Things I like in Kull the Conqueror
May 11, 2017 16:51:45 GMT -5
Post by BlackHeart on May 11, 2017 16:51:45 GMT -5
Before you all nail me to the cross, I would like to say a few words. Two nights ago, in a fit of fierce boredom, I said to myself: "Why not? Let's watch Kull the Conqueror, once again!" So, I open my beer and watch it. Along the way I comment naively, like a child who imagines that words will affect the course of the story, and, finally, comes the end.
Yesterday, returning from work, I sit in my favorite chair and magicaly decided to rewatch it again. No, I'm not a masochist, as you might have thought. I'm not crazy nor did I say goodbye to my cleverness. I never liked the criticists nor I myself love to criticize or condemn something (though, in this case its hard to avoid it). It is easy to criticize other people's ideas and work. It is easy to throw a stone at others. It's hard to do something yourself, to create something, no matter how much someone liked it or not. That's why I dont have a bit of sympathy towards critics. Something you may like or not. The end of story. Point. Good buy. Move on. During the re-viewing, I began to analyze the film in a different way. I started to ask my self a question - what I like here? And, although the sum is small, there are few thing that I find ok, even likable.
First, this is what it is, and never cant be something else. By Valka, you even watch it as Conan, not Kull. Its a childish adventure, and with REHs world and characters conection is only by name. Here is my humble opinion:
1. The film had potential, even though it was totally premixed with earlier versions of the script, therefore, it was more CONAN then KULL. Kevin, as a choice for the lead role could have passed on the condition that he added more quality muscle mass, therefore, that it looked more dangerous, more sinister, grim, how Kull od Atlantis should look. Thus, he appears like a male model / playboy, who astray in the ancient world chasing skirts, and not as a Atlantean barbarian who spends his time brooding over metaphysical questions of reality and illusion. But, ok. He's not that bad. He can move, and his fighting skills are not negligible.
2. Sven Ole Thorsen as King Borna. For me one of the producers best moves, at least as far the casting goes. Anyone who read the Marvel comic version of how Kull got his crown (which I personally like) knows that Borna was represented as a formidable fighter, fearless and confident in his victory over Kull. The fighting itself is described as a "bear fight against the tiger." Sven was the appropriate person for the role, his appearance, his voice, built, mostly everything ... And it is evident that a man enjoying himself during his brief appearance in the film.
3. Valusia seems more like a medieval fortress in ruins (which here by chance it is) than the City of Wonders from the REH tales. However, brief scene when the soldiers ride to the city, and later when Kull and co fleeing from the city, makes the image of the fortres, observed on a high hill, very beautiful to the eye. Yeah, this add no weight to film, but somehow manages to convey a fable like epoch in which the action of the story is setted.
4. Women. Tia Carere was convincing as Akivasha (at least as far as the script allowed it), and Karina Lombard is another sweet addition to the film. How their roles were reduced, and therefore their characters less developed, they have done their job how they could. Both of them, at least visually, represent what they represent: one an evil bitch, of vile beauty, the other lovely sweetheart, of gentle face and tamed apearence. And, both of them are just... Well... You get the point
5. Ice cave - one of thing that I always like. I think that this part of the film was quite nicely done. Scene with a bunch of frozen ships is really good. I find even that line, which Zareta speaks to Valka, powerfull on its own way (although its the processing of the original from Pogue's CtC). For the film which was shot on a tight budget, this part looks more than solid. Even an unexpectedly good. At least to me.
6. Ruined citadel where the flaming pole rage was pretty convincing. It seems as archaic as it should be, dark and show's atmosphere of the moment solid. Its imposible, though, that someone could stand so close to such flame, like Kev did on the end before kissing Akivasha, but, hey, we all know that road to Kull was set with good intentions If nothing else, at least someone built this set and present it properly. Again, small weight to this whole messy film.
7. Music. If we ignore the fact that trough the film parade some share of heavy metal, score for Kull the Conqueror was quite pleasing. Although not approximate quality as Basil's opus, Joel Goldsmith has done quite valid music, which is not often the case in the S & S films. Especialy, I like that score from the end of the film, when Kull adresses to his subjects.
All in all, film is mediocre, done on the wrong way, there are many silly moments, many flaws, ridicoulos tiger standard, Taligaro's hair style was... Well, it was Disastrously bad gargoyle like thing that Akivasha turn into was idiotism. I think that they stole that from the Stoun's CtB script in wich Tulsa Dom should've turn into same type of monster. The tone of the film was adaptated for the younger audience, and that became an open wound on the body of the same, and in many ways affected on the final outcome. But every cloud has a silver lining, even if it were minor things like it says above. It gives some small confort when one looks it that way. And so it ended my last journey with Kull the Conqueror
What's done is done, it will not change. De Laurentiis clan had squandered their chance to create one great saga. Still, there is hope that someone will in some time soon finaly represent of real Kull on the screen, with an innovative and capable team and a people that knows who and what Kull realy is.
