The man with eyebrows that can kill! Not really, but that’s the impression given by the poster illustration. The Baker/Berman producing team gave their Hammer/Terence Fisher imitation a decent production — good color, autopsy-grade gore, female victims in low-cut gowns — but neither Jimmy Sangster’s script nor the flat direction bring it to life. Donald Wolfit is the resurrected mad doctor stealing transfusion blood and committing murders with the help of his deformed servant Victor Maddern but the highlight is the strong performance from favorite scream queen Barbara Shelley. Artus’ fancy special edition Blu is Region A friendly, although the DVD is Pal and all the extras are French-only.
Blood of the Vampire
Blu-ray + DVD
Artus Films
1958 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 87 min. / Le Sang du Vampire / Street Date April 6, 2021 / Available from Amazon.fr / 29.99 €
Starring: Donald Wolfit, Vincent Ball, Barbara Shelley, Victor Maddern, William Devlin, Andrew Faulds, John Le Mesurier, Bryan Coleman,...
Blood of the Vampire
Blu-ray + DVD
Artus Films
1958 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 87 min. / Le Sang du Vampire / Street Date April 6, 2021 / Available from Amazon.fr / 29.99 €
Starring: Donald Wolfit, Vincent Ball, Barbara Shelley, Victor Maddern, William Devlin, Andrew Faulds, John Le Mesurier, Bryan Coleman,...
- 5/25/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It's safe to say that The Ugly Duckling (1959), a decidedly weak Hammer films comedy, would have been utterly forgotten, except that it was rumored to be lost for decades. This always seemed both weird and unlikely for a film from the latter half of the twentieth century, and one that had been released by Columbia in the U.K. and U.S., but the film was a flop and was certainly unavailable after its initial release, which granted it a certain mystique.Though a Hammer film, directed by Lance Comfort (who would also make the more earnest horror flick Devils of Darkness), and though based on "ideas stolen from Robert Louis Stevenson"—specifically The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—this is a broad, childish comedy, without many actual laughs, but it does have historical interest, and illuminates certain tendencies of Hammer and British films and society.Hulking...
- 10/24/2018
- MUBI
Ryan Lambie Mar 3, 2019
Fearsome monsters, grasping hands, and a suggestive tree. Here are 10 fantasy movie moments that scarred us as kids...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Sooner or later, you're going to see a scary movie. Whether you sneak down and watch a horror film on late night television, watch a Nightmare on Elm Street sequel at a friend's house or watch clips of slasher movies on YouTube, horror movies are always out there, waiting in the wings for the young and curious. But long before most of us graduate to the stage in our lives where we start seeking out R-rated movies of gore and terror, we reliably encounter scary moments in what might initially seem to be harmless family adventure films.
The 1980s was an unusually fertile period for dark fantasies where the seeming lightness of their subject matter--dragons, unicorns and other mythical beasts--was joined by odd jabs of darkness,...
Fearsome monsters, grasping hands, and a suggestive tree. Here are 10 fantasy movie moments that scarred us as kids...
This article comes from Den of Geek UK.
Sooner or later, you're going to see a scary movie. Whether you sneak down and watch a horror film on late night television, watch a Nightmare on Elm Street sequel at a friend's house or watch clips of slasher movies on YouTube, horror movies are always out there, waiting in the wings for the young and curious. But long before most of us graduate to the stage in our lives where we start seeking out R-rated movies of gore and terror, we reliably encounter scary moments in what might initially seem to be harmless family adventure films.
The 1980s was an unusually fertile period for dark fantasies where the seeming lightness of their subject matter--dragons, unicorns and other mythical beasts--was joined by odd jabs of darkness,...
- 3/22/2017
- Den of Geek
Ryan Lambie Mar 22, 2017
Fearsome monsters, grasping hands, and a suggestive tree. Here are 10 fantasy movie moments that scarred us as kids...
Sooner or later, you're going to see a scary movie. Whether you sneak down and watch a horror film on late night television, watch a Nightmare On Elm Street sequel round a friend's house or watch clips of slasher movies on YouTube, horror movies are always out there, waiting in the wings for the young and curious.
