For over a century, people have been rejecting naturalistic literature to write heroic fantasy. In Britain, mostly about unlikely heroes who travel through magic-laden Medieval landscapes to fight ultimate evil (e.g., The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings). In America, mostly about heavily-muscled barbarians who travel through magic-laden ancient worlds to settle personal vendettas (e.g., Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Conan the Barbarian). Neither type had much luck in the movies, maybe because of the need for special effects. Or the difficulty in presenting an entire world without lengthy, boring exposition ("The kingdoms of Caldarand and Bobinur have been at war for centuries....) Or the distinct preference for naturalism in movie-going audiences.
During the 1960s, I can think of only The Magic Sword (1962).
During the 1970s, Wizards (1977), and a terrible animated version of The Lord of the Rings (1978).
Clash of the Titans (1981)
Beastmaster (1982)
The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
Ator (1982)
Krull (1983)
Hercules (1983)
Deathstalker (1983)
The Blade Master (1984)
Ladyhawk (1985)
Iron Warrior (1986)
Masters of the Universe (1987)
The Barbarians (1987)...well, you get the idea.
The plots were simple 1980s man-mountain plots, with an evil wizard instead of a drug lord, and a weirdly-named Medieval world instead of Southeast Asia.
And they had a similar appeal for gay kids and teenagers.
2. The buddy-bonding is strong and powerful, more emotionally compelling than the requisite romance with The Girl. In Deathstalker, the Deathstalker (Richard Hill) is patently in love with Oghris (Richard Brooker). In The Barbarians, Kutchek and Gore (Peter and David Paul) never fall in love with anyone (else).
4. There is usually no fade-out kiss. The Barbarian is a creature of the wilderness. He saves civilization but does not reside there, so at the end of the movie, he usually moves on.
By 1995, the fad had run its course, along with the cinematic interest in man-mountains, as beefcake fashions returned to the trim and athletic.
See also: Man-Mountains of the 1980s
"Female warrior who fights semi nude." Isn't it remarkable how these supposed primitive women always knew exactly how much flesh to show? And which parts to hide?
ReplyDeleteI think the fad really began in the 70s. That was the period of Howard and Lovecraft pastiches and Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, and their imitators. The 80s gave us the Conan movie, to be sure, but the 70s gave us D&D, which has a barbarian class just so you can be Conan.
ReplyDeleteWhich makes me think of PC RPGs (Ultima III had a barbarian class which was very true to Conan: It's a hybrid fighter/thief.) which spawned JRPGs. There's some gay-vague in a few of those. (Final Fantasy mostly.)
I need to re-watch "The Beastmaster" because I had totally forgotten about young prince Tal - I guess I only had eyes for Marc Singer. The Barbarian brother movie was fun
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteTal is...more than a little too young for me. An aside: Where were there naked kids? Nudity, especially children, was more European art film. No one put nudity other than adult female nudity in low-budget schlock. And who is attracted to these movies because of that? No, don't answer these questions,
Loincloths were standard male attire, even in Arctic settings.
I have to say, the Barbarian Bros added a novel twist. The sole female character is their sister, so no one of the trio can be sexually involved with each other.
If you want to see a movie that would never be made today is Fellini's "Satyricon" which shows how in Ancient Rome sexual desire had no limits.
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