The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Phil H

  
  Mr Pyun's first film and after seeing it probably his best film with possibly the biggest budget and release success over all his productions, on top of that the film was actually reasonably well received and got a small toy line too! On the visual side this film is really nice… More
  Mr Pyun's first film and after seeing it probably his best film with possibly the biggest budget and release success over all his productions, on top of that the film was actually reasonably well received and got a small toy line too! On the visual side this film is really nice showing allot of detail with some lovely sets and location work, the costumes on display really add to the mix too with lots of medieval armour, period type dresses/garments along with your more common barbarian/warrior approach. Of course if you think along the lines of 'Conan' 'Red Sonja' 'Krull' and even old swashbucklers with the likes of Errol Flynn you will get a good idea of what this film is like. Everything you relate to your average Dungeons & Dragons fantasy is in here, a hero who's parents are killed by an evil tyrant comes of age and comes back to kill the tyrant with his band of mercenaries armed with a powerful three bladed sword, add a demon who also seeks revenge against the evil tyrant, a damsell in distress and the charm of 80's light and sound effects alongside over the top killing. The whole film is very cliched and predictable with allot of hammy acting but its suppose to be that way really, it doesn't hide that fact and nor is it suppose to be a serious drama, in terms of action its abit placid with lame fighting and silly blood but in terms of design and looks it beats Arnie's 'Conan' hands down!. The sequences with the evil undead demon sorcerer are really decent makeup wise and reminded me of 'Darkness' from 'legend', when the demon sorcerer perishes the effects are really really good too, quite a surprise. Its a slow burner in places and kinda rollercoasters with the excitement but it does have quite a classic feel about it, almost historical or Shakespearean in places with names like 'Cromwell' and the elegant attire. Afew minor silly spots do remind you its a silly fantasy, one being the three bladed sword that looks too cumbersome and heavy to wield properly and then you discover it actually fires the blades individually as projectiles! very 'Krull'. Surprise winner if you enjoyed all the other similar fantasy films of the 80's, if you didn't then best avoid ;)

• David L

  
  One of the better fantasy films produced in the early 80's and one of my guilty pleasure movies The Sword and the Sorcerer was a hit at the box office. I've watched this film countless times over the years, and its effect on me is every bit as strong as an adult, as it was… More
  One of the better fantasy films produced in the early 80's and one of my guilty pleasure movies The Sword and the Sorcerer was a hit at the box office. I've watched this film countless times over the years, and its effect on me is every bit as strong as an adult, as it was when I was a boy. While not the highest-budgeted fantasy ever made, this movie deserves extra praise for its atmosphere. The filmmakers did the best they could with what they had, and despite the obvious camp factor, the scenery manages to be intriguing and eye-catching all at the same time. The performances are also more than worthy of note. Richard Lynch, the perennial sci-fi villain, performs beautifully as Cromwell; he simply exudes evil. Lee Horsley does an admirable job of playing the rogue Talon in his first feature film. Kathleen Beller makes a strong, yet sensual heroine in her portrayal of Alana, and Simon MacCorkindale truly shines in one of the movie's best scenes, in the torture chamber with Cromwell. And what more can I say about Xusia? He's awesome. Living proof that sorcery doesn't always have to be flashy to be deadly. Of course, the swords themselves deserve special mention. They're so outrageous, you just can't help but love them! I tend to think of Albert Pyun as one of the few directors who could dream up something so brazen and actually make it appealing to the masses. But above all, the fun factor is what makes this movie most enjoyable. This is the film that is the camp cousin of Conan the Barbarian While it's definitely not for realists (as if there is such a thing when it comes to fantasy!), those who can manage to suspend their disbelief long enough to be drawn into this magical world should find themselves greatly entertained. Just relax, and have fun with it. You'll like it.

• vieras e

  
  Very, very silly, and quite hilarious. Not enough so to keep me awake through the entire thing, though... The triple sword was actually kind of ingenious.

• Lafe F

  
  If only the movie was as exciting as the artwork. I found it a bit dull, with not enough monsters, dungeons and battles. There was a cool three-bladed sword the hero Talon (Lee Horsley) wielded. It was somewhat like Conan the Barbarian. The evil sorceror Clusia was played by Richard… More
  If only the movie was as exciting as the artwork. I found it a bit dull, with not enough monsters, dungeons and battles. There was a cool three-bladed sword the hero Talon (Lee Horsley) wielded. It was somewhat like Conan the Barbarian. The evil sorceror Clusia was played by Richard Moll (of Night Court fame). The wimpy princess in distress was Kathleen Beller. Lots of wench-talk. There were not enough fantasy elements to call this good. We D&D players ate this up in the era of Sword & Sorcery flicks; better ones had yet to come.

• Steve B

  
  Oh, the cheese factor is so high on this one, but you've got Richard Lynch as an evil king, Richard Moll as the evil sorcerer, Matt Houston as the "hunky" hero, and the eternally twelve-years-old Kathleen Beller as the gutsy maiden!!

• Chad R

  
  This is the epic culmination of Conan type cheese...and I love it. It has everything you'll ever want: swords, sorcery, battles, demons, regicide, evil wizards, epic battles (ok, I made that up), and the coolest 3 bladed sword in history. Actually the only 3 bladed sword ever,… More
  This is the epic culmination of Conan type cheese...and I love it. It has everything you'll ever want: swords, sorcery, battles, demons, regicide, evil wizards, epic battles (ok, I made that up), and the coolest 3 bladed sword in history. Actually the only 3 bladed sword ever, must be heavy as hell. But this is no ordinary 3 bladed sword! No, no, this sword has been rigged by Q to fire two of the blades through the air like an arrow using no propulsion whatsover! Cool as hell but not very practical...still, I want one of my very own..is there a site to order old props like this? I want to be Lee Horsley for Halloween! Anyhow, King gets killed, prince excapes barely with 3 bladed sword. Grows up a Smart Ass Mercenary. Years later, due to a hot chick, (imagine that) decides to try and get back the throne and save the chick. Complicated plot but most should be able to handle it. When is this coming to blue ray??? This even has Bull from Night Court as a bad guy!

• Christopher B

  
  Man, I was crazy for this film as a kid. Violent and cool as hell. This also is the film that taught me sometimes it's better not to revisit your childhood by watching these films as an adult. Much like I wouldn't find it much fun to run around the backyard pretending to… More
  Man, I was crazy for this film as a kid. Violent and cool as hell. This also is the film that taught me sometimes it's better not to revisit your childhood by watching these films as an adult. Much like I wouldn't find it much fun to run around the backyard pretending to be Rambo, this fim doesn't really appeal to the grown up mind. Maybe now that I've been disappointed, I can now watch it for it's cheese value.

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