See related The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 1 review The Last Kingdom series 2: politics, battles and arselings What can we expect from new BBC drama, The Last Kingdom?
But long before most of us graduate to the stage of our lives where we start seeking out 18-rated movies of gore and terror, we reliably encounter scary moments in what might initially seem to be harmless family adventure films.
The 1980s was an...
Fearsome monsters, grasping hands, and a suggestive tree. Here are 10 fantasy movie moments that scarred us as kids...
Sooner or later, you're going to see a scary movie. Whether you sneak down and watch a horror film on late night television, watch a Nightmare On Elm Street sequel round a friend's house or watch clips of slasher movies on YouTube, horror movies are always out there, waiting in the wings for the young and curious.
See related The Last Kingdom series 2 episode 1 review The Last Kingdom series 2: politics, battles and arselings What can we expect from new BBC drama, The Last Kingdom?
But long before most of us graduate to the stage of our lives where we start seeking out 18-rated movies of gore and terror, we reliably encounter scary moments in what might initially seem to be harmless family adventure films.
The 1980s was an...
- 3/21/2017
- Den of Geek
Seven decades after independence, Indian cinema is still struggling to depict the Raj, leaving its screen depictions – from Gandhi to colonial racism – to be viewed almost solely through British eyes
In 1968, 20 years after Indian independence and partition, producer-director duo Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas released Carry On Up the Khyber in British cinemas. It was a raunchy, imperialistic romp, set against the backdrop of the Raj – the British colonial rule in India that lasted till 1947.
Looking back, the Carry On humour hasn’t dated well. Not only is the sexist slap-and-tickle at odds with modern sensibilities but the film is awash with casual racism. Bernard Bresslaw and Kenneth Williams “brown-up” to play the not-so-hilariously named Bungdit Din and the Khasi of Khalabar, while Sidney James yak-yak-yaks away with his lustful eyes fixed on buxom Brits dressed in saris.
Continue reading...
In 1968, 20 years after Indian independence and partition, producer-director duo Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas released Carry On Up the Khyber in British cinemas. It was a raunchy, imperialistic romp, set against the backdrop of the Raj – the British colonial rule in India that lasted till 1947.
Looking back, the Carry On humour hasn’t dated well. Not only is the sexist slap-and-tickle at odds with modern sensibilities but the film is awash with casual racism. Bernard Bresslaw and Kenneth Williams “brown-up” to play the not-so-hilariously named Bungdit Din and the Khasi of Khalabar, while Sidney James yak-yak-yaks away with his lustful eyes fixed on buxom Brits dressed in saris.
Continue reading...
- 2/22/2017
- by Joseph Walsh
- The Guardian - Film News
Brian Helgeland’s movie about the lives of Ronnie and Reggie Kray portrays the East End gangsters at their most feared
Nothing would have made Ronnie and Reggie Kray happier than to have been the subject of a film with the majestic title of Legend. Over the many years they spent behind bars since being jailed for life in 1969, they often pondered who they would like to play their parts when the inevitable movie was made. Richard Burton, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins were just some of the many names that they helpfully came up with for any potential casting director.
Less respectful bank robbers of the era suggested the wonderful comic actor Bernard Bresslaw would have made a great Ronnie, but if the twins are looking down from the great maximum security wing in the sky, they would surely be deeply gratified that they – both of ’em...
Nothing would have made Ronnie and Reggie Kray happier than to have been the subject of a film with the majestic title of Legend. Over the many years they spent behind bars since being jailed for life in 1969, they often pondered who they would like to play their parts when the inevitable movie was made. Richard Burton, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins were just some of the many names that they helpfully came up with for any potential casting director.
Less respectful bank robbers of the era suggested the wonderful comic actor Bernard Bresslaw would have made a great Ronnie, but if the twins are looking down from the great maximum security wing in the sky, they would surely be deeply gratified that they – both of ’em...
