Masterpiece of the Sinbad Genre: Perfect in High Resolution
Added 8/28/2009
If you ever wondered what movies you should be watching in high resolution technology this one should be on top pf the list. You want to see the details on the bronze minotaur (called Minaton here) the intricate patterns on the thousands of fabrics, and precious jewels, the different eye lash-layers on "evil" queen Zenobia and the expanse of ultra blue seas.
The third of Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad films has apparently gotten a bad rap over the years, which I can not understand. It may be for Beverly Cross' script and some of the performances, notably Patrick Wayne as Sinbad, which I happen to think is totally fine and entertaining, but may not be perceived as such for those searching for dramatic acting. This rap should be disregarded as it is not only largely unfair, but inadequate in noting the entertaining values of this movie. No doubt it could have been better, but as an exciting adventure it is more than good, thanks to a strong cast and Ray Harryhausen's excellent animation.
The story is about Kassim, the caliph of Baghdad, who mysteriously disappears at the very moment of his coronation. Sinbad, arriving in Baghdad both to sell his merchandise cargo, and also to see again his love interest, the caliph's sister played by a luscious, very young Jane Seymour. He is drawn into a trap, by Rafi, a dark handsome prince played by Kurt Christian set in a magnificent tent, which includes belly-dancing entertainment. His mother, the evil dowager queen Zenobia, played Margaret Whiting, who is more than familiar with the black arts is behind this plan and all others, as we know just by looking at him, that Rafi has no brains or sense of direction. Barely escaping an attack by three sword-wielding fire skeletal creatures, Sinbad finds Kassim's sister and a baboon, which is actually prince Kassim, as transformed by the magic of queen Zenobia so her own son could be caliph. At this very point we should wonder if this 'evil' woman is not actually just career oriented. In New York she would have been directing a real estate emporium or huge corporate conglomerate, maybe both, where Rafi could have just looked good in the publicity ads as she ruled ruthlessly; yet in time she would have done the charity balls, she would have even sponsored some cultural causes, eventually she would have been perceived as a pillar of society. It's all a matter of perception and historical placement, above all Location, location, location!
In order to break Zenobia's spell on Kassim, Sinbad enlists an adequately wise and aged wizard, Master Malanthius and his sexy daughter, the hyper blond, hypnotized-looking Dione (Taryn Power), who also has some of the most vapid dialog in the movie. They meet in the ancient city of Petra, where the wizard lives, and the scene of arrival, and seeing the city through a rock is totally rewarding as a reason to see the whole film, it is so well done and awesome. All have to set sail for Hyperborea, a land at the North Pole magically immune to the polar region's snows. However, Zenobia and Rafi are following. Zenobia had actually had a confrontation scene by Sinbad's ship when she arrived in a feathered and veiled litter and argued with the silly vizier who was trying to look his best in a day-wear saffron and gold ensemble that was striking for the pheasant feathered adornment of his turban that looked like the whole bird was alive, and in heat. Zenobia has decided to enlist help too. She will be aided by a mechanical beast, a bull-headed robot created by Zenobia, and animated with a golden heart, baptized with the name Minaton, close enough to the ancient Minotaur of the labyrinth story. Although great looking as an accessory he is just an elaborate rowing machine in their metalized ship that looks more like an early submarine. The first thing they do is crush the spies that the vizier had set to watching their moves, against a rock as they start on the pursuit, an appropriately delightful moment of evil indulgence.
The best part of the movie is Zenobia's transformation into a seagull so she can leave her ship and spy on Sinbad in his. She takes a potion and has a series of very erotic spasms in her elaborate bedchamber, and suddenly she is the bird. Her flight is not as lucky, once arrived, she transforms into a miniature version of herself and is unfortunately discovered by the baboon, who wrecks her plan, only after much difficulty she manages to change back to the seagull and escape, but there is not enough potion left when she turns into herself: She is left with a huge foot of a seagull attached to her leg instead of her human foot, and will stomp her way through the rest of the film.
