Krull

Rating:
Summary: You'll krawl for Krull....
Review: Yes...oh, yes. Yes, it's true, by the gods, it's true. Look yonder there, boy, and you'll see the white castle so poorly defended even after thousands of years of hostilities that the senior citizen Slayers took it out in about five minutes, killing everyone except the one person they needed to kill - Colwyn...thus begins the epic Krull, truly one of cinema's giants. John Ford once said: "Before I film a movie, I like sit down and watch some really good old classics. But usually I get drunk and pass out, and never get through them." If this doesn't sum up the beauty and the passion that is Krull, then perhaps the following might. Colwyn's quest for a quest for a quest basically boils down to this: The Beast loves Lyssa, though he has never met her; so he kidnaps her and asks her to help him rule, as he needs help revising and updating the Slayer Tax Code. Though the "attacks of the Slayers" are allegedly ongoing, we have no idea where, how or why, as we only see about ten people on this entire Krull planet. How to defeat such evil? Simply walk into the Beast's lair practically unarmed, casually forget the Glaive which you practically died for, and overcome the most powerful creature around with love, the same love the creature himself feels for Lyssa, and yet which so easily destroys him for no discernible reason. Then the four of you can go rule over a people-less Krull, and spend your time wondering why anyone would fight over this awful rock of a planet. Five stars.

Rating:
Summary: A good B-Movie
Review: KRULL is a fun movie if you are an avid aficionado of the sci-fi adventure-action movies like "Beastmaster", "Conan", "Star Wars" "Star Trek" or "Lords of the Rings", KRULL is not a big budget movie but the script is somehow good in the line of movies like "Legend" or "Willow". The classic battle between good and evil, the prince out to save his princess. The actors aren't well known (but we have Liam Neeson on a small role in here before his now famous days) but that doesn't substracts from the history.
This is a good title to share with the children, and it's your average matinee movie, if you don't mind picking up a not so famous movie this one is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Worst movie ever, but yet still a classic!
Review: This film made me laugh more than any other: corny special effects, a poor plot and terrible acting come together to produce a film of the worst quality, but yet still extremely funny.

Note: The three star rating is for the comedy value only.

Rating:
Summary: Derivative but not bad fantasy movie
Review: A marriage between Colwyn and Lyssa, the children of two feuding families would also create an alliance in order to defeat the Beast and his army of Slayers on the planet of Krull. Unfortunately, the festivitites are interrupted by the Slayers, who kidnap Lyssa and take her to the Black Fortress, the Beast's stronghold which moves each sunrise and never twice in the same place.

Colwyn and Ynyr, the old man from the hills, set out to defeat the Beast. They need the Glaive, the disc-like five-bladed weapon on the video cover, and some help, which they find. There's the scruffy Torquil and his band of raiders. The cowardly Ergo, a self-professed magician whose qualifications are questionable, and who introduces himself as "Ergo the Magnificent, short in stature, tall in power, narrow of purpose, and wide of vision," the blind Emerald Seer, his boy assistant Titch, and Rell, a stoic Cyclops, a member of a race who were promised to see the future in exchange for one of their eyes, but only the time of their demise.

The movie's filled with the usual encounter of perils, such as Slayers, Changethings, creatures that can impersonate others, and quicksand. The armoured Slayers are interesting in that when they're killed, they emit a horrid scream and plunge into the Earth. They resemble some kind of worm.

In terms of dialogue, nothing too memorable, but there's a good exchange between the Beast and Lyssa, who debate whether it is power or love that is eternal, the other being fleeting. Torquil has a good line on fame: "Fame is an empty purse. Count it and go broke. Eat it and go hungry. Seek it and go mad." And when Rell is asked what would be the one thing he would wish for, the Cyclops flatly replies "Ignorance."

The effects of the Beast's Black Fortress landing was probably better on the big screen. And James Horner comes out with another memorable fanfare theme. There's also swashbuckling music in the fight in the castle that's reminiscent of The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1939). The interior of the Beast's castle is another highlight.

The experienced Freddie Jones is a pillar in this movie as Ynyr, as is Alun Armstrong (Torquil). Ken Marshall (Colwyn) isn't all that good, but he isn't all that bad either. The red-haired Lysette Anthony (Lyssa) is simply lovely to look at. This is also well known for early appearances by Liam Neeson (Kegan) and Robbie Coltrane (Rhun) who lend support as members of Torquil's band. Francesca Annis (the Widow) would co-star the following year in another fantasy movie--Dune.

The prophecy spoken in the end of the movie hint that there was supposed to be a sequel, but this movie unfortunately tanked at the box office. Okay, there were derivative moments, such as the usual hero rescuing the princess from the monster, and some elements of Star Wars (older mentor, rogue sidekick, cowardly sidekick, armoured bad guys, and supernatural powers), but it's not bad in itself. 3.5 rating, rounded up to 4.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever
Review: What's better than a movie with swords AND lasers?

