You know how when you watch a movie when you're a kid, and you think it's awesome, and then when you grow up, and watch it again, you realize it was weird as hell? Well this is not that kind of movie. When I saw it as a kid, I thought it was weird as hell then.
Before really getting into the movie though, I should note that I saw the American version as a kid. I just recently saw the original UK version though, ans if I had to recommend one, it would be the UK version. The US version cuts a lot of dialogue that actually helped make the movie a little more coherent, and will just confuse you.
So first, let's talk about what's good. The first thing to come to mind is the music, which, while not exactly Crowning Music Of Awesome, is actually pretty good in its own right, particularly the songs "Lay Down Your Arms" and "Evilmainya." Other than that, you've got Brian Blessed playing the villain, who, it seems, cannot go more than two sentences without breaking out in ridiculously over the top evil cackling, and in general, just hams it up like no tomorrow. The scenes with the Brigadier are kind of entertaining in their own right as well.
As far as bad, there's nothing really patently bad about the movie, except that it's just incredibly weird. Even as a 5 year old kid, I remember thinking "wait. He was a prince in the middle ages. How did it suddenly get to be like 1970? Did he spend like 400 years as a frog? If so, why? How did he live that long? If he could just use his magic to become 6 feet tall, why didn't he just do that to begin with?"
And well, to be perfectly honest, that's part of the fun of this movie. It makes absolutely zero sense, and is great if you have an hour and a half to kill, and feel like watching something that will just make you say "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" One should also note: Everything Is Better On Drugs, in particular this movie.
Main Makes a BLAM look normal.
You know how when you watch a movie when you're a kid, and you think it's awesome, and then when you grow up, and watch it again, you realize it was weird as hell? Well this is not that kind of movie. When I saw it as a kid, I thought it was weird as hell then.
Before really getting into the movie though, I should note that I saw the American version as a kid. I just recently saw the original UK version though, ans if I had to recommend one, it would be the UK version. The US version cuts a lot of dialogue that actually helped make the movie a little more coherent, and will just confuse you.
So first, let's talk about what's good. The first thing to come to mind is the music, which, while not exactly Crowning Music Of Awesome, is actually pretty good in its own right, particularly the songs "Lay Down Your Arms" and "Evilmainya." Other than that, you've got Brian Blessed playing the villain, who, it seems, cannot go more than two sentences without breaking out in ridiculously over the top evil cackling, and in general, just hams it up like no tomorrow. The scenes with the Brigadier are kind of entertaining in their own right as well.
As far as bad, there's nothing really patently bad about the movie, except that it's just incredibly weird. Even as a 5 year old kid, I remember thinking "wait. He was a prince in the middle ages. How did it suddenly get to be like 1970? Did he spend like 400 years as a frog? If so, why? How did he live that long? If he could just use his magic to become 6 feet tall, why didn't he just do that to begin with?"
And well, to be perfectly honest, that's part of the fun of this movie. It makes absolutely zero sense, and is great if you have an hour and a half to kill, and feel like watching something that will just make you say "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" One should also note: Everything Is Better On Drugs, in particular this movie.