you his influence and how many of the films today could not have existed without him in one way or another.

Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan

[jboothmillard · 8/10 · 19 December 2015]

I had seen many of the films featuring the animation of the visual effects creator, writer and producer who is the subject of this documentary film, it is only in later years I would see many more of his films, know his name and realise his influence for other filmmakers. Ray Harryhausen was a pioneer who created a form of stop-motion model animation known as "Dynamation", and in doing so made films featuring the finest stop-motion special effects animation, this documentary takes a look at the highlights of his fantastic career, including behind the scenes of how he did what he did, and the opening of the exhibition Ray Harryhausen - Myths & Legends in London Film Museum. Harryhausen is best known for creating some of the most iconic fictional and mythological monsters, creatures and animals in film history, as well as models and machines. These include fairytale characters, a giant gorilla, the fictional Rhedosaurus, It (the giant octopus), dinosaurs, flying saucers and a spaceship, the Ymir, the Cyclops and the Serpent Woman, skeletons and dragons, the Phororhacos, the Cephalopod, the giant moving Talos statue, Harpies, Hydra, Kali, the Centaur, the Griffin, the Minoton, the Troglodyte, Pegasus, Calibos, Bubo the mechanical owl, Dioskilos the two-headed dog, Medusa and the Kraken. Films Harryhausen worked on and animated for include: Mighty Joe Young (1949), The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Animal World, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Mysterious Island, Jason and the Argonauts, First Men in the Moon, One Million Years B.C., The Valley of Gwangi, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and Clash of the Titans. Contributions throughout the film include Ray Harryhausen himself, and other filmmakers and animators inspired by his great work, including: actress Martine Beswick, Tim Burton, James Cameron, Joe Dante, Guillermo del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Vanessa Harryhausen (Ray's daughter), Peter Jackson, John Landis, John Lasseter, actress Caroline Munro, Nick Park, Henry Selick and Steven Spielberg. Very good!

A Well-Deserved Tribute

[BaronBl00d · 10/10 · 29 June 2012]

I was fortunate to be at the Monster Bash and see this screening really for the first time in public. Both Ray's friend Mark and the still beautiful Martine Beswick were there to explain the film's beginnings, its making, and other generalities. One piece of information is that all of the models, all of the blueprints, all of the dioramas have for the most part been saved by Ray himself - as we were told they were in Ray's garage! The documentary was first-rate as it first examined Ray Harryhausen's appeal over many decades and then went on to examine each film separately from his early work with Willis O'Brien and then his own fairy tale shorts to each of his films to his last - 1981's Clash of the Titans. It is interesting that I say Ray's films when in fact they were all directed by someone else though rarely do we remember by whom. Harryhausen's creations are the stars and his tireless, relentless, and unyielding spirit to excel and determination to perfect dominate each of his 15 feature films. The documentary boasts a wide array of luminaries to talk about Ray Harryhausen's influence over their own work: Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, John Landis, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, and James Cameron. Not a bad bunch to help support your documentary. Their presence tells us just how important Ray's work had been to them. I too have that definitive moment when I first saw my first Harryhausen film. Which do I remember best? Jason and the Argonauts and Clash of the Titans. The latter I went to see at the theater(the other predates my earthly arrival). That film had a wondrous effect on me as Perseus slew Medusa, a small metallic owl flitted about in mid-air, a mighty Pegasus gracefully galloped in the sky, and the obligatory(Now - thanks to the film) Kracken was unleashed. In the documentary each film is examined and discussed by Ray Harryhausen and others. None of the 15 features is neglected at all. The documentary is well-done on every level and I thank all involved for sharing their passion for this artist's work with us.

After-images and echoes...

