I'm pretty certain that I haven't seen this film all the way through since the late 80's, maybe as long ago as '87, and it was an itch that I had to scratch, so I bought the DVD a month or two ago.
It's the kind of cheapo, but high-spirited knockabout production that doesn't get made anymore, and it works mainly because Albert Pyun knew how to squeeze production value out of a penny back then, and because Lee Horsley is a reasonably charming lead who approaches the role of "Talon" with a greatly appreciated jocosity.
Richard Lynch is Richard Lynch, and he's not able to do much of anything with his villain "Titus Cromwell" other than exude a sort of basic sliminess and arrogance. It's simply not enough to make him interesting, Christ, it's not even enough to make him a legitimate threat to the hero.
Richard Moll as Xusia, the sorcerer. A 6 ft 8 inch tower of walking placenta, and just about as useful. This character could have just as well have not been in the film (as it is, he disappears early on and doesn't show up again until the end) and it wouldn't have made a damn bit of difference. For being the titular sorcerer, it's odd that he proves to be the most extraneous element of the film. His first scene is awesome though, I'll give him that, the wailing blood sarcophagus and the heart-rip and all that is some really cool shit.
The Tri-Blade Projectile Sword. What the fuck? The most awkward and totally impractical featured weapon in the genre's history? Probably.
Kathleen Beller. This is were I get a little dirty. The Sword & Sorcerer was made for teenage boys, it's gory as shit and it's not lacking in the scantily-clad or less-so maidens department. Beller gets into the action a bit, an oil massage, lying flat on her stomach, but anyone that knows what Beller has up top, knows that this is a crime of epic proportions, it's spank bank embezzlement. Shame on you Pyun, if you asked, and she said no, then you didn't ask hard enough.
It's funny that I choose now to revisit this film at the moment that Pyun is in production on the (unofficial) sequel, Tales of an Ancient Empire, the sequel that was promised in the end credits of S&S, but as I said, it looks to have little to nothing in common with the original. The film stars, get this, Kevin Sorbo and Christopher Lambert. From what I understand, Lee Horsley was supposed to involved, but for whatever reason, it appears to have not worked out.
S&S is not a bunch of self-serious pap, it's pulpy and ridiculous without getting caught up in self-parody; the kind of muscular, sub-Robert E. Howard fantasy adventure that I can get behind. It's a cozy viewing experience after 20 odd years.
It's the kind of cheapo, but high-spirited knockabout production that doesn't get made anymore, and it works mainly because Albert Pyun knew how to squeeze production value out of a penny back then, and because Lee Horsley is a reasonably charming lead who approaches the role of "Talon" with a greatly appreciated jocosity.
Richard Lynch is Richard Lynch, and he's not able to do much of anything with his villain "Titus Cromwell" other than exude a sort of basic sliminess and arrogance. It's simply not enough to make him interesting, Christ, it's not even enough to make him a legitimate threat to the hero.
Richard Moll as Xusia, the sorcerer. A 6 ft 8 inch tower of walking placenta, and just about as useful. This character could have just as well have not been in the film (as it is, he disappears early on and doesn't show up again until the end) and it wouldn't have made a damn bit of difference. For being the titular sorcerer, it's odd that he proves to be the most extraneous element of the film. His first scene is awesome though, I'll give him that, the wailing blood sarcophagus and the heart-rip and all that is some really cool shit.
The Tri-Blade Projectile Sword. What the fuck? The most awkward and totally impractical featured weapon in the genre's history? Probably.
Kathleen Beller. This is were I get a little dirty. The Sword & Sorcerer was made for teenage boys, it's gory as shit and it's not lacking in the scantily-clad or less-so maidens department. Beller gets into the action a bit, an oil massage, lying flat on her stomach, but anyone that knows what Beller has up top, knows that this is a crime of epic proportions, it's spank bank embezzlement. Shame on you Pyun, if you asked, and she said no, then you didn't ask hard enough.
It's funny that I choose now to revisit this film at the moment that Pyun is in production on the (unofficial) sequel, Tales of an Ancient Empire, the sequel that was promised in the end credits of S&S, but as I said, it looks to have little to nothing in common with the original. The film stars, get this, Kevin Sorbo and Christopher Lambert. From what I understand, Lee Horsley was supposed to involved, but for whatever reason, it appears to have not worked out.
S&S is not a bunch of self-serious pap, it's pulpy and ridiculous without getting caught up in self-parody; the kind of muscular, sub-Robert E. Howard fantasy adventure that I can get behind. It's a cozy viewing experience after 20 odd years.
