Veteran director Richard Fleischer follows up his movie "Conan the Destroyer" with this fantasy-adventure also based on the writings of Robert E. Howard. Ultimately, this movie is a trifle compared to the original "Conan the Barbarian", but if the viewer isn't too demanding, it may yield adequate entertainment.
Like "Conan the Destroyer", it's supposedly aimed at a younger demographic, but is actually a little strong for its PG-13 rating, with some gory bits, decapitations, implied rape, and the lesbian overtures made by the villainess towards the heroine.
The movie is basically competently made, with good production design (by Danilo Donati) and stunts, reasonably diverting swordplay, and a decent pace (this only runs 89 minutes long). There's also a fairly effective score by the great Ennio Morricone. However, there's never much of a sense of danger; this story definitely lacks edge.
Said story centres around the title character, played by Brigitte Nielsen in the role that introduced her. She's a warrior whose people were wiped out by an evil queen (Sandahl Bergman, who of course was Valeria in "Conan the Barbarian") and she embarks on a quest to destroy a powerful "talisman" that's fallen into the queens' hands. Her fellow travellers include muscle bound Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger, presumably doing a favour for Fleischer), an insufferable brat of a prince (Ernie Reyes Jr.) and the princes' put-upon, comedy relief guardian Falkon (Paul L. Smith).
The acting ranges from acceptable (also appearing is Ronald Lacey of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" as the queens' creepy flunky) to just incredibly laughable. Nielsen and Bergman are so terrible that their performances are sure to generate some big guffaws from the viewer. Still, they both look great, and that has to count for something. Reyes Jr. certainly does succeed at making his character annoying.
While it manages to remain watchable throughout, this is pretty forgettable once it's over. It's got some amusing moments, but none to give it any real spark.
Five out of 10.
Like "Conan the Destroyer", it's supposedly aimed at a younger demographic, but is actually a little strong for its PG-13 rating, with some gory bits, decapitations, implied rape, and the lesbian overtures made by the villainess towards the heroine.
The movie is basically competently made, with good production design (by Danilo Donati) and stunts, reasonably diverting swordplay, and a decent pace (this only runs 89 minutes long). There's also a fairly effective score by the great Ennio Morricone. However, there's never much of a sense of danger; this story definitely lacks edge.
Said story centres around the title character, played by Brigitte Nielsen in the role that introduced her. She's a warrior whose people were wiped out by an evil queen (Sandahl Bergman, who of course was Valeria in "Conan the Barbarian") and she embarks on a quest to destroy a powerful "talisman" that's fallen into the queens' hands. Her fellow travellers include muscle bound Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger, presumably doing a favour for Fleischer), an insufferable brat of a prince (Ernie Reyes Jr.) and the princes' put-upon, comedy relief guardian Falkon (Paul L. Smith).
The acting ranges from acceptable (also appearing is Ronald Lacey of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" as the queens' creepy flunky) to just incredibly laughable. Nielsen and Bergman are so terrible that their performances are sure to generate some big guffaws from the viewer. Still, they both look great, and that has to count for something. Reyes Jr. certainly does succeed at making his character annoying.
While it manages to remain watchable throughout, this is pretty forgettable once it's over. It's got some amusing moments, but none to give it any real spark.
Five out of 10.