My Beast Within Me----Beastmaster--Movie that Most Influenced Me W/O

This write-off pertains to a movie that has somehow changed our lives, or it is a movie that we will always remember because of a special moment.

Please be sure to visit the other participants of this write-off! A special thanks to our host, Destinys-Child.

mike.holmes - yzerman - cariep - cntaur5 - drlolipop - computernut - dantesguide - destinys-child - mike_bracken - 29th_candidate


Beastmaster (rated: PG)

Cast:

Marc Singer (Dar--Orphan on a quest to avenge his family)
Tanya Roberts (Kiri--pretty young thing and slave girl)
Rip Torn (Maax--evil guy and High Priest of the Juns)
John Amos (Seth--nice with a big staff)
Ralph Strait (Sacco)
Rod Loomis (King Zed--Dar's Dad)
Ben Hammer (Young Dar's Father--not much here)
Josh Milrad (Tal--Dar's young brother and suspected heir)

Dir.: Don Coscarelli
S.P.: Don Coscarelli & Paul Pepperman



Beastmaster is probably one of the most viewed movies by me that has existed. I have watched this movie a total of 23 times that I can remember. I may have lost count. There are many reasons why this movie is special for me. The main reason being Dar's (Marc Singer) ability to control animals. Something I wish were a reality and that I was capable of doing. Of course this is just pure fantasy.

Beastmaster came out in 1982. I was still fairly young then (24) ouch!. I have always loved animals as many of you know. I have a special connection with them. There are times that I feel I know what they are thinking and visa versa. This is why this movie is so special to me. I can pretty much quote every line in the movie just before they say them. That is an example for how much attention that I paid to this movie.

The movie:

The theme is sword and sorcery.

Dar, played by Marc Singer, who also starred in a series called "V", is an orphan on a revenge quest to find the ones who destroyed his village and family. In his journeys he meets up with an array of animals that help him along in his adventure. Each animal carries with it an aid to help Dar in his search. The eagle (eyes in the sky) helps Dar see what is ahead of him or far away. Dar is able to see through the eagle's eyes as he is in flight.

In comes the tiger. Most people call him a black panther but in reality, he is a black painted tiger. If you look close when watching, you will see stripes. Dar can see through this tigers eyes as well and uses his strength to help him in battle. He also uses him to win the fair beauty Kiri. He discovers the two ferrets after they run off with his pouch. While chasing them down, he falls into a pit of quick sand. They save him by gnawing off a branch that Dar can reach and pull himself free. He names the Podo and Kodo. They help him in his quest by stealing necessary items and biting villian's necks. Dar can command these animals to do or at least help him defeat the Jun Horde.

Other people who help him in his adventures is Seth and Tal. Tal is Dar's younger brother, but does not realize this. Seth can swing a mean staff and if a large help.

If you like sword and sorcery, you will like this movie. There are witches that can crawl on the ceiling, black caldrons filled with goop and popping eyeball rings that can see what is going on around them.

Dar is actually the son of King Zed but was taken from them before he was born. How did this happen? A witch cut his mom open and took him. The witch then transferred him into a cow's belly. Good grief! But this is what is responsible for the connection between Dar and the animals. His quest leads him (with the help of Kiri) to a big city where the Jun's have taken over. Maax demands human sacrifices from the villagers there. In this city is where he find his father held hostage and his eyes been removed. He battles the Jun's and defeats them.

In the end, Dar turns down his heirship and hands it down to Tal. He rides off into the sunset (so to speak) with Kiri and his animals.

My honest opinion about this flick.

Considered a "B" movie, I still recommend it. It is lots of fun to watch and has great moments. It is a love story, action flick, adventure, and horror all combined into one. The acting at times is sub-par but for the theme it represents and the time frame of release, all in all it is a good movie.

There is minimal nudity. Only with Kiri. No sex. Language is appropriate. It is very violent though. Death, blood, and evilness. I would suggest it be viewed by an audience no less than 12 years old. I give it an 8 on a scale from 1-10. On a personal note: I love it.

Please be sure to view the other participants of Destinys- Child's w/o listed in the beginning of this review.