Ator The Fighting Eagle (1982)
Following in the footsteps of Conan The Barbarian, here's another movie of the old world. Of love, and war, and the mythical realm that came before the current one where science seems to have killed our magic.
It may not be as flawless as Conan was - the threat levels never feel even remotely on par either - but the atmosphere does, and that's the good part. The mystery's there. The darkness and theatrics and closeness to the elements. Wind and water and wonder.
There's a little witchcraft, a little shadow and mirror magic (could the mirror room in the second Conan movie have been inspired by this one scene?!), and how often do you see an actual bear cub in a movie too? So cute, but oh so deadly.
Also don't miss the shield of Mordor. The shield that 'wards of death'. That sounds familiar doesn't it.
There are snakes, spiders, witchery and woman to their breadth too.
The budget level may not be on par with the movie it was (probably) inspired by, but they still managed to make it all better than I expected.
Shame about Roma though. And imagine if Conan had been the main character here too, his expressiveness just might've upped it all just enough to make this as much a cult classic as the other...
rated 3/5: not bad