sham
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 385
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Post by sham on Apr 24, 2008 15:36:25 GMT -6
I just finshed watching the Conan the Barbrian DVD (for about the sixth time). I still heartily enjoy that old 1981 flick.
Not so much the sequel, but the Destroyer isn't bad as far as the S&S movie genre goes.
I looked back into my DVDs and pulled out a few newer movies I'm going to watch again in the near future, and I was thinking I should find out which pulpy/S&S movies you guys might recommend.
Is there truly much in the way of S&S out there? I don't mean stuff like Beastmaster, but well produced flicks?
Maybe we can get a list of S&S movies going. I feel like I'm missing a lot of potentially good flicks out there.
Pathfinder, Beowulf and The 300 were recent movies I enjoyed.
So here's a list starter:
Conan the Barbarian Conan the Destroyer Pathfinder Beowulf The 300
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busman
Level 6 Magician
Playing OD&D, once again. Since 2008!
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Post by busman on Apr 24, 2008 16:07:48 GMT -6
Don't forget:
The Sword and The Sorcerer Krull Hawk the Slayer
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Thorulfr
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 264
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Post by Thorulfr on Apr 24, 2008 16:49:53 GMT -6
Beastmaster Deathstalker (probably one of the worst - it had some pretty amusing moments when it was playing for laughs, but when it tried to get serious it fell so flat it was just painful. The fight scene in the end was probably the Worst. Editing. Ever. I was appalled to see in a video store that they made at least THREE SEQUELS! WHY? ) Red Sonja (another Dino deLaurentis movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sandahl Bergman...not nearly as good as the two Conan movies...yes, even Conan the Destroyer...) And I even had the misfortune of seeing Wizards and Warriors, complete with the rubber-suit Yeti-monster and that laughably atrocious chickenwire-and-sprayfoam "castle" (I kid you not...) I kept thinking that it would have been a very commendable student film, but as a studio film? What were they thinking?
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Post by doc on Apr 24, 2008 17:21:47 GMT -6
QUALITY S&S films? That's a hard one. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Scorpion King.
FUN S&S films? That's a bit different. There were tons of cheesy fantasy films released throughout the 80's into the early 90's, mostly shot in Italy for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been anywhere else. Some of the ones that stick out the most are:
HAWK THE SLAYER: The great-granddaddy of S&S foolishness. Played seriously, but with all the standard D&D cliches: the maniacal warlord, the mysterious elf, the grizzled mercenary, the dwarf troublemaker, etc. This is what I thought that D&D was all about before I actually got to play D&D. A must-watch!
DEATHSTALKER: Howlingly bad Italian series about a wandering swordsman who battles evil wizards. Three actors portray Deathstalker in the four films. Lots of gratuitous female nudity. The best thing about the Deathstalker films is that the first one featured an honest-to-gosh D&D orc! If you only see one of the films, though, see the second one. Unlike the others, the second film was intentionally played entirely for laughs.
BEASTMASTER: A surprisingly good fantasy film that has inspired many game scenarios over the years. Be warned; Beastmaster had two sequels that were very bad (Wings Hauser played the villain in one of them).
THE WARRIOR AND THE SORCERESS: David Carradine stars as a warrior priest in a film that is a scene-for-scene fantasy version of Fistful of Dollars. The four-breasted dancer is a hoot.
SORCERESS: A truly fun film with atrocious acting and special effects. It involves twin girls who were raised to believe that they were boys, despite the fact they are obviously gorgeous, a viking, a satyr, and some sort of plot that involves black magic (I think; the plot took a backseat to the girls' beauty and the shennanigans of the viking and satyr).
THE BARBARIANS: Twin gypsy boys are captured and raised as pit fighters in this intentionally hilarious sendup of 80's fantasy. Seriously, I laugh every time I see this one.
FIRE AND ICE: Rotoscope animation by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta(!!) Standard sword & sorcery stuff with all the cliches that you would expect, but very well done and a lot of fun. If you are looking for some pulp-fantasy inspiration, this is one you'll want to see.
Well, that's a start. Obviously anything with the late, great Lana Clarkson is also a lot of fun (Barbarian Queen, etc). I'd check Amazon under 80's fantasy films to see what else pops up.
Hope this helps.
