Director: Giles Penso
Starring: Ray Harryhausen, James Cameron, Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Guillermo Del Toro
Running time: 95 minutes
Synopsis: A retrospective look at cinema’s most influential SFX pioneer.
What do Peter Jackson, James Cameron, and Steve Spielberg all have in common? They have all plagiarized Ray Harryhausen’s work in some way. And don’t take my word for it – they admit as much in this documentary. And he is only but humbled that his work has influenced them in some way.
Ray Harryhausen is no doubt one of the special effects masters, but he describes himself simple as a filmmaker. And it’s true – could you name the director of CLASH OF THE TITANS? Perhaps not, but you could easily identify it as a Harryhausen film. SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN shows just how much of an impact Harryhausen had, shaping and influencing the cinema we love and know today armed only with his father’s armatures and heck of a lot of patience.
The documentary chronicles Harryhausen’s work, showing his techniques and methods. Some of the facts that come to light are incredible; for instance, the miniatures on EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS cost $5,000. In fact, most of Harryhausen’s effects were created on a shoestring budget, yet he still produce awe-inspiring sequences in his films. Compare that to the budgets of today’s films – $5,000 would be barely enough for a light on set.
Other filmmakers also make an appearance, with everybody from Tim Burton to James Cameron discussing how much Harryhausen has influenced their movies. It’s also revealed that the filmmaking community has banded together to ensure Harryhausen’s work doesn’t fade away, and it’s incredibly humbling to see such respect for one of the masters.
For film buffs, this is the ultimate documentary; for casual viewers, this is a chance to learn something about one of the greatest special effects titans ever.
RAY HARRYHAUSEN: SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN arrives in UK cinemas 9th November.
