Although "Arabian Adventure" is not up to some of the classics ("The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", "Jason and the Argonauts", etc.), it does show its audience a pretty good time. Yes, some of the effects and sets do show their age, and were probably done on a limited budget. Also, it doesn't look like our heroes have to overcome very many obstacles or challenges on the way to achieving their mission. As it is, it's mainly for a family audience, and kids are sure to be charmed. Overall, this is fairly harmless with very little violence and absolutely no gore, although rest assured, the guilty do not go unpunished.
Sir Christopher Lee is devilish fun as an evil ruler in the ancient years of the Middle East. He needs to obtain a magical rose in order to solidify the hold of evil on the world, and a young man (Oliver Tobias) who claims to be a Prince is willing to go on the mission. Provided, of course, that he gets to win the hand of the lovely Princess Zuleira (beautiful Emma Samms of future 'Dynasty' fame). Joining Tobias on his journey will be a snivelling toady (Milo O'Shea) and a spunky kid named Majeed (the appealing Puneet Sira, who ultimately walks away with the movie).
Adults will delight in a first-rate cast: Capucine, Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, John Ratzenberger ("Cliff Clavin" plays a despicable heel in this one), Shane Rimmer, Elisabeth Welch, Suzanne Danielle, Art Malik, Milton Reid, John Wyman, etc. Tobias is an amiable, studly good guy, although it must be said that Sira emerges as the true hero of the piece. This is a child with a good heart who often knows the right thing to do and say.
There's a glorious score composed by Ken Thorne, with much of the shooting done at Pinewood Studios in London. The director is Kevin Connor, who in the space of a few years had become an old hand at this type of genre fare. His other credits include "At the Earth's Core", "The Land That Time Forgot", "The People That Time Forgot", and "Warlords of Atlantis". He makes this good, agreeable entertainment, with one original element: the good guys and the bad guys duelling high above the ground while riding magical flying carpets.
Seven out of 10.
Sir Christopher Lee is devilish fun as an evil ruler in the ancient years of the Middle East. He needs to obtain a magical rose in order to solidify the hold of evil on the world, and a young man (Oliver Tobias) who claims to be a Prince is willing to go on the mission. Provided, of course, that he gets to win the hand of the lovely Princess Zuleira (beautiful Emma Samms of future 'Dynasty' fame). Joining Tobias on his journey will be a snivelling toady (Milo O'Shea) and a spunky kid named Majeed (the appealing Puneet Sira, who ultimately walks away with the movie).
Adults will delight in a first-rate cast: Capucine, Peter Cushing, Mickey Rooney, John Ratzenberger ("Cliff Clavin" plays a despicable heel in this one), Shane Rimmer, Elisabeth Welch, Suzanne Danielle, Art Malik, Milton Reid, John Wyman, etc. Tobias is an amiable, studly good guy, although it must be said that Sira emerges as the true hero of the piece. This is a child with a good heart who often knows the right thing to do and say.
There's a glorious score composed by Ken Thorne, with much of the shooting done at Pinewood Studios in London. The director is Kevin Connor, who in the space of a few years had become an old hand at this type of genre fare. His other credits include "At the Earth's Core", "The Land That Time Forgot", "The People That Time Forgot", and "Warlords of Atlantis". He makes this good, agreeable entertainment, with one original element: the good guys and the bad guys duelling high above the ground while riding magical flying carpets.
Seven out of 10.