This film features quite a bit of character animation by Harryhausen. The baboon Kassim looks totally real playing chess and most of all in his dramatic scene when he sees himself in a mirror, and despairs over his change. Trog, a prehistoric giant who "is as frightened of us as we of him," as Malanthius sweetly remarks, is a direct ancestor of Shrek, and looks frightening yet endearing. Kassim and Dione manage to befriend Trog, and when Kassim is finally liberated of Zenobia's spell, we feel genuine regret as Trog is killed by Zenobia, again transformed, this time as Smilodon the tiger of the snows. This battle is unusually gruesome, and absurd, yet an exciting delight to watch as both her and Sinbad are endangered by falling ice spears.
The happy ending in the coronation of Kassim as caliph allows us to admire in detail the Jewelled splendor of his court, the plasticized Formica of the rings, the unique, early zircons and other stones are all mystifying, specially when thrown together with pearls and feathers.
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On par with Golden Voyage but neither compare to 7th Voyage.
Added 2/28/2009
5 stars for the baboon, ghouls, wasps, walrus, troglodyte and smilodon but 2 stars for the story.
Sinbad and his ship's crew must find a special portal that will transform prince Kassim back into a human from a baboon after the evil Zenobia used a spell on him. Sinbad finds the wizard Melanthius who helps him find the portal to break the spell.
Much like 7th Voyage and Golden Voyage this Sinbad has some great stop-motion animation (apparently the last Ray Harryhausen did) however like Golden Voyage the story does let it down and the best doesn't occur until at least halfway through the film. So like Golden Voyage it is a very slow builder.
Of course like the others the main reason to watch it is for the stop-motion although the 7th voyage actually has fairly good acting and a great story. The troglodyte smildon battle sequence is quite good. So again do watch this for the animation but the story doesn't really cut it and the acting at times can be very hammy.
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Another Good Fantasy Movie
Added 2/23/2009
I wanted to thank several reviewers who let me know things I had not noticed, though I have this on a personal video and have watched it several times. I guess I don't pay much attention to the closing credits as I had not known Peter Mayhew was in it. I, a Star Wars fan, would have known he played Chewbacca in episodes 4-6. While I knew Margaret Whiting has the same last name as Leonard Whiting, Romeo to Hussey's Juliet, I wouldn't have known it is because she was his mother. I never was a fan of Tyrone Power which may be why I didn't figure out Taryn was his daughter. I know I enjoyed Jane Semour as an actress in Somewhere in Time and as a pioneeer doctor in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. It was fun seeing her was younger. Certainly the animated characters stole the show. I would be bored to tears watching the stop-action filming, but in the movie it does resemble live-action. I am at an advantage having not seen the other two Sinbad movies, so I cannot compare Wayne's acting to the other two actors who portrayed Sinbad. I imagine his acting is a bit stilted, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable in that type role. I often wonder how Harry Hamlin of Law and Order felt playing Perseus in Clash of the Titans, another movie I enjoyed along with Dragonslayer, Legand, Willow and Dragonheart. The baboon stole the show in authenticity, but the Troglodyte was the most affecting of the others. It was sad to see him killed, and even sad to see the Minator-like rowman die. Saddest of course was to watch the baboon slowly lose that part of him that was Kassim and, even though you had to know he would be returned to his human form, you were compelled by the dangers Sinbad and the others faced to wonder if he would indeed become Kassim again and marry his princess. There are many more-important movies out, so it is fun to be able to be drwan into a world of monsters and heroes. As some pointed out, there is nudity as there was nudity in Sheena, but it is not sexual, merely women bathing. Still, it would help mothers to know beforehand so they could choose not to have their little ones watch that part. As for me, I turn 60 this year, but that will not stop me from replacing Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger on my old video tape with it on a DVD.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Suspend everything