- 9/4/2015
- by Duncan Campbell
- The Guardian - Film News
Clearly it's a week for unexpected and belated sequels. A day after the news that Robin Hardy is prepping the final part of his Wicker Man trilogy, comes the revelation that Hawk The Slayer is also set to return, 35 years after his first adventure. Original director Terry Marcel, in cahoots with 2000Ad publishers Rebellion, is about to launch a crowdfunding campaign for Hawk The Hunter.Much beloved of VHS-era schoolboys, the 1980 Hawk starred John Terry (the guy from Lost, not the footballer) as the titular adventurer, with Jack Palance as his scenery-chewing evil older brother Voltan. Casting support came from Brit stalwarts like Bernard Bresslaw and Roy Kinnear. Voltan kills his father and kidnaps a nun. Hawk mounts a rescue mission with a sorceress, a dwarf, an elf, a giant with a big mallet, and the ancient power of the Sword Of Mind.The details of Hawk The Hunter are sketchy at present,...
- 7/2/2015
- EmpireOnline
BBC
Doctor Who has a fine tradition of casting excellent guest stars right from the start. The black and white years were graced by high calibre thespians such as Julian Glover in The Crusade and well known actors such as Peter Butterworth as the Meddling Monk and Bernard Bresslaw as Varga the Ice Warrior. The colour years were also graced by some classy guest artists. Who could forget Philip Madoc’s Solon in The Brain of Morbius or Tony Bentley’s sublime Harrison Chase in The Seeds of Doom? Even when the show was regarded to be on its last legs, it could boast talent such as Ian Hogg, Honor Blackman, Pamela Salem and Sheila Hancock.
Since its revival, NuWho has managed to garner an even more impressive roster of talent. From Derek Jacobi’s one off Master, Hugh Bonneville’s pirate captain, Dougray Scott’s professor and Sarah Parish’s unforgettable Racnoss Queen,...
Doctor Who has a fine tradition of casting excellent guest stars right from the start. The black and white years were graced by high calibre thespians such as Julian Glover in The Crusade and well known actors such as Peter Butterworth as the Meddling Monk and Bernard Bresslaw as Varga the Ice Warrior. The colour years were also graced by some classy guest artists. Who could forget Philip Madoc’s Solon in The Brain of Morbius or Tony Bentley’s sublime Harrison Chase in The Seeds of Doom? Even when the show was regarded to be on its last legs, it could boast talent such as Ian Hogg, Honor Blackman, Pamela Salem and Sheila Hancock.
Since its revival, NuWho has managed to garner an even more impressive roster of talent. From Derek Jacobi’s one off Master, Hugh Bonneville’s pirate captain, Dougray Scott’s professor and Sarah Parish’s unforgettable Racnoss Queen,...
- 1/26/2015
- by Terry Warner
- Obsessed with Film
Feature Alex Westthorp 28 Mar 2014 - 07:00
In a new series, Alex talks us through the film roles of the actors who've played the Doctor. First up, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee...
We know them best as the twelve very different incarnations of the Doctor. But all the actors who've been the star of Doctor Who, being such good all-rounders in the first place, have also had film careers. Admittedly, some CVs are more impressive than others, but this retrospective attempts to pick out some of the many worthwhile films which have starred, featured or seen a fleeting cameo by the actors who would become (or had been) the Doctor.
William Hartnell was, above all else, a film star. He is by far the most prolific film actor of the main twelve to play the Time Lord. With over 70 films to his name, summarising Hartnell's film career is difficult at best.
In a new series, Alex talks us through the film roles of the actors who've played the Doctor. First up, William Hartnell and Jon Pertwee...
We know them best as the twelve very different incarnations of the Doctor. But all the actors who've been the star of Doctor Who, being such good all-rounders in the first place, have also had film careers. Admittedly, some CVs are more impressive than others, but this retrospective attempts to pick out some of the many worthwhile films which have starred, featured or seen a fleeting cameo by the actors who would become (or had been) the Doctor.
William Hartnell was, above all else, a film star. He is by far the most prolific film actor of the main twelve to play the Time Lord. With over 70 films to his name, summarising Hartnell's film career is difficult at best.
- 3/26/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
The Prop Gallery
It is no secret that in Doctor Who’s formative years, the production teams at the time didn’t envision the series to last 50 years.
