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Unlike most reviewers here, I don’t think Krull is as good as they say, let alone a classic. But the DVD quality and extras available on it make up for the film’s shortcomings and really adds to the viewing experience. Another example of the DVD enhancing the actual film, beyond the obvious upgrade in video and audio. If you like this type of film, buy it. If you don’t, a rental will do as it still makes for an enjoyable ‘popcorn’-viewing experience.
A few notes on the film:
*visually, it’s still impressive. From the psychadelic set pieces inside the beast’s fortress, the design of the ‘Slayers’, the ’swamp’ sequence(arguably the best scene in the film), the widow’s lair, etc. Only the sparse-looking castle designs at the beginning look ‘cheap’. The music is also rousing and memorable enough to draw you in.
*the film should be given an award for not having an annoying child actor or grating ‘comic relief’ actor mess up the film. Both of these characters work quite well. In fact, the secondary characters(bandits, old man, cyclops,etc) all come off better(more natural) than the primary leads. Don’t believe me? Can you imagine anyone else playing Luke Skywalker? No. But I could easily imagine someone else playing the leads in Krull. Btw, Lysette Anthony CAN act. She just doesn’t do it very well in this one.
*the film does a nice job(for the most part) of invoking a medieval yet far-off time and place, with its main weakness being the not-so-charismatic leads and not so great script.
*One thing really bothers me though, the special weapon ‘Glaive’ is rendered pointless at the end when the two of them discover it’s their love(ugh) that can defeat the beast, not the glaive-that and shooting fire out of Colwyn’s hand. So why make such a big deal about getting the Glaive at the beginning?
Other films you might want to check out: Excalibur, Dragonslayer, Clash of the Titans, Conan the Barbarian, & maybe Hawk: The Slayer or The Beastmaster.
Despite the predictable, formulaic plot, this film contains plenty of visual and symbolic creativity to entertain sci fi and fantasy lovers. Surreal images and stunning filmography dominate the entire movie, and sufficiently overshadow the somewhat weak characterization and acting that is no more than satisfactory. The pre-computer age special effects are good enough and, most importantly, put to good use. The plot maintains a consistent pace and doesn’t become sidetracked from its original aim. The music is an upbeat, John Williams-like symphonic composition.
The story takes place on the planet Krull, which has been besieged by an evil entity known as the Beast. He inhabits the Black Fortress, a mountainous structure that changes location at every sunrise. Price Colwyn embarks on a quest to destroy this evil after his father is slain and his bride imprisoned in the Black Fortress. The plot progresses in a way reminiscent of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
Some intriguing oddities, like the use of driving bits (normally used in conjunction with carriage harness) on the riding horses, help to create an otherworldly feel through relative unfamiliarity. Medieval style weaponry and laser guns bring past and future together in an interesting combination. Symbolism involving the concepts of time and space is prominent and repeated in countless different forms.
Though i personally like this film a lot, it’s not for everybody. The lack of character depth and not-so-great acting are major counts against it, so i highly recommend renting it at your local video store before buying it.
