A Tribute to the work of Ray Harryhausen, his Special Effect on me, public imagination, and the film industry. Plus a review of the 2013 UK release of Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan.

“This is Dynamation!”

MYSTERIOUS”¦

Whenever that spark is reignited, when a distant memory resurfaces, it brings back all the emotions attached and warm sentimentality”¦

Surprisingly, I was walking through town, past our own chain newsagent to see a huge window display of the latest LEGO Minifigures. Big advertising hoarding passes most people by, with people not registering what they are seeing, unlike the near-future mass explosion advertising found in Transmetropolitan or Minority Report. But I digress… being the big kid I am, this advertising had one character front and centre staring back at me and I said “˜I MUST HAVE IT’. An unexplainable feeling that washes over you that words just couldn’t justify”¦

The Minifig in question was a Cyclops.