[poe426 · 10/10 · 20 May 2013]

It hit me the other night, out of the blue- a profound feeling of Loss. I was watching something on the SyFy Channel (a show of some kind about Life After Death or somesuch nonsense) and there was Forrest J. Ackerman, the editor of the FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND that I grew up with, and he made a pun (one of the things that we as readers had come to expect from him) and seeing him again brought tears to my eyes. We'll never smile and groan again the way we did when we read FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND; and we'll never again marvel at Ray Bradbury's way with words, his seemingly effortless ability to weave Life into Stories that resonated each with their own particular Truths; nor will we ever again see Ray Harryhausen breathe Life into his little giant creatures. I came across this documentary by chance, just one day after my niece told me that Harryhausen was gone, and again that feeling of profound Loss overwhelmed me. To me, growing up where and when I did, the three men I eulogize here, Forrest J. Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, and Ray Harryhausen, were all part of the Magic that kept me going when things got going bad- which they often did: I remember my mother singing me and my brother and sister to sleep on nights when my father's drunken rage shook the universe; it's a debt that could never be repaid. All of these people had one thing in common: they ALL talked of LOVE and its profound effect on them. Now, all that's left are after-images and the echoes of a soft, loving voice I'll never hear again. Damn, what a day.

A great story

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 8 March 2021]

Ray Harryhausen did more than just special effects for movies. He changed the lives of people who looked at what he did - just like he did when he watched the work of Willis O'Brien - and they decided that they wanted to make films just like his.

Those people include Rick Baker, John Landis, Tony Dalton, Randy Cook, Peter Jackson, Nick Park, Phil Tippet, Peter Lord, Terry Gilliam, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Guillermo Del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, all of whom appear in this movie to discuss just how important the special effects of Harryhausen and that fact that his influence remains so vital even today.

Director Gilles Penso has also made documentaries like Phil Tippett: Mad Dreams and Monsters, Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex and Derrière le Masque des Super-Héros (Behind the Super-Hero Mask). With so much footage and so many interviews, this seems like it would have been a daunting task. But for those who love the films of this special effects master - or those that have never heard of him before - this is a necessary watch.

A decade in the making, this documentary also features footage from the 1990 documentary Ray Harryhausen: Movement Into Life by film student John Walsh (who eventually became a trustee of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation).

A fitting tribute

[neil-476 · 10/10 · 23 May 2013]

My sadness at Ray Harryhausen's recent passing is slightly tempered by my watching this film last night: a comprehensive retrospective, produced with his approval and participation, which clearly shows that he must have been aware of the affection and respect afforded to him by the cream of present-day fantasy film-makers, and the vast influence his body of work has had on them.

And the nice thing is that even though the film contains verbal tributes from everybody who is anybody in fantasy cinema, those comments are always in the context of making points about Harryhausen's work, where the film runs through his life and career from the initial influence of King Kong, meeting Willis O'Brien and working on Mighty Joe Young, and then visiting the films which one thinks of as Harryhausen's, one by one. Harruhausen himself offers frequent contributions and observations, and it is good to see that, as well as a who's who of cinema, the film also includes offerings from the likes of friend and literary colleague Tony Dalton, and daughter Vanessa.

It is worth commenting on the fact that the multitude of clips, trailers and soundtrack music (and not just from Harryhausen's own movies, also from those he has influenced) mean that a number of studios have provided clearances for their properties to be included in this documentary.

If I have one criticism, it is that the film doesn't add a great deal for anyone who has already taken a great interest in Harryhausen's career - it's a bit like getting a Greatest Hits album for an artist where you already have everything they have released. But for an overview of the man's career and a record of how his peers regard him and his work, it is without equal, and a most necessary film.

Ray Harryhausen Was, Indeed, A Special Effects Titan

[StrictlyConfidential · 7/10 · 9 June 2020]

One of my all-time favorite movies that features the awesome, old-school visual effects that were created by Ray Harryhausen is "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers" from 1956.

Ray Harryhausen (1920-2013) is widely considered to be the most influential special effects auteur in the entire history of movie-making. He is greatly admired and highly respected by such well-known filmmakers of today, as - James Cameron, Peter Jackson, and John Landis.

Through stills, archival footage, and interviews (including those with Harryhausen, himself) - This "Special Effects Titan" bio-documentary pays honorable tribute to the life and career of a man who was a true pioneer of innovation in the make-believe world of motion picture visual effects.

Bravo to the one and only...

[wynne-1 · 10/10 · 18 August 2016]

RAY HARRYHAUSEN: Special Effects Titan is a breath of fresh air in documentary movie making the same way Harryhausen's work is a breath of fresh air in the realm of special effects.