There's magic in Krull, and it's not just coming from the blind wizard! Krull is the story of a prince whose marriage to the princess of a rival country will bring an end to their family's longstanding feud. Their wedding, however, is interrupted by reptilian-like aliens in Cylon-like armor who fire lasers at an essentially medieval-like peasantry.

Throughout the film, the dauntless Prince Colwyn assembles a group of brigands, mages, and even a golden-hearted cyclops to help rescue his princess and bring about a more egalitarian future for his planet. The evil alien king--somewhat akin to Milton's Satan, but without the sour-grapes dialogue--plans to marry the princess and extend his fascistic grasp on an otherwise peace-loving aristocratically-organized political body.

The political significance of Krull cannot be overstated; however, I do not want to detract from the amazing special-effects, the comic scenes, the heart-wrenching sacrifices, or the fantastic scenery. Additionally, the score is so dramatic, that it truly does become a character of its own. The leitmotif of the glave is one of the boldest moments in the history of film soundtracks (it even rivals "Alexander Nevsky").

Of course, Krull operates on different levels: one can read into the film if one likes, or one can indulge in the fantasy of it. Either way, the film is an essential in the development of American Genre Film. Because it is a "genre" picture, AFI neglected to put Krull on its list of the greatest movies ever. But if we could see past the labels of "sci-fi" or "fantasy," we'd certainly recognize that Krull tells the story of our own quests to find the princess in each of us.

Rating:
Summary: MOST TRIUMPHANT!!!!!
Review: Enough to bring a grown man to tears. There should be a rating of ten stars because I would give Krull fifty. This movie conquers every fantasy movie ever! One must look past the acting, past the so-called basic plot (which in my opinion is why it's called fantasy) and see this movie as what it is: beautiful, epic, and how a part of you wants this to be true. Impossibilities aside, lets look at what cunstructs this movie to be the masterpiece that it is. First, the music, inspiring and tranquil are just two of its characteristics. James Horner is in his prime (Not that (stuff) from Titanic he whipped up in five minutes). Supposedly he was extremely ill when he wrote Krull's score, fortunately the best things arise from the worst times. I own the complete soundtrack (90+ minutes)to Krull and highly recommend it to anyone who is currently breathing. And for those of you who for some reason or other watch movies on mute, then watch it for the amazing scenery: huge mountains, georgous valleys, and gnarly castles. Also watch for a super early Liam Neeson as Kegan (with a massive axe). The DVD offers a plethora of features (Okay Terminator 2 has far more) such as what I call "super wide screen" (16:9 or 2.35:1), and superior picture compared to the VHS. And what about the ever attractive Lyssette Anthony as Lyssa (inventive?). Well, evil loses once again and the world of Krull is safe. Okay, rest your eyes.

Rating:
Summary: A worthy addition to the fantasy genre
Review: Ah yes, Krull. Definitley a nostalgic favorite from childhood. And from what it lacks in budget (and, well, logic), it more than makes up in heart. And I forgot just how cool the James Horner soundtrack actually is. Krull was a part of that wonderful series of fantasy/sci fi films from the early/mid eighties that tried to cash in on the success of the holy trilogy (Star Wars). While most have failed the test of time, Krull has actually survived with dignity, marking it as a 'classic' in the fantasy/sci fi genre. Anyway, there is trouble brewing on the ancient planet of Krull. The Beast and his army of Slayers intend to subjugate the population. More importantly, the Beast intends to force Princess Lyssa (Lysette Anthony -- Look Who's Talking Now) to marry him. Lyssa appears to be the girl mentioned in an ancient prophecy about ruling the galaxy, and the Beast wants the future ruler to be his son. Lyssa has other plans, and has chosen Prince Colwyn (Ken Marshall -- "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine") to be her king. Colwyn arrives at Lyssa's castle for the wedding, which is promptly interrupted by the Slayers. When the smoke clears Lyssa has been captured and spirited away to the Black Fortress. Into the aftermath of the raid appears Ynyr (Freddie Jones -- Dune), an "ancient one," who heals Colwyn and gives him a requisite pep talk. Together they set out on a quest to rescue Lyssa and defend the future of Krull and the galaxy. Along the way Colwyn stops to retrieve the Glaive, an ancient and powerful weapon. He also meets up with a colorful group of wanderers that join his quest. There is Ergo (David Battley), a magician of questionable proficiency. There is Torquil (Alun Armstrong -- Braveheart) and his band of outlaws, including a very young Liam Neeson (Rob Roy) and Robbie Coltrane (Goldeneye). They are also joined by the mysterious Rell the Cyclops (Bernard Bresslaw -- Follow That Camel). Together they set out to find the Black Fortress and do battle with the Beast's forces.

