The Beastmaster (1982)

Never fails to entertain, 28 April 2007

I've said it before, but with The Beastmaster, it bears repeating – the biggest single factor I use when rating a movie is entertainment value. Great production values, an intricate plot, superb acting, expensive special effects, etc. are secondary to the enjoyment I get form a film. Sure, I realize my enjoyment of a movie can be affected by something like bad acting, but I as long as I find a certain level of entertainment in a movie, it's a good movie as far as I'm concerned and I rate it accordingly. So while I am perfectly capable of seeing the flaws in The Beastmaster, I have a blast every time I've seen it and have no problems rating it a 7/10. And when you think about it, isn't having fun one of the most important things you can get out of a movie.

I feel sorry for anyone who can't have a good time with The Beastmaster. I mean, what's not to like? If you can't have fun with: an oily, buffed-up Marc Singer talking to his animals and swinging a nice sword; a half-dressed (and in one instance, a not dressed) Tanya Roberts; John Amos in S&M gear: Rip Torn in dreads and a beak of a nose; ferrets; a tiger with a bad dye job; hideous witches; fights on a pyramid; an army on horseback with bat wing helmets; massive explosions; giant bird-like creatures who engulf their prey; and underground passages filled with crazed, berserker like guards, then you just don't know how to have a good time.

Finally, I'm sick of hearing that The Beastmaster somehow ripped-off Conan the Barbarian (something I've heard repeatedly over the years). If you listen to the commentary on the DVD for The Beastmaster, you'll quickly realize that there is no way this movie could have been made in response to the success of Conan - it was pretty much in the can when Conan was released. The timing turned out to be a happy coincidence and I'm sure Don Coscarelli and Paul Pepperman were pleased with that. Conan created a market for Sword & Sorcerer movies in the early 80s. Admittedly, The Beastmaster rode that wave and, I'm sure, benefited form it. And it doesn't hurt that The Beastmaster is one of the best movies of this type that followed Conan. A lot of the Conan-inspired films of the 80s are barely watchable. The Beastmaster rises above the mire and is one of the few actually memorable Sword & Sorcerer movies that came out during this period.

7/10