May 301983
 
two reels

The wedding of Prince Colwyn (Ken Marshall) and Princess Lyssa (Lysette Anthony) is interrupted by slayers, the troops of The Beast, who kidnap Lyssa and take her to The Black Tower.  Colwyn journeys to rescue her, with the aid of a wise man (Freddie Jones), a clownish shape changer (David Battley), a bandit chief (Alun Armstrong), a cyclops (Bernard Bresslaw), and a child (Graham McGrath).

Krull is useful when examining the sub-genre of High Fantasy as it is the standard film.  Plot, characters, and theme (such as it is) never vary from the predictable “heroes journey.”  There are no surprises, no twists, and nothing which hasn’t been done many times before (but I can’t think of another single film which combines all the clichés).

The Beast is said to be a space alien and his troops fire lasers from their swords, which would be a switch from the average except it makes no difference.  It is only a change of wording.  Think of lasers as magical bolts and space as a generic evil land, and we’re back on track.

The story is episodic, following our hero and friends as they complete one task after another on the way to their goal.  Some die along the way, but only those I expected to die from the beginning (yes, the child survives—big surprise).

Ken Marshall is a bland hero and Lysette Anthony is nearly non-existent in her helpless damsel role.  She has an excuse as a foolish studio exec decided to dub her voice because she sounded too British.  You certainly wouldn’t want anyone sounding British in a High Fantasy movie.

Krull required numerous makeup and special effects and the team wasn’t up to the challenge.  A stop motion spider is entertaining, but almost every other effect fails.  Shimmering borders around actors are common and The Beast, seen only through blurs and distortion, will only draw giggles.  The interiors look like constructed sets (which they were), contrasting poorly with the more realistic exteriors.

The James Horner score is melodic, though too “bouncy.”  It sounds like much of 1980s film music.

Perhaps best remembered from the film is the mind controlled, switch-blade shuriken.  Like the light saber, it is a weapon that every little boy dreams of.  Unfortunately, after a great deal of build-up, it is rarely used.

A squeaky clean, adventure romp, Krull is a kids’ film and should satisfy anyone younger than ten and no one over thirteen.

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