Insomniac Theatre: "Krull" (1983)

You may be thinking, "HEY! Didn't you already review this movie? I'm outraged!" You'd be partially right. Not too long ago, Jay did a Drunken Review of "Krull". I had actually watched it back in December (those that follow me on Instagram will remember it), with the intention of reviewing it myself.

So, yeah- it has been reviewed. But I'm not the one that did it.

So simmer the outrage to a light boil and read on, eh?

On a planet far away, a monsterous alien has landed. A handsome man, and a beautiful woman are to be married to unite two warring kingdoms. The monsterous alien abducts the gorgeous woman. The handsome man sets out to save her- gathering a crew of misfits along the way. Hilarity, pathos, heroics, and adventure ensue.

I loved this movie as a kid. I even have the novelization and the Marvel comic adaptation in my collection (I hear you snickering and whispering, "Neeeeeerd!"). Sad to say though, this movie hasn't aged well.

The story, from a mature perspective is plodding and fairly shallow fantasy fare- and doesn't offer much to really catch your emotional attention for the duration.

The characters, while likable, are still pretty cut from the standard fantasy cloth. The acting is very 1980's- though Liam Neeson as Kegan, David Battley as Ergo, and Lysette Anthony as Lyssa deserve mention for their portrayals- though I was disappointed that Lyssa was actually voiced by Lindsay Crouse to make her sound more "mature".

The special effects also suffered from age. They are pretty damn obvious- though I will say that the design of The Beast, and how they tried to work around the tech limitations for filming it were interesting and creative. I also really liked the visual art direction of The Black Fortress interiors. Had a really neat organic, sci-fi look and feel to it.

In the end, it hurts me to admit that a movie that I would've enthusiastically called "Good!" has to be downgraded to a "Bad". My nostalgia is preventing me from going full-on "Ugly" with it.

Comments

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends. With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher. When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up. Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila! Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink. The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink. The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices. In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors. The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort. It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ". I know I remember them. This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present. With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good. It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters. This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's. In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking. I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e

Search This Blog