7 Early Sword and Sorcery Movies

[NadgersFishtoaster]

Also agreed, I think that Conan is one of the best depictions of D&D out there, and one of the best soundtracks ever, I find nothing cheesy about Conan......and don't even get me started on William Smith, only in it for a few minutes but what a few minutes, I love that man, best bad guy/stunt man in Hollywood.

I would have loved Conan if by then I hadn't already had read a lot of the Robert E. Howard, and the later L. Sprague de Camp, books. You can feel the visceral texture in those books, taste the adventure and grasp the world beyond the novels.

As a film it was excellent and self-contained. As a Conan film I was expecting a little more than it could deliver. To help younger readers to imagine my dilemma, it would be like seeing the Harry Potter films based around Justin Bieber cast as Harry.

However as it stands I felt Conan was as least as successful as the 1980 Flash Gordon movie, which was very entertaining.

It was also the obvious inspiration for TV series such as "Hercules: the Legendary Journeys" and "Mortal Kombat: Conquest". As such it probably spawned a whole sub-genre that includes such gems as the modern, Canadian "Adventures of Sinbad".

[Fridas]

I would have loved Conan if by then I hadn't already had read a lot of the Robert E. Howard, and the later L. Sprague de Camp, books. You can feel the visceral texture in those books, taste the adventure and grasp the world beyond the novels.

As a film it was excellent and self-contained. As a Conan film I was expecting a little more than it could deliver. To help younger readers to imagine my dilemma, it would be like seeing the Harry Potter films based around Justin Bieber in the role as Harry.

However as it stands I felt Conan was as least as successful as the 1980 Flash Gordon movie, which was very entertaining.

It was also the obvious inspiration for TV series such as "Hercules: the Legendary Journeys" and "Mortal Kombat: Conquest". As such it probably spawned a whole sub-genre that includes such gems as the modern, Canadian "Adventures of Sinbad".

I can see your point. I never read any of the Conan books. But, LOL, I think we can agree to disagree, I saw Flash Gordon when it first came out and I don't know if I would call it entertaining. Unfortunately that time period left us very few choices and at least on my part, very hungry for any fantasy films that came along. Lets face it, Hollywood seldom gets it right. If I really love a book, I hope and pray they never try and make it into a movie.

[KongColeus]

Army of Darkness 1992

Going by memory.

A man from the future is sucked as a demon into the sword and sorcery realm in his Buick Electra.(or some big car)

He loses a hand and sticks a chainsaw on as his replacement.

Luckily, he has a shotgun in his trunk or something but at least he has a limited number of shotgun shells.

The only good thing is that the BOOK of evil is the Necronomicon, which is a reference to HP Lovecraft.

A very cheesy movie with very cheap special effects.

I recommend it.

I have seen both Flash Gordon and Flesh Gordon. ;>)

[Uska]

Come on one of those movies had Wayanses, it had to be good.

rather poke pencils in my eyes then watch anything with them in it Only actors I despise more than them are Jim Carey and Leo but at least Leo has some acting talent unlike the others I just dont like him

[Delt]

Army of Darkness 1992

Going by memory.

I'd hardly call AoD (aka Evil Dead 3) a "sword & sorcery" movie -- but yes, the series is good.

Pretty sure all of em have been mentioned. Maybe Clash of the Titans (not the new crappy one) deserves inclusion.

Someone already mentioned Legend I think. Red Sonja...but that was pretty terrible.

Speaking of terrible, was The Warrior & the Sorceress mentioned? That deserves to be watched, despite being confusing and terrible.

[Raiderone]

Fire and Ice was a pretty good Sword and Sorcery movie.

Heavy Metal towards the end was great with Taarna...

[Bardgellor]

A good medieval (just swords, no sorcery) movie is Flesh + Blood (1985). Been a while since I've seen it, but I don't recall any cheese.

Another good medieval show (not movie) was the Robin Hood series that was shown on Showtime in the mid eighties. I had more than one dual sword wielding fighter/rogue modeled after the Saracen. I'm pretty sure this was a UK produced show that was just replayed on Showtime in the States. Again I don't recall any cheese.

[Arlith]

Richard Moll (Bull of Night Court) was the villain.

The three bladed sword rocked.... it was cheesy and looked like it was made of plastic, but it still rocked.

