Line #26 Film/Amazons


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amazonsposter.jpg]]
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3	One of the many HeroicFantasy films produced by Creator/RogerCorman and filmed in Argentina to [[FollowTheLeader capitalize on the popularity of fantasy films]] [[TheEighties at the time]]. It is notable for having a better than average story, with villains who have read The EvilOverlordList. This is likely due to the script being written by noted African American {{Fantasy}} author Charles Saunders of ''Literature/{{Imaro}}'' fame, adapted from his short-story ''Agbewe’s Sword'', which was published in a 1979 anthology titled [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons! Amazons!]]
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5	The titular Amazons are the elite guard in the lands ruled by The Emerald Queen. When the EvilSorcerer Kalungo and his EvilArmy begin to lay waste to the land, it is determined that one of the Amazons must retrieve [[MacGuffin The Sword of Azundati]] - the [[AncientArtifact only weapon capable of slaying Kalungo]]. TheChosenOne is revealed to be Dyala - the second in command of the Amazons. The Amazon General, Tashinge, orders her daughter, Tashi - the finest warrior among the Amazons - to go with Dyala to watch her back.
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7	In truth, Tashinge wants Tashi to kill Dyala once the sword is secured - nominally [[FeudingFamilies to settle a score with Dyala's mother]] but really because she is working with Kalungo to retrieve the one thing that can kill him in exchange for becoming his queen once he conquers the land. Kalungo, however, is smart enough not to trust any woman capable of betraying her own people, and sends [[AmbiguousSituation his lioness]] Akam to kill both Dyala and Tashi once they have the sword.
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10	!!This film provides examples of:
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12	* ActionGirl: Dyala and Tashi.
13	* [[ActuallyIAmHim Actually I Am Her]]: The old woman who helps Dyala and Tashi on their way to the cave holding The Sword of Azundati is revealed to be Azundati herself, now "deathless or just dead".
14	* AmbiguousSituation: Kalungo has a lioness named Akam in his lair, to whom he feeds rebels. Later, Akam changes into a nearly naked woman and he sends her off to kill Dyala and Tashi. It is never explained if Akam is a {{Familiar}}, an UpliftedAnimal or a VoluntaryShapeshifter in Kalungo's service who works as an assassin/SexSlave.
15	* AncientArtifact: The Sword of Azundati.
16	* ArtificialLimbs: Tshingi has a prosthetic metal hand in place of the one she lost years ago.
17	* CoolSword: The Sword of Azundati.
18	* CoversAlwaysLie: There is no male lion in the movie and the Amazons' in the movie wear [[FurBikini Fur Bikinis]] rather than [[ChainmailBikini Chainmail Bikinis]].
19	* EvilOverlordList: Kalungo seems to have read it, taking multiple measures to ensure that TheChosenOne of this generation dies after retrieving the CoolSword that can kill him rather than trusting her to fail, apparently leaving said AncientArtifact untouchable in the Cave of No Return, Past The Gorge Of Eternal Peril, etc...
20	** Ironically, his gaming the system is what leads to his downfall. If he hadn't sent Akam after Dyala and Tashi in the first place and if Akam hadn't stepped in when the two amazons were overpowered by outlaws, they probably would have been killed and the sword lost for a generation!
21	* EvilSorcerer: Kalungo.
22	* {{Familiar}}: Akam might be one to Kalungo. It's an AmbiguousSituation.
23	* FanService: Multiple examples.
24	** Akam The Lioness in her human form. She's naked except for a collar.
25	** The SkinnyDipping scene and subsequent fight with the bandits.
26	** Kalungo and Tashinge's sex scene.
27	* FeudingFamilies: Tashinge and Dyala's mom fought over a man, who became Dyala's father. Tashinge lost her hand in the process and has raised her daughter to avenge her loss.
28	* FireForgedFriends: Dyala and Tashi. Despite the feud between their families, the two grow to respect then like each other after saving one another's lives.
29	* FurBikini: The default armor for all the Amazons, except for General Tashinge.
30	* GambitPileup: You got the Amazons sending Dyala and Tashi to find the sword, Tashinge ordering Tashi to kill Dyala, Tashinge also working with Kalungo as his mistress, Kalungo not trusting Tashinge completely and sending his own minion after the sword, some political squabbling in the Emerald Queen's court, and Kalungo's recently captured slaves working on a revolt. Dyala is pretty much the only major character in the film who isn't part of at least one secret plan to double-cross someone.
31	* InformedAbility: Dyala is supposed to be TheChosenOne and Tashi is the best single warrior among the Amazons, yet they are both easily overpowered by a group of bandits and probably would have been MadeASlave if not for Akam attacking the bandits and giving Dyala a chance to fight back once Tashi was knocked unconscious.
32	* MacGuffin: The Sword of Azundati.
33	* MsFanService: Given the thong-bottomed FurBikini armor for the amazons, pretty much every female character in the movie, save for The Emerald Queen and Azundati, fit the bill.
34	* MumLooksLikeASister: Tashinge looks more like Tashi's older sister than her mother.
35	** Amusingly, if IMDB can be trusted, Penelope Reed (Tashi) is almost two months older than Danitza Kingsley (Tashinge)!
36	* OurSoulsAreDifferent: While the movie barely has a chance to touch upon the full mythology, it does make use of concepts presented in ''Agbewe’s Sword'' by Charles Saunders. The short version is that each person has three souls and two of the souls are bonded to a tree that is planted in the ancestral grove of their people whenever a child is born. Hurting the tree will harm the person physically and killing the tree completely will disconnect them from their ancestors and their gods.
37	** This leads the disgraced Tashinge to try and cut down Dyala's tree after having lost her daughter, her lover and her position.
38	* [[{{Outlaw}} Outlaws]]: A band of them nearly overpower Dyala and Tashi.
39	* TheProphecy: Dyala gets one declaring her TheChosenOne who will retrieve The Sword of Azundati.
40	** Later, Azundati herself gives Dyala and Tashi a prophecy which states that three will enter the cave containing the sword but only one will come out.
41	* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: Tashinge is killed in the process of trying to cut down Dyala's soul tree, after said tree falls on her.
42	* ShapeshiftingSquick: Is Akam The Lioness a familiar who changes into a beautiful woman wearing nothing but a [[SlaveCollar leather collar]]? An UpliftedAnimal created by Kalungo's magic? Or is she a SexSlave/Assassin who can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting voluntarily change]] into a lioness?
43	* SkinnyDipping: At one point Dyala and Tashi stop their urgent quest to go for a swim.
44	* SnakesAreEvil: A constrictor tries to strangle Dyala, leading to Tashi killing the snake and saving her life.
45	* StockFootage: Footage of the final battle between the Amazons and Kalungo's men found its way into other Creator/RogerCorman produced fantasy films, including ''Film/WizardsOfTheLostKingdom2'' and ''Film/DeathstalkerIIDuelOfTheTitans''
46	* {{Stripperiffic}}: The Amazon soldiers' uniform is a fur thong bikini.
47	* UpliftedAnimal: Akam might be one. It's an AmbiguousSituation
48	* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Akam The Lioness, though it's unclear if she's a familiar who can shift into the form of an attractive young lady or an actual lioness transforming into a human.

Context Film / Amazons