Added 10/11/2008
Especially any inclination to find fault. If you're going to start complaining about anything at all in this movie, you're not going to get far. It is brilliant, and edge-of-your-seat exciting. The acting is fantastic, particularly by the minotaurathon, and the use of telepatheiaia is awesome. There is some absolutely riveting, shocking, positively indecent nudity. The plotting is highly logical, linear and makes total sense. You can't say it doesn't have twists. One of the villains has an eye-patch, but you can't be sure which eye it's covering. Perhaps there are two of them. The eye of the tiger is actually two eyes of the wicked witch of the East, who is also a step-mother --- now there's evil for you! There's also a uni-horned troglodyte (means dweller under the earth) who's a real pussy-cat. Never judge by appearances. Make no mistake: this is a let 'em rip, no-holds-barred, stop-at-nothing tale, which will have you spellbound from beginning to end.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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A Fun Adventure Romp
Added 1/18/2008
While it's definitely not the best Ray Harryhausen "Sinbad" adventure, it's sure does stand tall against a lot of its modern competition. Flip on any SciFi Channel or network television remake of any of the wonderful Sinbad adventures, and you'll find that "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger" is a whole lot more fun. It features wonderful, over-the-top acting and camp from Margaret Whiting as the evil Zenobia and the always excellent Patrick Troughton (the classic "Doctor Who") as the wise and wiley Melanthius. It also features excellent stop-motion animation from the godfather of modern special effects, Ray Harryhausen.
In this adventure, Sinbad (Patrick Wayne, the Duke's boy) and company take port in Charak, where Princess Farah (Jane Seymour) is distressed over the condition of her brother, Kassim, who has been turned into a baboon by stepmother and local witch (in more ways than one) Zenobia. You see, in order for Sinbad and Farah to get married, the Caliph has to bless their union. The only problem is that the would-be Caliph, Kassim, is unable to do so because of his primate problem. With no one to properly take the throne, Zenobia has plans to put her son in power and rule the kingdom through him.
In order to save both Kassim and their love for one another, Sinbad, Farah, and Sinbad's crew set off to find the old mystic, Melanthius. He seems to be the only person capable of helping them. To stop Sinbad, though, Zenobia and her son animate a bronze Minaton (think Minotaur but really shiny) to row their own boat in pursuit. After finding Melanthius and his beautiful daughter, Dione (Taryn Power), the group sets out to find a mysterious pyramid that can save Kassim's life. The only problem is that if they get there too late, Kassim will lose all sense of humanity and fully become a baboon. Can Sinbad save the day? Will he survive the attacks of a giant walrus, a wicked killer bee, demons, a Troglodite, and a sabre-toothed tiger? Stay tuned to find out.
This film is G-rated, but I should note that there is some brief, non-sexual nudity involving Seymour and Power that some may not appreciate their children seeing. To be honest, though, the nudity involves a sunning/bathing scene and will most likely not provoke certain "thoughts" except for in the minds of a particular demographic of young males. Parents should preview this part of the film, though, if nudity is a problem for them. Viewers should also know that the violence in this film is quite a bit excessive in some spots with youngsters in mind, especially when the Trog and the sabre-toothed tiger have a run-in. This might put off some smaller children more than the brief nudity.
This tale, while not up to par with the other Sinbad adventures that Harryhausen oversaw as special effects head, features two of his best creations: the Trog and the baboon. The Trog's emotions bleed through and actually becomes a legitimate character. The same can be said of the baboon. The baboon plays games with his sister, shows fear and anger, and even falls in love with Dione as the film rolls along. Do not let the less-than-spectacular plotline ruin the chance to see these two creations in action.
