A Espada e os Bárbaros

An evil conqueror Cromwell (Richard Lynch) revives an even more evil sorcerer Xuxia (Richard Moll) to help him to battle against the king of Aragorn (no kidding) Richard. So short story short, the Vromwell wins and executes the king and the queen and guess who stays alive to seek vengeance? Bingo. The prince Talon (Lee Horsley) and his silly three bladed sword, that can shoot blades as a projectiles.

Now, all things considered, this is a silly movie. In fact, I would dare to go as far, and say it's pretty idiotic. But, from the reasons beyond my poor knowledge, I liked it. not that I'm gonna give it 10 stars or anything, but it was surprisingly enjoyable, as far, that I liked it better than Red Sonja and that dreadful Conan The Barbarian sequel, Conan The Destroyer.

Acting is pretty horrendous in this film, just as the plot. But the film manages to be pretty funny, some times unintentionally (the projectile sword), sometimes intentionally. It keeps its quirky tongue in cheek atmosphere pretty well to the end, so it ain't that bad way to spend a couple of hours.

I had no clue what was happening the entire movie, and I had no clue who was who the whole movie. The plot kept bringing in new characters, and characters whom you thought were the main ones, disappear for 30 minutes or disappear altogether. There's the blonde girl, but apparently she's not the main girl (Kathleen Beller) whom the apparent hero has a love interest in. I was super confused the whole movie and it could not keep my attention. I know it should be a good film, since it falls into the illustrious category of '80s sword-and-sorcery, but it made no sense to me. It felt as if THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING had broken into many different subplots and sub-groups, crossed with THE PRINCESS BRIDE, but to compare this movie with them only sullies their reputation. Honestly, DEATHSTALKER II (1987) makes more sense and is funnier.

At the end during the credits there is basically something that says there is going to be a sequel, but there never was one. Kind of surprising they didn't considering this made 39 million back in 1982 which was a good take to say the least for that time. Considering it was rated R and didn't have anyone really big in it...the only person I recognize in the cast is Richard Moll. In the end though they didn't, which is too bad. This one is a good, bloody, fantasy film. The story isn't the best, but it has good action and sword fights, though the director really likes to show scenes where swords break like glass. As a kid I had trouble following the plot though as it was a bit hard to distinguish the good and bad guys, but later when I saw it, it was easier though I still say it could use a better plot.

This is a wonderfully well-done feature with top marks for its value in sheer fun.

If you're not into fantasy, see this anyway as a great swashbuckler a la the Errol Flynn-as-hero genre. (And Lee Horsley even resembles Errol throughout this film, which I was fortunate enough to see theatrically at time of release.)

There are terrific villains galore, rip-roaring adventure, great castles and dungeons, complicated skullduggery, and comeuppance aplenty, all done with delicate humor.

This is great screen entertainment with a '40s-'50s look to it, and that's a compliment. There are no wasted moments. The fast-moving story relies much more on quality writing, acting and expert direction rather than copping out with the sort of elaborate special-effects that producers/directors of such films seem to lean on so heavily now, nearly two decades later.

I think it's a classic, and a model, of its type.

Highly recommended to all except small children.

I'm sorry that a sequel was never made of The Sword And The Sorcerer. It was fairly obvious that Lee Horsley got caught up with his Matt Houston series at the time. This one was a very well done fantasy adventure.

Lee Horsley plays Talon deprived of his rightful place as king by evil usurper Richard Lynch who employs the black arts of sorcery to conquer the kingdom run by Horsley's father. Talon who is a child at the time flees, but grows up to be an adventurer medieval soldier of fortune with one nasty triple sword that actually fires two of its blades like a spring, the better to take care of more than one adversary.

In the meantime brother and sister Simon MacCorkindale and Kathleen Beller are having Richard Lynch now threaten their domain. Of course it is the mysterious Horsley that comes to their aid.

Lynch of whom I can't think of playing any good guys in his career is as evil as they come. Soon after resurrecting a wizard to help him in his quest, he kills the same wizard played by Richard Moll. But the sorcerer is far from done with him.

And there's George Maharis a mysterious nobleman with his own agenda involving the kingdom.

Horsley cut quite the romantic medieval figure and Kathleen Beller is a beautiful doe eyed princess who knows exactly where men are vulnerable in protecting her virtue. Nice special effects also characterize The Sword And The Sorcerer. I wish Horsley had done more films with his Talon character.