Whilst it is well documented that the treatment of episode tapes after transmission was less than favourable, some of the props have become relics with a history of their own. Even by the nature of modern television production, props and costumes aren’t built to last and have a very short working life. However some things like a model Yeti, sold not long ago at auction, as featured in the recently discovered ‘The Web of Fear’ have got lucky.
Here is a brief run down of some props and costumes that are fortunately still with us.
10. Ice Warrior Costume
Details are sketchy on the Ice Warrior costumes as they were used in the late 60′s and early 70′s, the last screen use...
It is no secret that in Doctor Who’s formative years, the production teams at the time didn’t envision the series to last 50 years.
Whilst it is well documented that the treatment of episode tapes after transmission was less than favourable, some of the props have become relics with a history of their own. Even by the nature of modern television production, props and costumes aren’t built to last and have a very short working life. However some things like a model Yeti, sold not long ago at auction, as featured in the recently discovered ‘The Web of Fear’ have got lucky.
Here is a brief run down of some props and costumes that are fortunately still with us.
10. Ice Warrior Costume
Details are sketchy on the Ice Warrior costumes as they were used in the late 60′s and early 70′s, the last screen use...
- 3/11/2014
- by Jonathon Carley
- Obsessed with Film
A fantasy realm. Feuding brothers. Odd-looking elves. A guy with a giant hammer. I've been waiting to feature Hawk The Slayer and with Thor: The Dark World out this week, the time is right. Hawk the Slayer (1980) Director: Terry Marcel Stars: John Terry, Jack Palance, Bernard Bresslaw After his evil older brother Voltan kills their father and kidnaps a nun, Christian Shephard gathers his tallest, shortest and most effeminate friends to help stop him. I'm a sucker...
- 11/6/2013
- by Jason Adams
- JoBlo.com
Some of the latest releases from the BBC in their classic Doctor Who episodes are well timed, as they feature characters which made a reappearance this season. The Ice Warriors is a Troughton episode which feature the classic monster that made its return in Mark Gatiss‘ Cold War.
The Ice Warriors is one of the early adventures with missing episodes, specifically episodes two and three. In addition to the usual stellar job of restoring the existing episodes, the missing parts are here recreated with animated footage, tied to existing soundtracks. The restoration team provides alternative style commentary tracks for the animated episodes, presenting archival interviews with Bernard Bresslaw and writer Brian Hayles, and readings of transcribed interviews with other cast and crewmembers.
Extras include new two new mini-documentaries on both the making of the original adventure, and the new animated adventures. Commentary tracks are featured on the full episodes with with the cast and crew.
The Ice Warriors is one of the early adventures with missing episodes, specifically episodes two and three. In addition to the usual stellar job of restoring the existing episodes, the missing parts are here recreated with animated footage, tied to existing soundtracks. The restoration team provides alternative style commentary tracks for the animated episodes, presenting archival interviews with Bernard Bresslaw and writer Brian Hayles, and readings of transcribed interviews with other cast and crewmembers.
Extras include new two new mini-documentaries on both the making of the original adventure, and the new animated adventures. Commentary tracks are featured on the full episodes with with the cast and crew.
- 10/18/2013
- by Vinnie Bartilucci
- Comicmix.com
By Gary Young
Doctor Who - The Ice Warriors (Rrp £20.42, released August 26, 2013)
With the Doctor Who publicity juggernaut grinding remorselessly towards the 50th anniversary celebrations, the programme's past is being highlighted like never before.
The latest classic story to be dusted off and lovingly restored is the Patrick Troughton epic The Ice Warriors.
With two episodes missing from the BBC archives, previous releases have always been unsatisfying - but the sterling work of the Doctor Who restoration team in animating the missing segments to the surrounding soundtrack result in an effect similar to replacing a missing tooth in a much-loved smile.
Patrick Troughton has always been the Doctor's Doctor - all subsequent actors who have taken on the role seem to fall over themselves to praise his performance.
Following the irascible anti-hero first Doctor William Hartnell, Troughton set the template of the kindly, gentle but morally-driven Time Lord - and...
Doctor Who - The Ice Warriors (Rrp £20.42, released August 26, 2013)
With the Doctor Who publicity juggernaut grinding remorselessly towards the 50th anniversary celebrations, the programme's past is being highlighted like never before.
