Krull (1983)
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A prince must lead a fellowship of companions to rescue his bride from a fortress of alien invaders on a distant planet.
The story
Prince Colwyn and Princess Lyssa plan to marry in the hope that their two kingdoms' combined forces can defeat the Beast's army. However, the Slayers attack before the wedding is completed, devastating the native Krull armies, wounding Colwyn, and kidnapping Lyssa. Colwyn is nursed back to health by Ynyr, the Old One, who tells him that the Beast can be defeated with the Glaive, an ancient, magical, five-pointed weapon. Colwyn retrieves the Glaive from a mountain cave and sets out to find the Black Fortress, which teleports to a new location every sunrise, joined by a band of thieves, fighters, and a magician.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The entity known as the Beast and his army of Slayers travel the galaxy in a mountain-like spaceship called the Black Fortress, intent on enslaving the planet Krull. During the wedding of Prince Colwyn and Princess Lyssa, the Slayers attack, wounding Colwyn and kidnapping Lyssa. Colwyn is healed by Ynyr, the Old One, who reveals the Beast can be defeated with the Glaive. Colwyn retrieves the weapon and travels with Ynyr, the magician Ergo, and a band of thieves and fighters. They encounter the Emerald Seer, whose crystal is crushed by the Beast, and travel through a swamp where some companions are lost. A changeling agent of the Beast is killed by the cyclops Rell. Ynyr eventually dies after revealing the location of the Black Fortress to the group. The heroes capture magical Fire Mares to reach the Fortress. After several companions are killed in the fortress, Colwyn breaches a dome to find Lyssa. He attacks the Beast with the Glaive, and the two complete their wedding ritual, granting them the power to manipulate fire. Colwyn slays the Beast, and the survivors escape the crumbling fortress as it is pulled into space. Ynyr's prophecy is repeated: the son of the queen and king shall rule the galaxy.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 121
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Yates
- Writers
- Stanford Sherman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ken Marshall · Prince Colwyn; Lysette Anthony · Princess Lyssa; Freddie Jones · Ynyr; Francesca Annis · Widow of the Web; David Battley · Ergo "the Magnificent"; Alun Armstrong; David Battley · Ergo; Bernard Bresslaw · Rell the Cyclops
- Genres
- science-fantasy; adventure
- Themes
- Love triumphs over might; Heroic quest; Good vs. Evil
- Tone and mood
- Grandiose; Melancholy; Fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- Space Opera; Sword and Sorcery; Alien Invasion
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by Dungeons and Dragons
- Reception
- The film was a box-office bomb and received mixed critical reviews, though it has since developed a cult following. Critics praised its visual effects and soundtrack but criticized the plot as derivative and nonsensical.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 45 · scale: 100 · review count: 10; CinemaScore · score: C+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Fantasy Film · Saturn Awards · Nominee; Best Music (James Horner) · Saturn Awards · Nominee; Best Costumes (Anthony Mendleson) · Saturn Awards · Nominee; Grand Prize (Peter Yates) · Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival · Nominee
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled The Dragons of Krull, and the Beast was initially planned to be a dragon.; A monstrous snake woman was cut from the film due to similarities with Medusa in Clash of the Titans.; The film score was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Ambrosian Singers.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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