Here we have a documentary that spares us the annoying tell-you-what-to-think voice-over that is so typical of this type of film. Instead we are treated to a volley of on camera admirers from Spielberg on down who acknowledge Ray Harryhausen as the innovative genius that he was.

Generous clips from Harryhausen's films illustrate his work even as it is described in such loving detail by his fellow cinematic artists.

Made s few years before his passing and when he was still spry and articulate, RAY HARRYHAUSEN: Special Effects Titian benefits greatly from interviews with the great man himself.

One interesting point of conflict occurs when director James Cameron opines that, if he were working today, Harryhausen would unquestionably embrace the latest CGI technology. Yet in stark contrast to that we hear Harryhausen say that he wouldn't. Cameron, who has pioneered many contemporary special effects, understandably believes that the latest is the best. But Harryhausen has a point. Today's effects might be flawless in terms of execution, but does that very achievement undermine the humanity of it all? Consider looking at a painting generated by a computer then compare it to one of the great masterworks of Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Degas, etc. where you can actually see the indentation of the brush hairs--a reminder that a human hand once guided the brush that created the work of art. Perhaps it is a matter of preference and both points of view are valid. If James Cameron or George Lucas stopped making films would there be others who could take their place? Had Ray Harryhausen not been the innovator and genius that he was, blessed with incredible patience, single-mindedness and focus, might another have achieved the same thing? Put it another way, if Cameron and Lucas had come first, would they have inspired Ray Harryhausen? Surely the point of RAY HARRYHAUSEN: Special Effects Titan is that it is a tribute, a work of love and respect and veneration towards the true titan and father of modern special effects. For every fan of fantasy and adventure who loves dinosaurs and sword-wielding skeletons and a Medusa that sends shivers down your spine, RAY HARRYHAUSEN: Special Effects Titan is a must-have. And, while bowing to Harryhausen's genius, the filmmakers never fawn. This is the difference between tribute and treacle.

An extra feature showing the rediscovery of many of Harryhausen's sculpted creatures that have been packed away in crates for years is like a cross between kids opening their much-anticipated Christmas presents and Howard Carter entering the tomb of King Tutankhamun. "Is that really it? Oh my--!!!" Priceless.

Brilliant and touching

[mhorg2018 · 10/10 · 1 July 2020]

I've been a fan of Ray Harryhausen (and his good friend, Ray Bradbury) for over 5 decades. This is a brilliant and touching documentary on a man who cannot be pigeonholed as simply an effects artist, but a titan among filmmakers. I doubt there's a science fiction or fantasy filmmaker alive today, who hasn't been influenced by Ray. A really excellent documentary

Learned almost nothing about the man

[samnaji-15383 · 5/10 · 27 November 2023]

Being a child of the 70s I grew up wit Ray Harryhausen films, which were a staple of Bank Holidays and Christmas telly. Everyone who has worked with the gentleman have said just that, that he was a gentleman. A sweet, passionate man who cared deeply about people and his craft. Ray Harryhausen was a true credit to film makers.

I found this documentary just merely catalogued his films, based around a series of interviews he gave in the 90s. It also included a whole bunch of film makers, talking heads all saying how marvellous that he had inspired them to work in the industry. Well, I wanted to know about Ray Harryhausen, not about why they felt inspired.

I came away learning next to nothing, I might as well have read his filmology on this website for all the use the documentary served. His Wikipedia bio was more insightful.

If you are a fan, watch this film.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 24 November 2013]

Not everyone is a fan of the work of Ray Harryhausen. While this documentary features lots of great directors and other movie insiders talking about what a genius he is, I am sure others would laugh at or quickly dismiss Harryhausen's stop-motion work. After all, compared to the incredible CGI being done today, stop-motion, with only a few exceptions (such as Nick Park), is obsolete--or at least it's perceived to be obsolete. Kids raised on CGI have come to expect life-like effects which, to be brutally honest, you won't find in Harryhausen't work. As for me, I like his films, I find the effects quaint and fun even if they are far from realistic. Depending on your perception, this film is either exactly for you or a waste of time.

While I enjoyed the film (mostly because I'd seen almost all the films they talked about and remember them fondly), one part annoyed me. One of the commentators said that stop-motion was BETTER than modern CGI! How?! This remark just seemed incredibly silly and fawning and not objective in the least.

an informative, entertaining and inspiring documentary

[myriamlenys · 9/10 · 25 November 2022]

In this documentary, the great Ray Harryhausen looks back upon his career and talks about his stellar work in the stop-motion animation genre. While Harryhausen affectionately names the various artists whose work inspired him, other, younger artists call him their inspiration, with an equal amount of affection. Thus does creative inspiration wind its way through the generations...

Richly illustrated with clips, excerpts, diagrams and the like, the documentary provides a fine overview of Harryhausen's work. The viewer gets a chance to hear him talk about the thought processes and techniques behind some of his most iconic creations, such as the cruel-faced, slithering Medusa from "Clash of the Titans". On the other hand we learn relatively little about him as a person ; every now and then the documentary touches lightly upon aspects such as his army career or his supportive parents, but that's it. But then there is nothing wrong with guarding one's privacy...

Much recommended to animation, science fiction or fantasy fans ; also much recommended to lovers of special effects disciplines both traditional and modern.

The Creator Of Dreams

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 9/10 · 15 August 2016]

If you're like me you grew up watching some amazing movies in the past. As a child we weren't there to watch movies that were CGI fueled action films or the latest in limited animation series that run non-stop like today's kids. Instead we had to wait for something spectacular to see, something we could beg our parents to take us to that they felt was safe enough for us and entertaining enough for them to sit through. Fortunately we found those types of movies being made and almost all of them by Ray Harryhausen.

But who was Harryhausen and how can we explain the effects his movies had on us as children to the children of today? The first step is easy enough by treating them to some of the many movies he made, all on DVD or blu-ray. But in doing so they don't get both the importance of what he did nor the difficulty he had in bringing his films to the screen. This is remedied with the release of this DVD from Arrow Video. Not only will it give them an idea of the different movies he made it will bring back memories to you as well and start you searching for them.

This documentary features a thorough look into the life and career of Harryhausen in both interviews with the man himself as well as the vast number of directors and writers who he has influenced over the years. It takes a look at each movie that he made and discusses both the difficulty in animating the armatured models he used, the painstaking amount of time and the end results which thrilled so many of us long ago. This was long before computers were being used and each movement, each expression, was made by articulating these models a fraction of an inch at a time.

My guess would be that these won't impress most kids of today but that's where history comes into play. They need to be educated in the process that was used then and informed that without his films many of today's film makers and special effects masters would not be able to do the things they can. His influence was so great that his name alone causes these directors and craftsmen to smile with memories.

To do into details of his life and the things he says here would be to ruin it for fans clamoring to hear the man himself. Watch it and let his own words tell you how he came to be interested in film making and special effects in particular. Learn how he was able to do the things he did. Hear how each movie creations came to be and how much influence he had on them both in design and in follow through.

For fans of Ray Harryhausen I can't stress the importance of being able to hear the man speak about all of these things. He was a giant among film makers, a craftsman who had no equal and the master of a long forgotten art that is slowly making its way in films again with movies like CORALINE, THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE Christmas. I highly recommend adding this one to your collection. It's just that good.

Extras include interviews with Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Peter Lord and Rick Backer; 12 interview outtakes with Joe Dante, John Lasseter, Nick Park and more; a message from Ray Harryhausen himself; deleted scenes; on the set of Sinbad; Paris Cinematheque Q&A; London Gate Theater Q&A; audio commentary with the filmmakers; the original trailer; and a Ray Harryhausen trailer reel.

great film if you are of a certain age

[darren-506-989227 · 9/10 · 6 January 2018]

If watched fantasy movies in the 60s and 70s then you will know Harryhausen's work. Agreed that it now looks dated but back then it was cutting edge and the only way to bring monsters to life. Unfortunalty his work was rendered almost obsolete when Star Wars came along and changed everything. Touching tributes from various top level directors but you do sometimes question the level of reverance expressed toward Harryhausen and the importance of his work.