The latest classic story to be dusted off and lovingly restored is the Patrick Troughton epic The Ice Warriors.
With two episodes missing from the BBC archives, previous releases have always been unsatisfying - but the sterling work of the Doctor Who restoration team in animating the missing segments to the surrounding soundtrack result in an effect similar to replacing a missing tooth in a much-loved smile.
Patrick Troughton has always been the Doctor's Doctor - all subsequent actors who have taken on the role seem to fall over themselves to praise his performance.
Following the irascible anti-hero first Doctor William Hartnell, Troughton set the template of the kindly, gentle but morally-driven Time Lord - and...
- 8/25/2013
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Feature Ryan Lambie 7 Jun 2013 - 06:10
Superheroes! Books! Games! A giant head! Here's another batch of worthy, geek-friendly crowdfunding projects for your perusal...
We're now into our second month of these weekly crowdfunding posts, and trundling around the internet has become a really fun weekly ritual. From compelling new ideas to bizarre, 'what were they thinking?' schemes, each trawl through the web's crowdfunding sites turns up a fresh surprise at every turn.
Although some of the things we've stumbled on our downright cheeky - unless we read it incorrectly, one person appeared to have set up a project to fund their overseas holiday - many are perfectly worthy. This makes the task of choosing just three or four projects each week extremely tricky - particularly as we always try to pick lots of varied things, rather than focusing exclusively on, say, movies or games or books.
To this end,...
Superheroes! Books! Games! A giant head! Here's another batch of worthy, geek-friendly crowdfunding projects for your perusal...
We're now into our second month of these weekly crowdfunding posts, and trundling around the internet has become a really fun weekly ritual. From compelling new ideas to bizarre, 'what were they thinking?' schemes, each trawl through the web's crowdfunding sites turns up a fresh surprise at every turn.
Although some of the things we've stumbled on our downright cheeky - unless we read it incorrectly, one person appeared to have set up a project to fund their overseas holiday - many are perfectly worthy. This makes the task of choosing just three or four projects each week extremely tricky - particularly as we always try to pick lots of varied things, rather than focusing exclusively on, say, movies or games or books.
To this end,...
- 6/5/2013
- by ryanlambie
- Den of Geek
You’d think we’d have learned as a people – if you find a large humanoid form frozen in the ice, don’t thaw it out. And really don’t thaw it out if you’re cut off from humanity, like in an arctic research base, or as in this episode, a sinking Soviet Russian submarine. With The Doctor being mistaken for a spy, and an ancient Martian conqueror trying to blow up the world, things were set for an unpleasant interpretation of the term…
Cold War
by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
A Russian submarine unearths an Ice Warrior, frozen in the permafrost of the North Pole. The Doctor arrives (aiming for Las Vegas) and attempts to broker a peace between the already very skittish Russian crew and a warrior who presumes that his people are dead, and that he has nothing to lose.
Gatiss pulls off a...
Cold War
by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
A Russian submarine unearths an Ice Warrior, frozen in the permafrost of the North Pole. The Doctor arrives (aiming for Las Vegas) and attempts to broker a peace between the already very skittish Russian crew and a warrior who presumes that his people are dead, and that he has nothing to lose.
Gatiss pulls off a...
- 4/14/2013
- by Vinnie Bartilucci
- Comicmix.com
James Bond's latest foe is played by Javier Bardem with dyed blond hair. But there is surely method in this casting madness
When it was revealed last year that the next James Bond film would be called Skyfall, there was a collective sigh of relief from cinemagoers concerned, in the wake of the whole Quantum of Solace debacle, that Bond titles were now being chosen by a blindfolded invigilator picking nouns from a hat. No sooner had that matter been cleared up than other pressing questions emerged. Were we to see at last the return of old hands like Q and Miss Moneypenny, rumoured to be working in call centres since the new-broom policy of the Daniel Craig era? And would there really be a subplot in which the Queen parachuted into an unloved corner of east London to do battle with the Arctic Monkeys?
Clearly wires got crossed, and...
