KRULL

UK, 1983, 121 minutes, Colour.
Ken Marshall, Lysette Anthony, Freddie Jones, Francesca Annis, Liam Neeson.
Directed by Peter Yates.

Krull was a late entry in the Star Wars imitations. It is an entertaining fantasy - geared for children and for family audiences. However, children will find it a bit slow. Adults will find it a bit too much geared for the younger audience. The special effects are magical and attractive.

The film is a blend of pageantry and chivalry with mediaeval overtones but set in the galaxies. The mythical elements of hero and heroine, endurance and courage, quest and dangers from a beast are all in evidence. Freddie Jones (like Alec Guinness in Star Wars) is the wise leader. Bernard Bresslaw is a benevolent Cyclops. American Ken Marshall (TV's Marco Polo) is a dashing hero.

Peter Yates handles his material somewhat ponderously - certainly without the verve of Star Wars. His most effective films have been smaller films: Bullitt, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, Breaking Away. His other big film was by Peter Benchley, The Deep - but paled in comparison with Jaws.

1. The appeal of galaxy chivalry and pageantry? The comparisons with Star Wars? The younger audiences? Adult audiences?

2. The appeal of spectacle: Panavision colour photography, the atmosphere of the galaxy and the credits, the black fortress, the mediaeval overtones of pageantry, weddings, battle? The fortress and its magic, the landscapes: snow, desert? The mountains? Colwyn's journey? The magic web? Within the fortress? The focus on the visual effects? The flying horses, the web? Delight it fantasy?

3. The appeal of fantasy: folkloric epics, the elements of folklore -translated to '80s cinema with the touch of science fantasy and the future?

4. Audience response to the contrast between mediaeval pageantry and a laser future? Well blended? The imaginativeness of the film?

5. The atmosphere of legend and Ynyr's about the prince, the princess? His presence as wise old man and guide? His getting the secret from the widow of the web? His sacrificial death? His comments at the end? The atmosphere of voice-over for solemnity of legend?

6. Heroes and heroines? Battles and marriage? Disaster? The journey and quest? Beauty and the Beast? The magic weapon? The confrontation of good and evil? A new world and peace?

7. The fortress and its passing through space? Visual impact? The control of the beast? Its appearances and disappearances? The Slayers and their violence? The mechanical warriors? Laser instruments and their deaths? The guards of the fortress? The interiors? The decor of the eye and its holes? The beast and the growing clarity of his visual impact? His taking various shapes, the seer, the seduction of Colwyn, taking Colwyn's form? The finale? The threats? The fight and the magic weapon? His clutching the weapon? The beast's death? The blend of past and future? monsters. machines and human beings?

8. The pageantry: the two kings, their plans, the wedding, the ceremony, the fire magic? The love of Lyssa and Colwyn? Their future and hopes? The visuals of the court?

9. The attack of the Slayers, the fight, the deaths, Lyssa’s abduction, Colwyn's being wounded and going on his quest? The setting for adventure?

10. Ynyr and his help, reputation, his story, the past? The quality of his help and guidance? The symbolic climb of the mountain? The enlisting of the prisoners, the Cyclops, Ergo, the seer and the boy, his visit to the widow of the web, the tangle, the crystal spider, his past relationship with Lyssa, the death of the child, the encounter with Lyssa as both young and old. the hourglass, his escape, the warning and the death? The wisdom and self-sacrifice?

11. The seer and the boy, the information, the group discovering them, joining the quest, the beast disguising himself as the seer and murdering the seer, his attempt to kill Colwyn?

12. The Cyclops and his shadowing the group, saving them, becoming their companion? His appearance, height. size? Expressions with his one eye? His helping on the Journey, saving Colwyn, his death in the fortress?

13. Ergo and the comedy, his landing a thousand miles out, his spells, turning into a goose, a dog? His becoming a Tiger? His being wounded? The corny comedy? His contribution - especially at the end to the quest?

14. The prisoners and their violence, the group, the various personalities? Their joining the quest? The quicksand and the group helping one another to get out? The death? The battles and the deaths? The Slayers? The two caught in the maze with the knives?

15. Colwyn and Lyssa as hero and heroine? