Documentaries are the perfect genre to give those that deserve more recognition than they get on wider level as well as keeping the history alive. The latest Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan puts the spotlight on the legendary Ray Harryhausen and his amazing career and influence in the film industry, but does it to the icon justice or will it be a stop motion story that is never fully realized?

 

Sadly there are way too many people these days that do not know the works of Ray Harryhausen, but thanks to this film on his life and career that will hopefully change. Before the world of CGI that we live in today this man change film forever bringing some of the most iconic character to life like only he can and influencing so many of today’s filmmakers. Like most documentaries they have a wide variety of people in the industry speak on Harryhausen including Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Guillermo Del Toro, James Cameron, and John Landis as well as numerous videos of the man himself. As the film progresses you are given an insight to how he created these characters and brought the ideas to life on the big screen like no one else. There are some great images and footage from him making these iconic films and the progression in the industry that sadly put him on the backburner, but thankfully his influences will live on through not only the films he made, but this films love letter to his life and career.

 

For anyone that either never heard of him or just doesn’t know the major influence he has made then you need to do yourself a favor and check out this film. This is a great movie for hose sad few that don’t know of the master but also those that love everything he has done and shines a light on a true legend in the film industry.