Fantasy Flix: Amazons

Friday, July 19, 2013

Deathstalker II (1987)

Director: Jim Wynorski
Writers: Jim Wynorski (story), Neil Ruttenberg (screenplay)

Deathstalker helps Reena the Seer out of a few jams, and she solicits his help for a bigger task. She reveals that she is actually Princess Evie, but the evil sorcerer had her abducted and cloned in order to seize control of the kingdom. Together they travel to the evil sorcerer's stronghold to restore the princess to her rightful position, encountering challenges along the way both from the sorcerer's goons and the fierce Amazon women.

The first sequel to Deathstalker takes a different approach from the original. This one is definitely played for more laughs. There's still the sword-play and nudity from the original, just with a lot more humor. And I hate to say it, but part of me enjoys this one more than the original, just in a different way. I have a lot of fun with this movie and I quite enjoy the added humor. That's not to say this will replace Deathstalker as one of my favorite movies of this ilk, I just like it in a different way.

There are some parts which I did not enjoy, like the amazon wrestling wring bit, but I can overlook it. Just watch this one with a different mind-set than the first.

Another simple fantasy story about saving the princess, except this time the princess is along for the ride because she has been replaced with a clone. Nothing real special here but glad they kept the clone elements from the first for continuity.

Plot: 7

I still have no big complaints about the acting over-all. Monique Gabrielle is pretty terrible, but in a weird cute kind of way, and Terlesky is pretty funny. Not fantastic, but ok.

Acting: 6

Nothing in the way of computerized special effects once again. Over-all I think this area is far below the original. They didn't even look like they tried with the zombies.

Special Effects: 3

The action is pretty decent with the sword-play. Terlesky does a pretty good job. But, once again the majority is filled with wrestling movies.

Action: 5

Of course a movie like this will excel in the eye-candy department. Gabrielle goes from cute and adorable to not as cute and slutty pretty well. Socas is damn hot and I wish I could see more of her.

Eye-Candy: 8

I know this kind of thing isn't for everyone, but like I said, I quite enjoy the humor here. Terlesky plays the smart-ass rogue pretty well. I'd recommend checking this one out.

Rewatchability: 8

Verdict: Worth a check-out

Cast

John Terlesky ... Deathstalker

Cute Monique Gabrielle ... Reena the Seer

Not as cute slutty Monique Gabrielle ... Princess Evie

Tori Naples ... Sultana

John Lazar ... Jarek the Sorcerer

Maria Socas ... Amazon Queen

Marcos Woinsky ... Pirate

Dee Booher ... Gorgo

Carina Davi ... Young Amazon

Jacques Arndt .. High Priest

Nico Sarudiansky ... Evie's Victim

The return of Pig Man!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Super Stooges vs the Wonder Women (1975)

Director: Alfonso Brescia

Writers: Alfonso Brescia (story), Aldo Crudo (story)

Three men with supernatural powers interfere in a tribal warfare to prevent evil Amazons destroying the inhabitants of a village.

I'll start with this... I hated this movie so much I couldn't even muster enough energy to take proper screenshots. So, I found some screenshots online and am posting them here so you can see how the movie looks.

This isn't the worst movie I've seen. (See my review of Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007) for that bit of cinema history) However, I am not a fan of the three stooges. I know this movie has nothing to do with the tree stooges, but the humor is similar.

This movie sets out to make you laugh at slap-stick humor and that's all it does. I'm sure some of you out there would enjoy this type of thing, but I don't.

I'm not even going to talk about the acting/story/action stuff because I could hardly make it through 30 minutes of this thing. So to each his own; if you're a fan of three stooges type humor check it out, otherwise avoid it.