This old thread revived again? I gotta go into my movie review mode....
Stone Goblin wrote:I went threw everybody's list yet I didn't see what I consider the best samurai movie of all time.
Seven Samurai(1954) a great film that everybody should see.
Clearly you didn't go through everyone's list because if you look at the third message in this thread you'll see that I mention it. My usual comments to the films you list so the Great Unwashed know what they are in for....
Jason and the Argonauts(1963): Greek myth is not something I define as "Castles", but the classic Harryhausen stop-motion effects that inspired many of today's special effects artists (the scene that is always singled out: the skeleton attack). You must see this film. You must see Kim Novak back when busts were not special effects. I saw this three times in the theaters when it came out (ahhhhhhh, double features for 35 cent matinees in the summers). Got my first LEGO that summer.
Jason and the Argonauts(2000 tv miniseries) Dreadful awful actor as Jason. Who did he (self-censored) to get this part? Avoid this stinker at all costs.
Hidden Fortress(1958): I taped this one on high quality tape set at best recording level - which meant I was taping a movie just over two hours with only two hours of tape. It was YEARS before I finally got to see the ending. Kurosawa and Mifune - great stuff.
Sinbad: You gotta commit to some specific verions.
The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad: Harryhausen's first color effects, I think? Skeleton (prelude to Jason and the Argonauts massive seven skeleton scene), Rocs, Cyclops, Dragons. Cool effects from the master. Kerwin Matthews as Sinbad.
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad: Harryhausen. Better actor as Sinbad (John Phillip Law), the luscious Caroline Munro as the love interest, Dr. Who (Tom Baker) as the slimey bad guy (well played). Incredible six-armed Kali statue fight highlights the effects.
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger: Patrick Wayne (John Wayne's son) lamely plays Sinbad since the Golden Voyage guy was unavailble. Jane Seymour, yum, Taryn Power (Tyrone's daughter...grand-daughter?) gets higher billing than Jane for some reason. The movie just isn't as good as the preceeding one.
Captain Sinbad: Guy Williams (Disney's TV Zorro) as Sinbad. I think this was a spaghetti fantasy with the usual American stars to make it marketable. Cheesier than the Harryhausen movies, but actually a watchable adventure flick from the time period.
Sinbad the Sailor (1947 version): Douglas Fairbanks Jr, hamming it up as Sinbad. Anthony Quinn playing his usual heavy in that time period, Maureen O'Hara as the feisty love interest, Walter Slezak in his usual sleazy supporting role. This is an adventure movie, not a special effects adventure movie, in the grand old Hollywood style.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000): Tragedy makes fantasy respectable (this, Hero, Lord of the Rings). Wonderfully acted (even the english language version, since the stars do their own voices), exciting action. Needs a little bit of editing, but a great story.
Spartacus(1960): I'm not an animal! The Good Guys always seem to use surprise fire weapons on the battlefield with Hollywood, but you never, ever see one of the few real firey battlefield weapons (Flaming Pigs - pig squeals frighten elephants, so how do you get pigs to squeal reliably? Yes, set them on fire!). Ahem, sorry for the diatribe. Stanly Kubrick somewhat under control as director since this was Kirk Douglas producing (though I think the Kubrick-n-Kirk Paths of Glory was better). Anyway, classic big-budget action period piece.
Legend(1985): Billy Barty, Tom Cruise, and Tim Curry? Mix in Ridley Scott as director and you get over-art-directed scenes and a strange surrealistic story. Only for the dedicated.
The 300 Spartans(1962): What happened to the alleged "Gates of Fire" version? Anyway, classic rendition of the Spartans actually getting off their butts and doing enough to get all the credit for delaying the massive Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae. Return home with your shield or on it!
Conan The Barbarian: Thankfully rescued from Dino De Lauentis' clutches by John Milius' directing. Ever notice that the Governor of California (what were the voters thinking) even screams with an Austrian accent? Has its moments.
Conan The Destroyer: Or, as I call it, Conan the Barbican-Opener. Some Really Awful Casting and no John Milius to save the situation. Carlo Rambaldi machines for special effects. Don't even ask me to comment on the even worse Red Sonja....