Krull is a 1983 fantasy movie. The plot concerns aliens from another planet coming to earth to enslave humanity and impregnate a princess with the seed that would become the future leader of the galaxy. The only resistance comes from a King and a group of converted prisoners.
What do the critics say?
Rotten Tomatoes: 35%
IMDB: 5.9
Sarcazmo's rating (out of 7) 4: REWATCH
Sarcazmo's rating (out of 7) 4: REWATCH
The trailer.
The Caz doesn't care what the critics think...Krull is fun, easy, entertaining, and underappreciated. Are there plots holes ...yes, is it perfect...far from. Theres too much goodness to not like this movie. Breaking down a movie like only Sarcazmo can do, its time for..
Sarcazmo's 7 random observations, critiques, and opinions about the movie Krull.
Sarcazmo's 7 random observations, critiques, and opinions about the movie Krull.
7. The set design. I have read that Krull's budget was somewhere between $27 million and $50 million. Adjusted for inflation, that's a lot of scratch. Said scratch was used to build 23 sets in legendary Pinewood Studios. The sets are epic. The photos on the left are random interior shots of the Black Fortress. The movie just looks fantastic. Everything is clear and sharp. 
Some say the octopus/parasite creature burrows back to the Black Fortress and infects another enslaved human.
Slayers are very hard to kill as they seem to have electricity running thru their body's in some way, which makes it difficult to slice them with metal. In the initial wedding crasher scene, very few Slayers are killed.
Slayers have two problems that you'd think the all powerful Beast could remedy...they're slow and they're dumb. This is what makes them slightly vulnerable in combat. If they were stealth like a shadow ninja...game over.
The Slayers weapon of choice is a hybrid spear/sword. The weapons steal the movie quite frankly. The spear can fire one electric spear blast then its flipped over and used to fight with the other end... very nifty idea.
5. The Glaive. Name me a cooler weapon. The Glaive is a 5 pointed star that sprouts 5 blades when summoned by its owner. Seems to be indestructible, and destroys pretty much everything in its path.
The main problem here is, it isn't used until the end of the film. Of course if the hero could use it there would be no bad guys left I guess. It is said he should only use it when he needs it, I guess his army getting crushed during the swamp battle and a little kids life is in danger is not a serious enough predicament. P.S. the star works like a boomerang, how the hell does the hero catch it without severing a finger.
4. Cyclops. The most bad ass character in the movie. Around 7 feet tall, estimated to be around 400 pounds, deadly accurate with a harpoon sized spear. Epic strength, great speed for someone his size, shakes off spear shots like they're pellets. Only weakness is bad peripheral vision. Cyclops race made a deal with the movies villain (The Beast). They gave up one eye in order to see the future. Unfortunately for them The Beast is a double dealer and took their eye but only gave them the ability to see the future date in which they'll pass away. Ever since that moment the Cyclops race waged war on The Beast and all Slayers.
One of the best moments in the film is during the swamp battle. 3 Slayers are on the attack when out of nowhere, from like 30 yards away
, a spear hits one dead center, sending its parasite brain into the dirt. The remaining Slayers back the eff up knowing Cyclops has arrived on the scene. They want no part of that.
, a spear hits one dead center, sending its parasite brain into the dirt. The remaining Slayers back the eff up knowing Cyclops has arrived on the scene. They want no part of that.
Some form of Cyclops would have no doubt shown up in any sequels had there been any. He could have been the franchises Chewbacca...tough but lovable.
3. The Widow of the Web scene. Doing giant spiders on film long before Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, one of Krulls great scenes involves a journey to the center of a giant spiderweb that contains a woman who can foresee the future. No one has ever made it out alive.
We come to find out the woman was imprisoned there for killing her newborn child. I guess she doesn't have to eat or drink, she's just magically kept in the web alive for eternity.
Well its no coincidence that the character who makes it to the center of the web is the father of the murdered child. In an emotional scene, the guy admits hes already forgiven her for murdering their child...ok. He just needs some info then he'll be on his way. 
She agrees to help, but in order for him to get out, she has to sacrifice herself. She breaks a magical hourglass and gives the dust to him to use to stall the giant white spider that's gonna be coming after him. His life runs out with the sand. If that's the case I'd just put the sand in a baggie and live forever. Damn good scene even with all the cheese corn.
2. The Beast. What an epic villain. Soft spoken, well mannered, polite, courteous..ugly as all hell.
The Beast is a supreme alien being from somewhere in outer space. He travels in a huge rock called the Black Fortress. The interior of the Black Fortress though is all decked out...The Beast knows him some contemporary art deco/interior design.
He seems to be quite powerful, but only uses his power when its convenient to the plot. Either way, hes still one of the most underrated movie villains ever. Due to budget escalations, The Beast is only shown in subtle blurry shots. This is one of the rare occasions in cinema where being cheap actually works for the movie, it makes the character more effective. You want to see more of this seemingly well educated grotesque thing of a monster. The Beast's demise is kinda sad...he suffers alot. You almost feel bad for the guy.
1. The Score. Epic score from James Horner here. From the moment the movie starts, the first thing you realize is the music. James Horner scored everything from Red Heat to Titanic. Krull has to be one of his best. One knock on him though is that he re-uses parts his own music from other films. So be it I say, if it adds to the movie then there should be no complaints.
Bonus Blog!!
Krull was suppose to be big. This movie was supposed to be a Star Wars sized hit. If a movie has this many video games, the studio has really high hopes. It only grossed $16,519,460. Looking back it opened simultaneously with Nation Lampoons Vacation, which was my favorite movie of that year.
It debuted at #4 behind Lampoons, Jaws 3-D and the 10th week of Return of the Jedi. It seems to me its failure was mainly due to its release date. The youngsters of 1983 elected to use their $5.00 a week allowance on known franchises Jaws and Return of the Jedi instead of something they knew nothing about. Krull doesnt really come from a known popular source. Jaws had the 3d gimmick, Jedi was Jedi, and Chevy Chase was the man back then.
The lack of a name American actor may have been its biggest downfall though. Ken Marshall was fine, but he wasn't a name. I don't remember seeing him ever again in a movie. Browsing IMDB, it looks like he did alot of TV. He was on Baywatch for an episode...yikes. 
Double Bonus: Plot holes, hi-jinx, questions, and shenanigans.
1. If The Beast could make dirt into quicksand, create evil dopplehangers, assume any form he wishes and seem to be all powerful, then why doesnt he use his magic when the good guys are closing in.
2. Why does The Beast have to wait a day or two to move the Black Fortress. If he can travel through space, he should be able to do whatever he wants on other planets.
3. Where do the girls come from in the middle of the movie?
4. Why do the fire mares gallop in mid air?
5. How did the Widow of the Web get there without the spider eating her or her capturers?
6. Why are there armies of Slayers at the beggining of the movie but none at the end when The Beast needs them the most?
7. Who would win between Cyclops and The Beast sans magical powers?
8. The Glaive should have returned to Colwyn after The Black Fortress went up in flames.
9. Where are all the people?
10. How is the son of Colwyn and Lyssa going to rule the galaxy when he cant even get off Krull.
11. Why did Ken Marshall never become a star?
12. Did the Slayers in the swamp have breathing hoses or do they have gills?
