The film Jason and the Argonauts premiered in 1963, before the great dividing line of 1965 after which movies started to change for the worse. In 1963 movies were often still made the way they were in the 1950’s with characters, action, and setting done in the old-fashioned way. It is a children’s movie at the same time it is a movie for adults. It is educational at the same time it is thrilling and full of action as you watch Jason, the Argo, his crew, and the Princess Medea from Colchis recover the Golden Fleece from the ends of the world and bring it back to Greece. You have the hints of special effects that were later to take over movies starting with Star Wars in 1975, but they are kept in their place and add to the action instead of taking over. The figurehead of the Argo is the Queen of the Gods, Hera. She opens her eyes and talks in a whispery voice to Jason. It is enough to make you think that Greek mythology is real.
There is more to come in part 2 of this movie review tomorrow night. Watching Jason and the Argonauts creates the perfect background for reading Medea’s Escape, the Christmas Kindle Countdown Special offered by Cheops Books LLC this week for only $.99.