Doc
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Thorulfr
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
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Post by Thorulfr on Apr 24, 2008 17:29:15 GMT -6
FIRE AND ICE: Rotoscope animation by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta(!!) Standard sword & sorcery stuff with all the cliches that you would expect, but very well done and a lot of fun. If you are looking for some pulp-fantasy inspiration, this is one you'll want to see. Ohhh, how could I forget that one? It was one of the only two movies I have ever seen and promptly sat through the next showing, too (Blade Runner was the other) One could make an argument for including WIZARDS in the list, too.
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brianm
Level 1 Medium
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Post by brianm on Apr 24, 2008 22:39:38 GMT -6
I'll argue that Beastmaster deserves more respect than it usually gets. Yes, the special effects are painful, but the story is far more complex and interesting than you usually get out of a movie, with a pleasant leavening of mythic tropes. No, it's not great cinema, but it is good storytelling.
Don't forget Harryhausen! "Clash of the Titans", the Sinbad flicks, all of those deserve a place of honor in any Sword & Sandals movie collection.
I'd also suggest "The Scorpion King". It's got class-A special effects, a fun action-adventure script, a scantily-clad Kelly Hu (if you're into that sort of thing) and a scantily-clad Michael Clarke Duncan (if you're instead into that sort of thing), and the Rock's wonderfully expressive face. The cast also includes a woefully underused Bernard "Theoden" Hill. Again, maybe not the best movie ever made, but jeez, I'd watch this one a hundred times before inflicting the first Deathstalker on myself again.
If you don't mind your Sword & Sandals animated and packaged for kids, you might also enjoy "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas". Again, the story is better than you'd expect, the animation is good, especially on the parade of Harryhausen-esque monsters our heroes face, and you get some great voice-acting from Brad Pitt and Dennis Haysbert. The all get overshadowed, however, by Michelle Pfeiffer as Eris, the goddess of chaos. She alone is worth the price of a rent.
- Brian
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Post by badger2305 on Apr 24, 2008 23:14:21 GMT -6
From a much earlier age, there's also The Thief of Bagdad (don't forget Sabu the Indian Boy!), as well as the much earlier silent version with Douglas Fairbanks.
And what about The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire? I know I'm on a roll when I remembered this flick. I liked the bow, but the rest of it didn't stick in my memory.
The Deathstalker series were cheesy badness, but I liked them anyway.
And Beastmaster remains my favorite of all of these. Apparently animal handling was difficult - the dyed-black lion was grumpy, and the eagle kept wanting to eat the ferrets (I may have this backwards, but...).
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Stonegiant
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
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Post by Stonegiant on Apr 25, 2008 0:31:30 GMT -6
The Viking Sagas: Directed and Written by Michael Chapman, it was filmed all in Iceland with Icelandic and Norwegian actors and actresses. The scenery is outstanding.
Dragonslayer Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger Sinbad and the Golden Voyage
I might also go so far as to include Jason and the Argonauts & Clash of the Titans
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Post by jdrakeh on Apr 25, 2008 1:04:38 GMT -6
You know, there's a movie that I can't for the life of me remember the title of. . . it's very prehistoric in feel, with two sons of a clan fighting for leadership, the discovery of metal weapons, and the triumph of guile over force. The main protagonist looks a bit 'hair metally' (i.e., he has no shirt, big muscles, and. . . erm. . . metal band hair). It's not half bad, though. . . I can't at all recall the name of it
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Post by vladtolenkov on Apr 25, 2008 1:27:51 GMT -6
Is that Yor the Hunter from the Future? Its a caveman/S&S type film up until a certain point it becomes Star Wars and they get into laser battles. It is also VERY BAAAD!
I second the Harryhausen films--Jason and the Argonauts rocks!
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Post by jdrakeh on Apr 25, 2008 2:03:47 GMT -6
Is that Yor the Hunter from the Future? Its a caveman/S&S type film up until a certain point it becomes Star Wars and they get into laser battles. It is also VERY BAAAD! No, after some reasearch, I think it was a dubbed version of Umberto Lenzi's Ironmaster with a different title.
