What can I say about Roger Corman? Well, to be honest, I am a huge fan. Sure his movies are schlock and represent some worst D-level movies and it is obvious that most of his casting choices were based not on the actress's ability to act but rather their willingness to take off their clothes. But all that aside Corman is praised for his ability to keep a tight production schedule, find people that are willing to work with him again and again, and keep a film under budget and on time.
There are also many, many modern directors that have worked with him and praised his work. Directors such as Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, and James Cameron. Ron Howard has been praised Corman's work on many occasions. He has over 400 producer credits and 56 director credits.
Corman is only the EP here, but there are plenty of similarities between this movie and Viking Woman from 1957.
Barbarian Queen (1985)
Barbarian Queen is a fairly typical fantasy fare. A barbarian queen, Amethea (played by the late Lana Clarkson who was killed by Phil Spector) is due to be married to Argan (Frank Zagarino) when her village is attacked by raiders. People are killed and others taken as slaves. Amethea and her friends Estrild (Katt Shea, who is likely the best actress in the bunch), Tiniara (Susana Traverso), and former victim Taramis (Dawn Dunlap) seek to free their people including Amethea's fiance. They meet up with Dariac (Andrea Scriven in her only role), a young girl who lives with the local rebels who enlists the barbarian's aid.
The first part is an excuse for some gory fights and a bunch of topless barbarian women running around or getting captured. I'll the movie credit, it does like to show the barbarian women as being strong and powerful.
Our big bad guy is Arrakur (Arman Chapman), he captures our heroines and threatens them with torture and death.
Argan manages to get his fellow gladiator-slaves to join him. The movie gets to the big fight and then just ends. Must have run out of money.
The movie is not terrible, it is just also not good. It could be the spiritual godmother to Xena: The Warrior Princess. Though that Boris Vallejo movie poster is actually the best part of the movie.
Katt Shea is fun to watch really. She looks like she is having the best time of her life acting in this.
Gaming Content
There is a torture chamber that would be good dungeon dressing. I like the idea of this being a "Queen needing to rescue the Prince" for once.
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Tim Knight of Hero Press and Pun Isaac of Halls of the Nephilim along with myself are getting together at the Facebook Group I'd Rather Be Killing Monsters to discuss these movies. Follow along with the hashtag #IdRatherBeWatchingMonsters that is if I can get my co-admins to agree this is the best hashtag for this!
This film is available on the TubiTV app.
ReplyDeleteIt's also up on Youtube, along with the sequel, Barbarian Queen II: The empress Strikes Back.
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