Happy weekend! It's overcast and cool in LA, perfect review-writing weather. Today, it's two sword 'n sandal epics, one top-rank Mario Bava film, and the other a well-remembered Ray Harryhausen show.

Fantoma's Hercules in the Haunted World has been kicking around for a long time in a mangled, terribly-dubbed American retread. This major find premieres the European uncut version, complete with original Italian dialogue. Mario Bava again creates an epic journey out of colored lights and creative direction. With Reg Park and Christopher Lee.

Warner's Clash of the Titans is very handsome disc of a picture that's not a Savant favorite, but can boast animation highlights that allowed Ray Harryhausen to retire in style. Harry Hamlin's pouty Perseus seeks his fortune, with plenty of help from Laurence Olivier's Zeus.

Savant congratulates writer Nathaniel Thompson on his 30th birthday, which was celebrated at a swank little party last night at the Egyptian theater. Nathaniel works for Image Entertainment, and writes for Video Watchdog as well as his own cool site, Mondo Digital. And he also seems to be cooking up some kind of feature film, but I'm not sure exactly what ... Anyhoo, happy 30th, thou young pup. Glenn Erickson