Review of Red Sonja (1985) by Stuart K — 30 Jul 2009
After the Conan franchise, producer Dino De Laurentiis took on another character created by Robert E. Howard, and even brought in Richard Fleischer who had just done Conan The Destroyer, and even Arnie, who despite his top billing, amounts to no more than a cameo.
Quite misleading, but this is a typically cheesy sword and sorcery adventure. This has Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen), who seeks revenge upon the evil Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman), whose army slaughtered her family.
Gedren has also stolen a green orb called the Talisman, which she intends to rule the world with. Red Sonja then teams up with Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and later with the bratty young Prince Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.
) and his loyal and large servant Falkon (Paul L. Smith). On their way, they encounter the rougish Lord Brytag (Pat Roach :D), and a huge mechanical fish. It's a very silly action film, it doesn't outstay it's welcome either, and it's marginally better than the Conan film that came out the year before.
Arnie's cameo feels wasted although Nielsen has a compelling presence. The sets and costumes by Danilo Donati are brilliant. Oh, and EVERYONE likes Pat Roach!! :D.
This review of Red Sonja (1985) was written by Stuart K on 30 Jul 2009.
Red Sonja has generally received mixed reviews.
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