'Kull The Conqueror' (1997) – John Nicolella.

 

'To be a king is to be alone!'

Maestro Robert E. Howard's immortal barbarian king is entertainingly brought to bravura, bellicose life in director John Nicolella's uncommonly rousing, blood n' thunder fantasy epic 'Kull The Conqueror', with likeable actor Kevin Sorbo energetically cutting a quick-witted, sinewy, crimson dash as the legendary far-flung, able-fisted, steel-thewed, pectorially proud pugilist,frequently betrayed, darkly beguiled by the majestically malevolent Red Witch (Tia Carrera), the indomitable Kull robustly endures a great many arduous travails in his blood-curdlingly calamitous crusade to avail himself of the mythically ancient, glacially protected 'Breath of Valka' in order that he might effectively rid his hard-won kingdom of the foully imagined machinations of the diabolical duplicitous, 3000-year-old red-headed sorceress Akivasha. There is a refreshingly plentiful generosity of impactful incident in the axe-excellently exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping adventure 'Kull The Conqueror', wherein our stalwart, sinew-strapped hero must do great battle against the flame-wrangling wickedness of his terrible nemesis Akivasha The Red Witch! Watching this Atlantean dog who would be king proving his mettle is more than up to the task to rule most certainly makes for a phantasmagorically fun ride, the noisome film has pace, and the lively performances are consistently colourful, with especially fine supporting work from the deliriously delectable Karina Lombard as Kull's immortal love Zareta. With frequent, panoramic use of striking exterior locations, rather than studio sets gives 'Kull The Conqueror' far more of an exhilaratingly epic, windswept feel, Kull's larger-than-life personality, the unerring savagery of the barbarian's sun-glinted steel, and his gloriously roustabout adventuring readily filling this broad cinematic canvas with Kull's blood-stirringly bellicose brilliance! The joyfully rumbustious film's technical aspects are quite superb, the vividly rendered practical effects by master illusionists Gianetto Di Rossi, and Greg Cannom are a delight to behold, with maestro monster-maker Cannom's hideous-looking fire demon proving to be an especially fearsome manifestation! 'Kull The Conqueror' heroically vanquished my boredom for 95 minutes!