Speaking of Richard Moll...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089060/

I knew it as "Dungeon Master", not Ragewar.

[IgorHackNSlasher]

[QUOTE=Missing_Minds;3525462]Ladyhawke, 1985
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089457/

And ya gotta love the disco soundtrac for this fantasy setting.

[Ganolyn]

A good medieval (just swords, no sorcery) movie is Flesh + Blood (1985). Been a while since I've seen it, but I don't recall any cheese.

It had some flat moments, but Rutger Hauer was great in that.


If anyone wants some old school stop-motion fun I recommend both The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (with Dr. Who's Tom Baker as the villain) and Jason and the Argonauts (with a battle scene against skeletons that inspired many a D&D session)




Both were horribly bad, but good campy fun. Both could do with an update and release in CGI. They couldn't be any worse than what we usually get nowadays anyway.

[AphexTwin]

Don't know if someone has mentioned this, but how about the Beastmaster? That used to scare the hell out of me when I was a kid. Those monsters that wrapped their wings around you and dissolved you into bones?!? **** that was freaky.

[Yajerman01]

Hercules with Lou Ferrigno 1983. - This was a bizarre movie with the original plot scewed a bit. Special effects was a disaster in this movie as they tried to pull all the stops on any/all psycodelic conjurations immaginable. Definitely worth watching on some form of alter-perception medication.

He-Man (masters of the Universe) 1987 with Dolph Lundgren - yet another failed Dolph movie, but surprisingly had intrigued me with its mediocrity enough to wactch the whole thing

Clash of the Titans with Harry Hamlin – 1981. The best special effects above clay-action figures and the Gumby & Pokey Show!

Conquest 1983 – a barbarian and sorcerer with arrows and a bunch of no names in a terrible Italian Flick – worth watching once to appreciate real actors!

Hawk the Slayer – 1981 – sorcerer and sword story

I think there was a movie out called Thor…?

There is one other movie that is truly bad but I cannot recall the name of the movie – it was made in the late 70’s. It starred one guy who usually always plays a villain and has a cut up ugly face, white hair. The storyline revolves around this magical/powerful sword that can actually split into two pieces, but is more powerful when united. Some other guy has the other piece and so this villain works his way into getting a hold of it, etc, etc. (help me if you dare)

[Arlith]

Great. You got me thinking.... This stuff will be spewing forth from my brain all day.

Deathstalker
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087127/

[Missing_Minds]

There is one other movie that is truly bad but I cannot recall the name of the movie – it was made in the late 70’s. It starred one guy who usually always plays a villain and has a cut up ugly face, white hair. The storyline revolves around this magical/powerful sword that can actually split into two pieces, but is more powerful when united. Some other guy has the other piece and so this villain works his way into getting a hold of it, etc, etc. (help me if you dare)

Man... were it not for those two parts, I would have said He-Man.

[Yajerman01]

Man... were it not for those two parts, I would have said He-Man.

I got the guys face in my head and im trying to figure out what other movies i have seen in him to locate this movie!

[Missing_Minds]

I got the guys face in my head and im trying to figure out what other movies i have seen in him to locate this movie!

if you can find a picture of the guy, that would help the rest of us in this quiz that is stopping me from working right now.

[mws2970]

if you can find a picture of the guy, that would help the rest of us in this quiz that is stopping me from working right now.

LOL......this thread has helped me get through the last 2 work days! :P

[Yajerman01]

if you can find a picture of the guy, that would help the rest of us in this quiz that is stopping me from working right now.

hahaha, i got work backing up and im doing this! lol. For a second I thought he did a movie with Howard Rutger, but I couldnt find anything - still searching' Nonetheless he is in that era and or genre

[Missing_Minds]

hahaha, i got work backing up and im doing this! lol. For a second I thought he did a movie with Howard Rutger, but I couldnt find anything - still searching' Nonetheless he is in that era and or genre

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001651/

I doubt that was the actor given the time frame.

[Yajerman01]

BAH, IM A NUB!!!!!!!!

You guys had it posted all this time. Man i hate myself, but now after reading the posts about it, i remember the storyline now and the sword things was off, but his face is unmistaken! RIchard Lynch! that boys faced is all jacked up! Garr - The Sword and the Sorcerer, DUH!

sorry for the misleading a possible unknown