When it was revealed last year that the next James Bond film would be called Skyfall, there was a collective sigh of relief from cinemagoers concerned, in the wake of the whole Quantum of Solace debacle, that Bond titles were now being chosen by a blindfolded invigilator picking nouns from a hat. No sooner had that matter been cleared up than other pressing questions emerged. Were we to see at last the return of old hands like Q and Miss Moneypenny, rumoured to be working in call centres since the new-broom policy of the Daniel Craig era? And would there really be a subplot in which the Queen parachuted into an unloved corner of east London to do battle with the Arctic Monkeys?
Clearly wires got crossed, and...
- 8/1/2012
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
Democracy is a flawed concept. Here are 50 films that the IMDb voters would unfairly have you believe are worth no more than 5.9/10…
Six out of ten isn’t a very good score, really. It’s barely over half marks. 60 per cent. It’s alright, but it’s not great. You wouldn’t be proud of getting six out of ten on most kinds of tests, would you? So you might assume that any film that scores under six stars out of ten on the IMDb isn’t very good – possibly even terrible.
But that’s not always the case. Averages don’t tell the whole story; anything that’s potentially controversial or divisive will end up with a score that suggests most people weren’t that bothered about it, since high and low scores will be averaged – and IMDb users often exaggerate their scores anyway, giving a film one star...
Six out of ten isn’t a very good score, really. It’s barely over half marks. 60 per cent. It’s alright, but it’s not great. You wouldn’t be proud of getting six out of ten on most kinds of tests, would you? So you might assume that any film that scores under six stars out of ten on the IMDb isn’t very good – possibly even terrible.
But that’s not always the case. Averages don’t tell the whole story; anything that’s potentially controversial or divisive will end up with a score that suggests most people weren’t that bothered about it, since high and low scores will be averaged – and IMDb users often exaggerate their scores anyway, giving a film one star...
- 2/23/2012
- Den of Geek
Terry Gilliam turned his surreal talents to directing in his debut solo feature, Jabberwocky. Andrew takes a look back at a flawed yet entertaining black comedy…
Firstly, before you read further, I just want to mention this: if you have any plans of seeing Jabberwocky but have not seen it before, then stop reading this immediately. I know it goes without saying that these articles contain spoilers, but this film is one where there's a significant chance of you not having seen it before. It's not Spider-Man 3, which a great many people have seen it (whether they like it or not).
Jabberwocky is a film which is all the more impressive if you go into it without being spoilered, and it may lose its inability to surprise if you read the rest of this article. However, if you want a cross between Monty Python And The Holy Grail and Brazil,...
Firstly, before you read further, I just want to mention this: if you have any plans of seeing Jabberwocky but have not seen it before, then stop reading this immediately. I know it goes without saying that these articles contain spoilers, but this film is one where there's a significant chance of you not having seen it before. It's not Spider-Man 3, which a great many people have seen it (whether they like it or not).
Jabberwocky is a film which is all the more impressive if you go into it without being spoilered, and it may lose its inability to surprise if you read the rest of this article. However, if you want a cross between Monty Python And The Holy Grail and Brazil,...
- 11/17/2011
- Den of Geek
The alteration of a film’s aspect ratio for its TV presentation is a common yet infuriating occurrence. Nick explains just how much it affects the movies we watch…
British television despises films, it seems. Every day, UK channels alter the very shape of the movies we watch, otherwise known as their aspect ratio.
Old films that are almost square will often have the top and bottom cut off to fit the shape of modern 16:9 screens – The Ladykillers, screened this month, is but one example. Big films shot in Panavision (Master And Commander, for example) will frequently have the left and right hand portions of the image cropped for the same purpose.
Editing the original shape of a film was just about forgivable in the days of 4:3 televisions. With big, high definition, modern screens, it’s contemptible. It changes the director and cinematographer’s original vision, and results...
British television despises films, it seems. Every day, UK channels alter the very shape of the movies we watch, otherwise known as their aspect ratio.
Old films that are almost square will often have the top and bottom cut off to fit the shape of modern 16:9 screens – The Ladykillers, screened this month, is but one example. Big films shot in Panavision (Master And Commander, for example) will frequently have the left and right hand portions of the image cropped for the same purpose.
Editing the original shape of a film was just about forgivable in the days of 4:3 televisions. With big, high definition, modern screens, it’s contemptible. It changes the director and cinematographer’s original vision, and results...