I recommend this tale to anybody who loves old-fashioned adventures. I highly recommend it to fans of special effects development over the years. Be sure to check out other Harryhausen creations as well. Most of the stories are in the monster/epic adventure vein, but they are all wonderful stories. You'll enjoy them all.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Masterpiece of the Sinbad Genre: Perfect in High Resolution
Added 8/28/2009
If you ever wondered what movies you should be watching in high resolution technology this one should be on top pf the list. You want to see the details on the bronze minotaur (called Minaton here) the intricate patterns on the thousands of fabrics, and precious jewels, the different eye lash-layers on "evil" queen Zenobia and the expanse of ultra blue seas.
The third of Ray Harryhausen's Sinbad films has apparently gotten a bad rap over the years, which I can not understand. It may be for Beverly Cross' script and some of the performances, notably Patrick Wayne as Sinbad, which I happen to think is totally fine and entertaining, but may not be perceived as such for those searching for dramatic acting. This rap should be disregarded as it is not only largely unfair, but inadequate in noting the entertaining values of this movie. No doubt it could have been better, but as an exciting adventure it is more than good, thanks to a strong cast and Ray Harryhausen's excellent animation.
The story is about Kassim, the caliph of Baghdad, who mysteriously disappears at the very moment of his coronation. Sinbad, arriving in Baghdad both to sell his merchandise cargo, and also to see again his love interest, the caliph's sister played by a luscious, very young Jane Seymour. He is drawn into a trap, by Rafi, a dark handsome prince played by Kurt Christian set in a magnificent tent, which includes belly-dancing entertainment. His mother, the evil dowager queen Zenobia, played Margaret Whiting, who is more than familiar with the black arts is behind this plan and all others, as we know just by looking at him, that Rafi has no brains or sense of direction. Barely escaping an attack by three sword-wielding fire skeletal creatures, Sinbad finds Kassim's sister and a baboon, which is actually prince Kassim, as transformed by the magic of queen Zenobia so her own son could be caliph. At this very point we should wonder if this 'evil' woman is not actually just career oriented. In New York she would have been directing a real estate emporium or huge corporate conglomerate, maybe both, where Rafi could have just looked good in the publicity ads as she ruled ruthlessly; yet in time she would have done the charity balls, she would have even sponsored some cultural causes, eventually she would have been perceived as a pillar of society. It's all a matter of perception and historical placement, above all Location, location, location!
In order to break Zenobia's spell on Kassim, Sinbad enlists an adequately wise and aged wizard, Master Malanthius and his sexy daughter, the hyper blond, hypnotized-looking Dione (Taryn Power), who also has some of the most vapid dialog in the movie. They meet in the ancient city of Petra, where the wizard lives, and the scene of arrival, and seeing the city through a rock is totally rewarding as a reason to see the whole film, it is so well done and awesome. All have to set sail for Hyperborea, a land at the North Pole magically immune to the polar region's snows. However, Zenobia and Rafi are following. Zenobia had actually had a confrontation scene by Sinbad's ship when she arrived in a feathered and veiled litter and argued with the silly vizier who was trying to look his best in a day-wear saffron and gold ensemble that was striking for the pheasant feathered adornment of his turban that looked like the whole bird was alive, and in heat. Zenobia has decided to enlist help too. She will be aided by a mechanical beast, a bull-headed robot created by Zenobia, and animated with a golden heart, baptized with the name Minaton, close enough to the ancient Minotaur of the labyrinth story. Although great looking as an accessory he is just an elaborate rowing machine in their metalized ship that looks more like an early submarine. The first thing they do is crush the spies that the vizier had set to watching their moves, against a rock as they start on the pursuit, an appropriately delightful moment of evil indulgence.
The best part of the movie is Zenobia's transformation into a seagull so she can leave her ship and spy on Sinbad in his. She takes a potion and has a series of very erotic spasms in her elaborate bedchamber, and suddenly she is the bird. Her flight is not as lucky, once arrived, she transforms into a miniature version of herself and is unfortunately discovered by the baboon, who wrecks her plan, only after much difficulty she manages to change back to the seagull and escape, but there is not enough potion left when she turns into herself: She is left with a huge foot of a seagull attached to her leg instead of her human foot, and will stomp her way through the rest of the film.
