So we have our hero, a barbarian, who wields a mighty sword, doesn't believe in shirts and travels the land with his odd group of misfits, looking for the pillagers who wrecked his home village and killed his family. On his journeys he will meet magical beings, lost royals, nefarious cults and all manners of beasts. No, I'm not talking about Conan the Barbarian, although the two films are eerily similar. They even came out the exact same year. Funny how these things work out sometimes.
And while admittedly Conan is clearly the superior film, The Beastmaster has its own definite upsides. Marc Singer may not be Arnold, but he has this boyish rogue thing going for him and he makes for an interesting main character. The whole 'beastmaster' thing is also a nice addition, giving the film its own feel, its own unique signature. And I also like that it's not just a gimmick. Dar's (Singer) various animal friends are constantly present and an intrinsic part of the plot.
As far as the plot goes, I've seen worse, though it does seem to wander around a bit. Then again, so does the plot of Conan, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's how these stories work. I cannot deny that I didn't enjoy every minute of it. Especially because while the storytelling is not as strong in this one as it is in Conan, the film makes up for it with a more exploitative tone. Kinda cheap, admittedly, but I do enjoy my greasy fast food next to my steaks just fine.
If you absolutely cannot see more than one barbarian film from the 80s, see Conan the Barbarian. But if that leaves you hungry for more, The Beastmaster should definitely go to your list.
And while admittedly Conan is clearly the superior film, The Beastmaster has its own definite upsides. Marc Singer may not be Arnold, but he has this boyish rogue thing going for him and he makes for an interesting main character. The whole 'beastmaster' thing is also a nice addition, giving the film its own feel, its own unique signature. And I also like that it's not just a gimmick. Dar's (Singer) various animal friends are constantly present and an intrinsic part of the plot.
As far as the plot goes, I've seen worse, though it does seem to wander around a bit. Then again, so does the plot of Conan, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's how these stories work. I cannot deny that I didn't enjoy every minute of it. Especially because while the storytelling is not as strong in this one as it is in Conan, the film makes up for it with a more exploitative tone. Kinda cheap, admittedly, but I do enjoy my greasy fast food next to my steaks just fine.
If you absolutely cannot see more than one barbarian film from the 80s, see Conan the Barbarian. But if that leaves you hungry for more, The Beastmaster should definitely go to your list.