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Post by raithe on Apr 25, 2008 5:52:53 GMT -6
Ladyhawke & Kull the Conquerer. Kull is bad (esp if you're a Howard fan like me) but I've seen worse, like Conan the destroyer. Big mistake there was letting Arnold speak too much. Of course Sci-Fi does the occasional S&S flick could probably find them in some movie stores.
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sham
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 385
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Post by sham on Apr 25, 2008 6:13:35 GMT -6
How could I forget the Harryhausen flicks!?! Obviously, I should give Beastmaster another try, as well.
Great list so far, keep 'em coming!
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brianm
Level 1 Medium
Posts: 17
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Post by brianm on Apr 25, 2008 7:18:58 GMT -6
I can't believe I forgot Dragonslayer, though an S&S purist might dismiss it as too High Fantasy. And it appears that someone is finally making the long promised sequel to "Sword and the Sorcerer". See here and here. - Brian
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Post by makofan on Apr 25, 2008 7:33:35 GMT -6
The first season of the anime Slayers is pure hilarious D&D
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Thorulfr
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 264
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Post by Thorulfr on Apr 25, 2008 7:52:20 GMT -6
Well, if we are going to get into Anime, then you have to include Record of the Lodoss Wars, which started out as the author's D&D campaign.
I wish I wish I wish I could get a hold of a copy of the Icelandic movie "I Skugga Hrafsins", which was released briefly in the US as "Shadow of the Raven." It was by Hrafn Gunnlaugsson and was a retelling of the Tristan and Isolde, set as an Icelandic saga in the 11th century. Visually stunning movie (in fact, within a year of seeing it at an art house in L.A., I was living in Iceland!) The director did several other period movies, including "Hrafsins Flugr" (The Raven's Flight), and "Hvítur Víkingur" (The White Viking). I just wish they were available here in the States.
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Post by murquhart72 on Apr 25, 2008 19:48:38 GMT -6
QUALITY S&S films? That's a hard one. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Scorpion King. FUN S&S films? That's a bit different. There were tons of cheesy fantasy films released throughout the 80's into the early 90's, mostly shot in Italy for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been anywhere else. Some of the ones that stick out the most are... Doc Best post in thread! Do not take this man's words lightly. I agree with everything here. I personally gained much enjoyment from Deathstalker (even made a campaign setting based on those flicks once)!
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Stonegiant
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
100% in Liar
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Post by Stonegiant on Apr 25, 2008 20:24:25 GMT -6
I don't know about The Scorpion King, it just seemed predictable and really bored me. It just seemed like one cliche after another, but this is just me (I also find The 300and The 13th Warriorto be two of the worst movies put out in the past 50 years).
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sham
Level 6 Magician
Posts: 385
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Post by sham on Apr 26, 2008 23:17:01 GMT -6
It's a given that as a genre, the Sword and Sorcery theme is chock full of clunkers. I've got shelves full of critically acclaimed movies and critic's picks. But sometimes, I just hanker for a little hack 'n slash Hollywood style. I just go into it with the mindset of bad acting, thin plot and worse dialog is definitley in my immediate future. At the very least with this mindset I can enjoy me some somewhat D&D related entertainment. And some popcorn. And who knows, maybe find some hidden gems amongst the scrapheap. I guess it's a mood thing.
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bert
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 138
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Post by bert on Apr 27, 2008 11:19:57 GMT -6
What about Excalibur? Highly stylised but quite genuinely good film of the King Arthur legend, with an ace Merlin.
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Post by Zulgyan on Apr 27, 2008 11:43:25 GMT -6
QUALITY S&S films? That's a hard one. The only one I can think of off the top of my head is The Scorpion King. FUN S&S films? That's a bit different. There were tons of cheesy fantasy films released throughout the 80's into the early 90's, mostly shot in Italy for a fraction of the cost of what it would have been anywhere else. Some of the ones that stick out the most are... Doc Best post in thread! Do not take this man's words lightly. I agree with everything here. I personally gained much enjoyment from Deathstalker (even made a campaign setting based on those flicks once)! Was Deathstalker really filmed in Argentina?
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Post by coffee on Apr 27, 2008 15:46:16 GMT -6
What about Excalibur? Highly stylised but quite genuinely good film of the King Arthur legend, with an ace Merlin. How could I have forgotten this one? I used to own it (have to get this on DVD sometime...). Great S&S flick.