This film features quite a bit of character animation by Harryhausen. The baboon Kassim looks totally real playing chess and most of all in his dramatic scene when he sees himself in a mirror, and despairs over his change. Trog, a prehistoric giant who "is as frightened of us as we of him," as Malanthius sweetly remarks, is a direct ancestor of Shrek, and looks frightening yet endearing. Kassim and Dione manage to befriend Trog, and when Kassim is finally liberated of Zenobia's spell, we feel genuine regret as Trog is killed by Zenobia, again transformed, this time as Smilodon the tiger of the snows. This battle is unusually gruesome, and absurd, yet an exciting delight to watch as both her and Sinbad are endangered by falling ice spears.
The happy ending in the coronation of Kassim as caliph allows us to admire in detail the Jewelled splendor of his court, the plasticized Formica of the rings, the unique, early zircons and other stones are all mystifying, specially when thrown together with pearls and feathers.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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On par with Golden Voyage but neither compare to 7th Voyage.
Added 2/28/2009
5 stars for the baboon, ghouls, wasps, walrus, troglodyte and smilodon but 2 stars for the story.
Sinbad and his ship's crew must find a special portal that will transform prince Kassim back into a human from a baboon after the evil Zenobia used a spell on him. Sinbad finds the wizard Melanthius who helps him find the portal to break the spell.
Much like 7th Voyage and Golden Voyage this Sinbad has some great stop-motion animation (apparently the last Ray Harryhausen did) however like Golden Voyage the story does let it down and the best doesn't occur until at least halfway through the film. So like Golden Voyage it is a very slow builder.
Of course like the others the main reason to watch it is for the stop-motion although the 7th voyage actually has fairly good acting and a great story. The troglodyte smildon battle sequence is quite good. So again do watch this for the animation but the story doesn't really cut it and the acting at times can be very hammy.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Another Good Fantasy Movie
Added 2/23/2009
I wanted to thank several reviewers who let me know things I had not noticed, though I have this on a personal video and have watched it several times. I guess I don't pay much attention to the closing credits as I had not known Peter Mayhew was in it. I, a Star Wars fan, would have known he played Chewbacca in episodes 4-6. While I knew Margaret Whiting has the same last name as Leonard Whiting, Romeo to Hussey's Juliet, I wouldn't have known it is because she was his mother. I never was a fan of Tyrone Power which may be why I didn't figure out Taryn was his daughter. I know I enjoyed Jane Semour as an actress in Somewhere in Time and as a pioneeer doctor in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. It was fun seeing her was younger. Certainly the animated characters stole the show. I would be bored to tears watching the stop-action filming, but in the movie it does resemble live-action. I am at an advantage having not seen the other two Sinbad movies, so I cannot compare Wayne's acting to the other two actors who portrayed Sinbad. I imagine his acting is a bit stilted, perhaps because he felt uncomfortable in that type role. I often wonder how Harry Hamlin of Law and Order felt playing Perseus in Clash of the Titans, another movie I enjoyed along with Dragonslayer, Legand, Willow and Dragonheart. The baboon stole the show in authenticity, but the Troglodyte was the most affecting of the others. It was sad to see him killed, and even sad to see the Minator-like rowman die. Saddest of course was to watch the baboon slowly lose that part of him that was Kassim and, even though you had to know he would be returned to his human form, you were compelled by the dangers Sinbad and the others faced to wonder if he would indeed become Kassim again and marry his princess. There are many more-important movies out, so it is fun to be able to be drwan into a world of monsters and heroes. As some pointed out, there is nudity as there was nudity in Sheena, but it is not sexual, merely women bathing. Still, it would help mothers to know beforehand so they could choose not to have their little ones watch that part. As for me, I turn 60 this year, but that will not stop me from replacing Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger on my old video tape with it on a DVD.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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