"Clash of the Titans" was a nearly humorless, overly digitized remake of a piece of sword-and-sorcery cheese from the 1980s, an inoffensive big-budget trifle whose biggest sin was a post-production conversion to 3-D.

The "Titans" sequel wasn't converted, so the 3-D is a lot better. And the director of "Battle Los Angeles" and the screenwriters give it a lighter touch, a bit of mythic whimsy amongst all the muddle about gods, demigods, the father of gods and the end of the age of gods.

In a boulder-strewn Greek past of volcanoes, but no trees, Perseus (Sam Worthington, stoic as ever) is living the life of a village fisherman and single dad to Helius (John Bell). The kid is growing up without religion, without his grandpa. That's because Perseus' dad, Zeus (Liam Neeson), is entirely too busy for grandparenting.

He's too busy narrating. And too busy being trapped in the underworld by another son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), and Hades (Ralph Fiennes).

So Perseus must round up a team and go get Zeus, before god of gods Kronos cracks free and gods and men are drowned in a sea of lava.

The rescue squad includes Andromeda, a vision in blond hair and armor played by Rosamund Pike; the disreputable son of Poseidon, Agenor, given a bemused spin by Toby Kebbell; and Hephaestus, blacksmith and armorer to the gods (Bill Nighy, who steals the movie).

We know where this is going, and we know who'll be in the final brawl. But director Jonathan Liebesman and company keep this stripped down (few gods, not too much dialogue) and manage a few surprises and a little fun on the trip. They even trot out Danny Huston as Poseidon, in a beard and get-up that remind us that his dad, John Huston, once played Noah on the big screen.

And unlike its predecessor, this one manages to make the 3-D ride worth the destination.