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Post by doc on Apr 27, 2008 17:06:43 GMT -6
I didn't include Excalibur on my list because Arthurian fantasy really isn't the same as Sword & Sorcery (well, to me at least), although there is no doubt that it remains a great fantasy film. By the same token, Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts would really be considered as more of Mythic Fantasy than S&S.
Now, if you're looking for ANY sort of fantasy films to peruse:
Excalibur: One that I'm sure everybody has already seen by heart. The definitive version of the Arthurian legends. Full of history and legend while never becoming boring or dragged down by the weight of it's own portent. By turns funny, creepy, thrilling, and awe-inspiring.
Beowulf & Grendal: Forget that CGI bit with Angelina. This version came out a year or so before, was live action, and depicted a very interesting version of Grendal. All in all a great version of the legend!
Dragon: A very low-budget fantasy film that came out a couple of years back. It involved a princess, a pair of rangers, and a trio of cocky barbarian/rogue types trying to enlist a king's aid against an army of dark elves. Low production values, but not terrible at all.
300: A mythical retelling of an actual historical battle. This one is full of adrenaline. A bloody, hairy-chested hackfest that keeps your attention every single second.
Wizards: Another Bakshi production. Despite this one being set thousands of years in the future, it retains a very pulpy, sword & sorcery feel throughout most of it's run time (although sometimes it tries just a wee bit too hard for laughs).
The Adventures of Sinbad: Classic-era swashbuckling fantasy at it'svery best. Fairbanks is still an action icon after all these years.
Robin of Sherwood: Not a movie, but a British television series that ran for three seasons and combined the Robin Hood myth with Celtic mysticism. Robin gets to fight evil wizards, dark cults, and even Lucifer himself, while still remaining true to the original stories.
Oh, and there was also this series of fantasy films about these lil' guys with furry feet or somesuch.
Doc
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Post by driver on Apr 30, 2008 8:51:24 GMT -6
I loved Bakshi's Wizards. I also greatly enjoyed a lot of movies that I recognized as fairly rubbish even as a kid: Hawk the Slayer, Dragonslayer, Deathstalker, The Sword and the Sorcerer.
And it's not S&S, but I'm still in love with goth Mia Sara in Legend.
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lige
Level 2 Seer
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Post by lige on Apr 30, 2008 12:35:24 GMT -6
I love the Sword and the Sorcerer: Its got it all evil wizard played by Richard Moll and Frank from Murphy Brown plays a barbarian henchman.
Other good ones: The Barbarians (with the twins), Flesh + Blood (not S&S per se but does have what I see as the basic D&D level of technology and Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bruno Kirby).
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Post by geoffrey on Apr 30, 2008 19:10:23 GMT -6
The only movies I've seen that remind me of D&D are:
1-3) Ray Harryhausen's three Sinbad movies 4) Ray Harryhausen's Jason and the Argonauts 5) the Rankin/Bass Hobbit cartoon 6) a few parts of Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring (mostly during the parts with just the four Hobbits and Strider)
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busman
Level 6 Magician
Playing OD&D, once again. Since 2008!
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Post by busman on Apr 30, 2008 19:17:29 GMT -6
The only movies I've seen that remind me of D&D are: Are you saying the Dungeons and Dragons movie didn't remind you of D&D?
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Post by geoffrey on Apr 30, 2008 19:49:16 GMT -6
The only movies I've seen that remind me of D&D are: Are you saying the Dungeons and Dragons movie didn't remind you of D&D? No. It was too painful.
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brianm
Level 1 Medium
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Post by brianm on May 1, 2008 6:16:00 GMT -6
Are you saying the Dungeons and Dragons movie didn't remind you of D&D? The movie that makes me think of D&D is Army of Darkness. ;D Though the 2nd one wasn't a bad fit for D&D, especially if you've got a DM whose favorite PC often ends the adventures by destroying the BBEG with a fancy lightshow. - Brian
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Thorulfr
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
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Post by Thorulfr on May 1, 2008 9:37:43 GMT -6
The movie that makes me think of D&D is Army of Darkness. ;D Though the 2nd one wasn't a bad fit for D&D It certainly has the bad puns and gallows humor that usually works its way into even the most serious game sessions.
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