Red Sonja

9/8/2018

Not a good REH interpretation (it’s too campy), but entertaining in some ways "Red Sonja" (1985) is essentially "Conan 3," after "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) and "Conan the Destroyer" (1984). Schwarzenegger plays the barbarian 'Kalidor' here because the filmmakers didn't have the rights to the 'Conan' name since 'Red Sonja' was owned by a company separate from the REH people, yet -- strangely -- they could use REH's Hyborian setting, albeit in a half-axxed way. "Red Sonja" is the least of the three films. In other words, if you couldn't stomach parts of "Conan the Destroyer" you'll loathe "Red Sonja." It starts out pretty good but by the 23-minute mark the goofiness kicks in with the introduction of Prince Tarn (the spoiled Asian child who deems himself a king) and his loyal rotund

3/25/2023

Hot off the back of his outing as "Conan", Arnold Schwarzenegger teams up with Brigitte Nielsen in the eponymous role as both have to avenge the killing of her family and the destruction of her homeland by the evil "Gedren" (Sandahl Bergman). Their task is not helped much by their alighting on the precociously irritating Prince "Tarn" (Ernie Reyes Jnr.) and his nice but dim bodyguard "Falkon" (Paul L. Smith). Various set-piece escapades follow as "Sonja" gradually realises that she cannot prevail without the help of Arnie against the evil queen and her sidekick "Ikol" (Ronald Lacey) and so battle lines are drawn and sword play and acrobatics ensue. It's mercifully short which is a double blessing because I really did want to throttle the young princeling after about five minutes and I coul