Post by petrolino on Oct 20, 2017 23:03:48 GMT
The feminist fantasy 'Red Sonja' is based on a character created by Robert E. Howard, a tragic Texan author now known as the "Father of Sword & Sorcery". Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen) is granted the universal sword arm strength by a ghostly spirit. Sonja must train to fight before she can seek vengeance upon the evil Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) who is threatening to destroy the world if she obtains a special talisman belonging to a superior female tribe.
From its dramatic opening onwards, 'Red Sonja' remains a work of considerable beauty. Cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno captures panoramic landscapes as fearless nomad Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger) rides relentlessly in search of a reason. With Rotunno manning the camera, director Richard Fleischer is able to exercise his penchant for unusual camera positioning that made him a key influence on directors of the 1970s with a love of comic book panelling. There are some enjoyable action sequences filmed with multi-camera set-ups, Rotunno shoots a great precision overhead that condenses scale and the colours are vibrant throughout. This visual clarity is important to bring out the exceptional costumes and set designs created by Danilo Donati and Gianni Giovagnoni. My favourite sequence visually also involves a matte painting - the crossover at skeleton canyon pass.
Backing up the designs is an appropriately triumphalist score composed by Ennio Morricone. The combination of stroked strings, clarion horns and decorous choral lines eases in an enjoyable soundtrack that also uses compression, an echo chamber and a wind generator. The script is kinda silly in places (it's co-written by George Macdonald Fraser of 'Flashman') but it's all in fun. Brigitte Nielsen owns Arnold Schwarzenegger in this movie and they strike up a nice partnership, as do kung fu kid Ernie Reyes Jr. as abandoned ruler Prince Tarn and the great Paul L. Smith as his loyal servant Falkon. Also on hand are Pat Roach as misogynistic underground overlord Brytag, Ronald Lacey as cosmic key inventor Ikol and Janet Agren as cult worshipping combatant Red Varna. I think it's more of a family film than some entries in the sword & sorcery cycle of the 1980s, certainly than John Milius' violent fantasy 'Conan The Barbarian' (1982), but Fleischer's role drew immediate comparisons because he'd helmed the sequel 'Conan The Destroyer' (1984), leading 'Red Sonja' to receive resoundingly poor reviews. Give it a try if you enjoy fantasy pictures, I think it's better entertainment than its reputation suggests.
"I know you're a brave girl but danger is my trade."
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wilt Chamberlain & Richard Fleischer
From its dramatic opening onwards, 'Red Sonja' remains a work of considerable beauty. Cinematographer Giuseppe Rotunno captures panoramic landscapes as fearless nomad Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger) rides relentlessly in search of a reason. With Rotunno manning the camera, director Richard Fleischer is able to exercise his penchant for unusual camera positioning that made him a key influence on directors of the 1970s with a love of comic book panelling. There are some enjoyable action sequences filmed with multi-camera set-ups, Rotunno shoots a great precision overhead that condenses scale and the colours are vibrant throughout. This visual clarity is important to bring out the exceptional costumes and set designs created by Danilo Donati and Gianni Giovagnoni. My favourite sequence visually also involves a matte painting - the crossover at skeleton canyon pass.
"So it's true, only women can touch it."
Brigitte Nielsen & Sylvester Stallone
Backing up the designs is an appropriately triumphalist score composed by Ennio Morricone. The combination of stroked strings, clarion horns and decorous choral lines eases in an enjoyable soundtrack that also uses compression, an echo chamber and a wind generator. The script is kinda silly in places (it's co-written by George Macdonald Fraser of 'Flashman') but it's all in fun. Brigitte Nielsen owns Arnold Schwarzenegger in this movie and they strike up a nice partnership, as do kung fu kid Ernie Reyes Jr. as abandoned ruler Prince Tarn and the great Paul L. Smith as his loyal servant Falkon. Also on hand are Pat Roach as misogynistic underground overlord Brytag, Ronald Lacey as cosmic key inventor Ikol and Janet Agren as cult worshipping combatant Red Varna. I think it's more of a family film than some entries in the sword & sorcery cycle of the 1980s, certainly than John Milius' violent fantasy 'Conan The Barbarian' (1982), but Fleischer's role drew immediate comparisons because he'd helmed the sequel 'Conan The Destroyer' (1984), leading 'Red Sonja' to receive resoundingly poor reviews. Give it a try if you enjoy fantasy pictures, I think it's better entertainment than its reputation suggests.