Krull commits slavish devotion to the fantasy conventions we all know and love. Unfortunately, Krull CAN get a tad plodding at times. In the end, Krull, despite the cheeze factor, is still very cool. Columbia/Tri-Star has created another excellent Special Edition DVD for Krull, with an anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, and more special features than you can shake a Glaive at. The picture is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The Dolby Digital 5.1 remix is a nice touch, but is limited in its effectiveness. Columbia/Tri-Star really shines in the area of extra content. The fun begins with the 22-minute featurette "Journey to Krull," an original making-of special from 1983. It is full frame, of course, and is very grainy due to its age and a poor transfer. There is a massive photo gallery with well over 200 pictures. These are broken down into four categories: Cast Portraits, Behind-the-Scenes, Design and Concept, and Vintage Advertising. While static photo galleries are usually an unimpressive feature for a DVD, someone at Columbia worked hard to assemble these. Talent files are provided for Peter Yates, Ken Marshall, Lysette Anthony, and Freddie Jones. Also included are trailers for Krull, Jason and the Argonauts, and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. All of these show their age pretty badly, but are interesting to have nevertheless.

Rating:
Summary: USE THE GLAIVE, COLWYN!
Review: Back in 1983, the world was given Krull, a very good action/sci-fi/fantasy film that was given a bad rap of being a Star Wars clone. There are some elements which support this fact in Krull, such as, the old wise guy helping the young inexperienced guy, and the slayers are reminiscent of the stormtroopers, but overall, it is a totally different story.

The long and short of it is, Krull is divied up into two warring lands, each ruled by a king. Their children, Princess Lyssa, and Prince Colwyn, are to marry, and the prophecy says that their child will rule Krull, and the rest of the galaxy to boot. The two kings dislike each other, but form a truce and allow the wedding to take place, to combat the new menace which has invaded their planet.

That was before the Beast (the bad guy) decided to pay a visit to Krull. The Beast is a disgusting creature which travels from planet to planet in The Black Fortress, which isn't just a scary fortress which no mortal human is dumb enough to go near, but also is capable of inter-planetary travel. Go figure. Anyway, the Beast sends his army of "slayers" to crash the wedding, kidnap Lyssa and bring her back to the Black Fortress where she is to wed the Beast and live unhappily ever after. Colwyn is injured in the raid, and is knocked unconcious. He awakens to learn his father is killed, thus becoming the new king, and his fiancee is gone. Ynyr, the "old one" (couldn't they come up with a better nickname?), has come to help Colwyn find Lyssa. First, Ynyr takes Colwyn to find the Glaive, a weapon of ancient and mystical significance, which proves to be very useful later in the movie. Only Colwyn can wield this weapon, for reasons that weren't very clear.

The other problem Ynyr discloses, is the Black Fortress disappears and reappears in a different location on the planet with the sunrise of the new day. They assemble an army of robbers, misfits and oddballs along the way, who ultimately find the way to Black Fortress for the ultimate battle of good vs. evil. Colwyn foils the Beast and ruins his pad.

Is this a terrific movie, full of great acting, awesome cutting-edge special effects, and edge of your seat thrills? No. But, it is a fun entertaining movie, with plenty of good story-telling, colorful characters, and is great on DVD with plenty of extras. If you are a sci-fi/fantasy movie fan, this is right up your alley.

Rating:
Summary: What's in a plot?
Review: It's like Hitchcock said, people were always complaining there were more holes in his movie's plots than in a swiss cheese. He wasted his breath all his career trying to make people realize that the plot is irrelevant. Nobody cares what it is that brings the boy and girl together and then apart and then together again: if it's an international web of spies, or the wicked witch of the west , or the monster from the black lagoon.
The whole movie feels like it's been filmed on a studio - and it feels more real, and more romantic and more magical to me than The Lord of the Rings, that's so big and wide - and somehow cold, and never truly majestic or intimate.
But this is one of those movies you keep in your heart, thinking you're the only one who appreciates it, like a well kept secret - and then look how old it is and how many people have written a review about it! They didn't forget it either. That makes it worth something if nothing else.

Rating:
Summary: I was a child again!! thanks for the memories
Review: Its seems theres a love/hate relationship whith this film, people love it or hate it, with a few so so opinions. I think the nostalgia factor helps a lot on the good reviews, such as my case.

I saw Krull in my local cinema when I was 8 years old (I am 28 now) and I was in total awe. The cyclop, the flying horses, the black fortress, I mean, it was the kind of movie adventure that I loved and cheered. Been a child I absorbed the story and mythos the movie told, I remember been "afraid" of the menace of the fortress, thinking "they still got the guts to go there???" the Slayers were dreadful, the glavie was enigmatic and so on, I also recall making draws of the characthers and scenes from the movie and of course "singing to myself" the music, ah yes, the music, what a incredible portrait of the sense of magic,adventure and joy (got my two cds soundtrack a few months ago, fully recommend it.)
I saw the movie twice on the cinema, still remember that night that I took my parents to see it with me (first time was with friends and a adult of course) ah, those days...

Anyway, back to the review. After all this years I still got fond memories from this one. Krull is a excellent example of the hero's journey, full of adventure and great moments.The DVD have a lot of cool features that any fan would love, so go ahead rent or buy it. If you never see it give a try. Despite been a bit cheesy by today standards, Krull packs a ride full of wonderful landscapes, action, great music, still somehow cool effects, and mainly a clasic sense of adventure that few recent films can achieve.

How I would love to see a special edition on the silver screen again, *sigh*