Monday, May 17, 2010

Ator, the Fighting Eagle aka Ator l'invincible (1982)


Dakar (Played by a guy named Dakar; how convenient is that?), the evil high priest of the mythic Spider King, rules the land with an iron fist, but an ancient (and refreshingly specific) prophecy warns him of the birth of Ator, son of Torin, who will one day topple his empire. To prevent the high priest from killing the infant, the mysterious Griba secrets Ator away to a remote village to live with a family of farmers. Years pass and the prophecy seems forgotten until the priest’s troops disrupt the marriage of Ator to his sister Sunya (wait for it), massacring the entire village and taking Sunya as a concubine for Dakkar. Embarking on a heroic journey to rescue his beloved sister/fiance (I said wait for it) and avenge the death of his people, Ator and his bear cub Keog team up with the money-hungry Amazon Roon to battle witches, zombies, a squad of blind warriors who fight by sense of smell, and even Ator’s own shadow. But just when the high priest Dakkar has finally been dispatched and all seems well, Ator discovers the Spider King is far from a myth. Is the prophecy to remain unfulfilled or can Ator manage one final triumph and run off into the sunset with… his sister?

Directed by Joe D'Amato

Our Hero


Our Hero's Babe
Sunya (Ritza Brown)

Our Hero's Sidekick

Our Hero's Villan
Dakar (Dakar)


Fantasy Film Aspects:

Monsters

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Conan The Destroyer (1984)


Following CONAN THE BARBARIAN, Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as Robert E. Howard's warrior hero in action director Richard Fleischer's CONAN THE DESTROYER. First seen praying at a shrine, Conan and his sidekick, Malak (Tracey Walter), are inveigled by Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas) into joining Princess Jehnna (Olivia d'Abo) and her bodyguard, Bombaata (Wilt Chamberlain), on a quest to wrest a magic key from the wizard Toth-Amon (Pat Roach). On the journey, Conan saves his magician friend, Akiro (Mako), from cannibals and helps female bandit Zula (Grace Jones) as she fights off some angry villagers. The motley crew find Toth-Amon's castle in the middle of a lake. But, while they rest for the night before confronting the wizard, he spirits away Princess Jehnna. Conan leads the rescue. Compared to the first Conan movie, CONAN THE DESTROYER has less violence but more humor. The film's stunt casting includes the 7-foot-tall basketball player Wilt Chamberlain and pneumatic singer Grace Jones. Other actors featured are the 17-year-old Olivia d'Abo (in her first screen appearance), playing the petulant teenage princess with sexy innocence; Tracey Walter as the cowardly jewel-swallowing thief, Malak the Quick; and, of course, Schwarzenegger, who put on 10 extra pounds at Fleischer's request, as the pectorally-perfect Conan.

Directed by: Richard Fleischer

The Cast













Monday, January 11, 2010

Conan The Barbarian (1982)


Director: John Milius


A village is attacked by the evil ruler of the Snake Cult, Thulsa Doom and his evil warriors, when Thulsa Doom and his warriors kills his parents, a young boy named Conan is enslaved. Years later, Conan grows up and becomes a mighty warrior and is trained as a fighter. After years as a slave and as a gladiator, Conan is set free. Conan sets out on a quest as he vows to avenge his parents and solve the riddle of steel. Joined by a archer named Subotai, a beautiful thief who falls in love with Conan, Valeria and a Chinese wizard, Conan and his companions sets out to rescue Princess Yasmina, daughter of King Osric, from the Snake Cult, and get his revenge on Thulsa Doom and avenge his parents.

The Cast


 



Mako ... The Wizard / Narrator