- 8/24/2011
- Den of Geek
As part of our Enchanted 80s week, we look back at the action family epic, Krull…
How can you remain objective about a film you enjoyed so much as a youngster? The answer, of course, is that you can't. And it's true that, when viewed in 2011, the influences of 80s fantasy film, Krull, are more apparent than ever. It borrows freely from Greek and Arthurian myths, Tolkien, and most noticeably, a certain sci-fi blockbuster directed by George Lucas.
And yet, at the same time, it's impossible for me to view Krull without a sense of genuine affection. This is made easier by the fact that, while it's showing its age in places, Krull is a well-made film, and an entire galaxy away from other cheap, quickly made knock-offs that showed up in the wake of Star Wars. This is probably thanks in large part to the experience of Peter Yates,...
How can you remain objective about a film you enjoyed so much as a youngster? The answer, of course, is that you can't. And it's true that, when viewed in 2011, the influences of 80s fantasy film, Krull, are more apparent than ever. It borrows freely from Greek and Arthurian myths, Tolkien, and most noticeably, a certain sci-fi blockbuster directed by George Lucas.
And yet, at the same time, it's impossible for me to view Krull without a sense of genuine affection. This is made easier by the fact that, while it's showing its age in places, Krull is a well-made film, and an entire galaxy away from other cheap, quickly made knock-offs that showed up in the wake of Star Wars. This is probably thanks in large part to the experience of Peter Yates,...
- 6/28/2011
- Den of Geek
With today marking the second anniversary of the passing of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax (he even sounds like some kind of hard as nails dwarf with an axe, doesn’t he?), JustPressPlay takes this moment to look back at a couple of the… less traditionally good examples of the sword-and-sorcery genre. In tribute to Gary we proudly dissect a pair of so-bad-they’re-brilliant fantasy films, that might not be were it not for the dreams two guys, a basement, and a small sack of ridiculously large dice.
• • •
Hawk The Slayer (1980)
Overtly Melodramatic Synopsis:
“Darkness stalks the land”—and apparently so does cheap Germanic font text for exposition, as we find Hawk, a fabled warrior with all the square jawed enthusiasm of a math teacher herded into the school play, gathering a band of warriors to rescue the local Abbes from the clutches of his evil brother, Lord Voltan!
Oh Yeah,...
• • •
Hawk The Slayer (1980)
Overtly Melodramatic Synopsis:
“Darkness stalks the land”—and apparently so does cheap Germanic font text for exposition, as we find Hawk, a fabled warrior with all the square jawed enthusiasm of a math teacher herded into the school play, gathering a band of warriors to rescue the local Abbes from the clutches of his evil brother, Lord Voltan!
Oh Yeah,...
- 3/4/2010
- by Neil Pedley
- JustPressPlay.net
With today marking the second anniversary of the passing of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax (he even sounds like some kind of hard as nails dwarf with an axe, doesn’t he?), JustPressPlay takes this moment to look back at a couple of the… less traditionally good examples of the sword-and-sorcery genre. In tribute to Gary we proudly dissect a pair of so-bad-they’re-brilliant fantasy films, that might not be were it not for the dreams two guys, a basement, and a small sack of ridiculously large dice.
• • •
Hawk The Slayer (1980)
Overtly Melodramatic Synopsis:
“Darkness stalks the land”—and apparently so does cheap Germanic font text for exposition, as we find Hawk, a fabled warrior with all the square jawed enthusiasm of a math teacher herded into the school play, gathering a band of warriors to rescue the local Abbes from the clutches of his evil brother, Lord Voltan!
Oh Yeah,...
• • •
Hawk The Slayer (1980)
Overtly Melodramatic Synopsis:
“Darkness stalks the land”—and apparently so does cheap Germanic font text for exposition, as we find Hawk, a fabled warrior with all the square jawed enthusiasm of a math teacher herded into the school play, gathering a band of warriors to rescue the local Abbes from the clutches of his evil brother, Lord Voltan!
Oh Yeah,...
- 3/4/2010
- by Neil Pedley
- JustPressPlay.net
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