Yesterday, returning from work, I sit in my favorite chair and magicaly decided to rewatch it again. No, I'm not a masochist, as you might have thought. I'm not crazy nor did I say goodbye to my cleverness. I never liked the criticists nor I myself love to criticize or condemn something (though, in this case its hard to avoid it). It is easy to criticize other people's ideas and work. It is easy to throw a stone at others. It's hard to do something yourself, to create something, no matter how much someone liked it or not. That's why I dont have a bit of sympathy towards critics. Something you may like or not. The end of story. Point. Good buy. Move on. During the re-viewing, I began to analyze the film in a different way. I started to ask my self a question - what I like here? And, although the sum is small, there are few thing that I find ok, even likable.
First, this is what it is, and never cant be something else. By Valka, you even watch it as Conan, not Kull. Its a childish adventure, and with REHs world and characters conection is only by name. Here is my humble opinion:
1. The film had potential, even though it was totally premixed with earlier versions of the script, therefore, it was more CONAN then KULL. Kevin, as a choice for the lead role could have passed on the condition that he added more quality muscle mass, therefore, that it looked more dangerous, more sinister, grim, how Kull od Atlantis should look. Thus, he appears like a male model / playboy, who astray in the ancient world chasing skirts, and not as a Atlantean barbarian who spends his time brooding over metaphysical questions of reality and illusion. But, ok. He's not that bad. He can move, and his fighting skills are not negligible.
2. Sven Ole Thorsen as King Borna. For me one of the producers best moves, at least as far the casting goes. Anyone who read the Marvel comic version of how Kull got his crown (which I personally like) knows that Borna was represented as a formidable fighter, fearless and confident in his victory over Kull. The fighting itself is described as a "bear fight against the tiger." Sven was the appropriate person for the role, his appearance, his voice, built, mostly everything ... And it is evident that a man enjoying himself during his brief appearance in the film.
3. Valusia seems more like a medieval fortress in ruins (which here by chance it is) than the City of Wonders from the REH tales. However, brief scene when the soldiers ride to the city, and later when Kull and co fleeing from the city, makes the image of the fortres, observed on a high hill, very beautiful to the eye. Yeah, this add no weight to film, but somehow manages to convey a fable like epoch in which the action of the story is setted.
4. Women. Tia Carere was convincing as Akivasha (at least as far as the script allowed it), and Karina Lombard is another sweet addition to the film. How their roles were reduced, and therefore their characters less developed, they have done their job how they could. Both of them, at least visually, represent what they represent: one an evil bitch, of vile beauty, the other lovely sweetheart, of gentle face and tamed apearence. And, both of them are just... Well... You get the point
5. Ice cave - one of thing that I always like. I think that this part of the film was quite nicely done. Scene with a bunch of frozen ships is really good. I find even that line, which Zareta speaks to Valka, powerfull on its own way (although its the processing of the original from Pogue's CtC). For the film which was shot on a tight budget, this part looks more than solid. Even an unexpectedly good. At least to me.
6. Ruined citadel where the flaming pole rage was pretty convincing. It seems as archaic as it should be, dark and show's atmosphere of the moment solid. Its imposible, though, that someone could stand so close to such flame, like Kev did on the end before kissing Akivasha, but, hey, we all know that road to Kull was set with good intentions If nothing else, at least someone built this set and present it properly. Again, small weight to this whole messy film.
7. Music. If we ignore the fact that trough the film parade some share of heavy metal, score for Kull the Conqueror was quite pleasing. Although not approximate quality as Basil's opus, Joel Goldsmith has done quite valid music, which is not often the case in the S & S films. Especialy, I like that score from the end of the film, when Kull adresses to his subjects.
All in all, film is mediocre, done on the wrong way, there are many silly moments, many flaws, ridicoulos tiger standard, Taligaro's hair style was... Well, it was Disastrously bad gargoyle like thing that Akivasha turn into was idiotism. I think that they stole that from the Stoun's CtB script in wich Tulsa Dom should've turn into same type of monster. The tone of the film was adaptated for the younger audience, and that became an open wound on the body of the same, and in many ways affected on the final outcome. But every cloud has a silver lining, even if it were minor things like it says above. It gives some small confort when one looks it that way. And so it ended my last journey with Kull the Conqueror
What's done is done, it will not change. De Laurentiis clan had squandered their chance to create one great saga. Still, there is hope that someone will in some time soon finaly represent of real Kull on the screen, with an innovative and capable team and a people that knows who and what Kull realy is.