This movie is horrible- in a 'so bad it's good' kind of way.
The storyline is rehashed from so many other films of this kind, that I'm not going to even bother describing it. It's a sword/sorcery picture, has a kid hoping to realize how important he is in this world, has a "nomadic" adventurer, an evil aide/sorcerer, a princess, a hairy creature....you get the point.
The first time I caught this movie was during a very harsh winter. I don't know why I decided to continue watching it for an extra five minutes before turning the channel, but when I caught site of Gulfax, I decided to stay and watch it until the end.
Gulfax is a white, furry creature akin to Chewbacca, but not nearly as useful or entertaining to watch. He looks like someone glued a bunch of white shag carpeting together and forced the actor to wear it. There are scenes where it looks like the actor cannot move within, or that he's almost falling over. Although he isn't in the movie that much, the few scenes are worth it! Watch as he attempts to talk smack to Bo Svenson, taking the Solo-Chewbacca comparison's to an even higher level!
I actually bought this movie just because of that character, and still have it somewhere!
Gulfax may look like sh!t, but he made this movie!!! The only reason I've never seen the sequel, or even sought it out, was because of his absence! Perhaps should there be a final film, completing the trilogy, Gulfax will make a much-anticipated return!
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom
1985
Action / Adventure / Family / Fantasy
Plot summary
Simon, son of the wizard, must flee when the empire is overthrown by the evil Shurka. Schooled in the arts of magic, he must find the Ring of Magic and the Sword of Power and defeated the wizard who killed his father. He is joined in his quest by the swordmaster Kor, his faithful creature Gulfax, and the Forest Wizard Hurla.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
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Gulfax
Pathetic
Standard disclosure: I watched Wizards of the Lost Kingdom courtesy of the new MST3K. I've always prided myself in my ability to separate the movie from the show to give my honest opinion. A movie isn't necessarily bad just because it appeared on MST3K. With all that being said, however, I can honestly say the Wizards of the Lost Kingdom is one steaming pile of monkey poo. The movie tells the story of Simon – a sort of wizard-in-training. Simon's father was killed by the evil Shurka when he took over the kingdom. Simon was sent away for his own protection. Now, Simon, a creature that resembles a commode rug, a garden gnome, and an uninterested, out- of-shape Bo Svenson set off to right the wrongs of Shurka.
I could write so much about Wizards of the Lost Kingdom, but really, what's the point. The movie is so juvenile, so inept, and so plain old bad that it's not worth the trouble. I suppose if you were under 8 years-old, you might find a little to enjoy. Everything about the movie – acting, special effects, costuming, stunts, humor, lighting, plot, direction, sets, locations – is bottom of the barrel. For the most part, I really didn't care about anyone on screen and whether they lived or died. It's all just so pathetic. I haven't rated the movie a "1" for two reasons. First, I have a soft spot for Bo Svenson. He's not the best, most charismatic actor you'll see, but he's made some movies I really enjoy (Inglorious Bastards, for example). And two, there's something about the way Thom Christopher plays a bad guy – or more accurately, overplays a bad guy – that I can't help but enjoy. While he's not as over-the- top as Shurka he was as Troxartes in Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell, he comes close. I'm not going to say it's a "good" performance, just fun to watch.
An Enjoyable Escape
When evil screams throughout the world. When all the galaxies converge. When all that's fair and fine seems lost. A Hero will emerge.
Ed Naha wrote this film and in retrospect had some humorous things to say: "I don't think this movie was so much shot as it was beaten to death. When they whittled it down to what was useful from the footage, it only ran 58 minutes. Now Roger (Corman) had done a lot of sword-and-sorcery films, and so he told a couple of the editors to pull all they could from them and edit that footage in. So now the finished movie has a 15 or 20-minute prologue that has nothing to do with rest of the film!" Some of the added scenes are obvious, and anyone who knows enough of Corman's work will notice the recycled score and other second-hand pieces. But despite the slap-dash effort, it actually comes out to be a pretty fun movie. Plot inconsistencies, yes, and some silliness, but still plenty of fun... and some rather gnarly monsters and bad guys. Whoever built these props and costumes is first-class.