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Revision as of 06:25, 1 December 2006 by Ebakunin (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) 1983 film| Krull | |
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| Directed by | Peter Yates |
| Written by | Stanford Sherman |
| Produced by | Ron Silverman |
| Starring | Ken Marshall Lysette Anthony Liam Neeson Graham McGrath Robbie Coltrane Alun Armstrong Freddie Jones |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date | 29 July 1983 |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ~ US$45 - $50,000,000 |
Krull is a 1983 heroic fantasy film directed by Peter Yates and produced by Ron Silverman. It stars Ken Marshall as Prince Colwyn and Lysette Anthony as Princess Lyssa.
The film's score was by James Horner. The film is notable for its early screen roles for the now famous British actors Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane. Also, for its surrealist set design within the Black Fortress.
Plot
The world of Krull is invaded by The Beast and his army of Slayers, who travel the galaxy in the mountain-like spaceship, the Black Fortress. The 'Attacker' Slayers wear black armor (primarily for night-time assault), while the 'Defender' Slayers wear white armor (signifying the elite guards of the Beast). Both wield weapons that appear to be a (reloadable) one-shot laser rifle on one end coupled with an opposing bladed bayonet end for close quarter combat. The people of Krull on the other hand have only technology equal to that of the Middle Ages or that of the Lord of the Rings. While it is possible to kill Slayers, at this point they are winning the war against the peoples of Krull.
Prince Colwyn and Princess Lyssa decide to marry and form an alliance between their rival kingdoms in the hope that together their combined forces will be strong enough to defeat the Beast and his armies. But it was foretold that Lyssa, who had an ancient name, would bare a child destined to rule the galaxy. The Beast, intend on ensuring it came true to his satisfaction, had his Slayers attack on the wedding day. The castle of King Eirig (Bernard Archard), Lyssa's father, is destroyed, the Kings are murdered, the human armies protecting the castle are decimated, and the princess herself is kidnapped and taken to the Black Fortress.
Colwyn, the only survivor of the attack sets out to rescue his bride under the guidance of Ynyr the Old One (Freddie Jones). His first task is to find the Glaive, an ancient and magical weapon that he must retrieve from a lava cavern, high in the mountain peaks. Next he must learn the location of the Black Fortress, which teleports to a new location on the planet at sunrise every day. On his journey he is joined by a cowardly shapeshifting magician, Ergo "the Magnificent" (David Battley), the cyclops Rell (Bernard Bresslaw), and Torquil (Alun Armstrong), the leader of a band of ten escaped convicts that includes Kegan (a young Liam Neeson), Rhun (Robbie Coltrane) and Oswyn (Todd Carty in his feature film debut). Colwyn enlists the convicts' aid as his armies have already been slaughtered by the Slayers. He offers them their freedom as reward for their service.
They are also aided by the blind prophet, the Emerald Seer (John Welsh), with his young apprentice Titch (Graham McGarth) in the attempt to find the Black Fortress. But the Beast managed to have the Emerald Seer disposed of before he could reveal his location. This forced Ynyr to see the Widow of the Web (Francesca Annis), an enchantress who loved Ynyr long ago and whose terrible crime exiled her to live within the lair of a giant spider, for aid at the cost of his life. With the information given by a dying Ynyr, Colwyn and his group have only until the next sunrise to find the Black Fortress, defeat the Slayers, vanquish the Beast, rescue Lyssa, and save the world.
Trivia
- The voice of Princess Lyssa was re-dubbed by American actress Lindsay Crouse.
- Twenty-three sets were built for the film covering ten soundstages at Pinewood Studios, London.
- The chosen weapon of Colwyn is the Glaive, a boomerang-type of spinning, five-clawed throwing disc that returned to the wielder's hand. It should not be confused with glaive, a medieval polearm.
- The dub for the death screams of the Slayers was taken from the Mayar shrieks in "At The Earth's Core"
- The Fire Mares, steeds that travel so fast they leave a trail of flame and can defy gravity are played by Clydesdale horses.
- Krull was made into an Atari game soon after its theatrical release.
- The film's notable theme would seem to be sacrifice- the human soldiers in the beginning give their lives trying to cover Lyssa's escape, The Old One and The Widow of the Web die so that Colwyn might learn where the Black Fortress (and Lyssa) are to be, and Rell the Cyclops chooses to endure a horrible death so that he may help his friends.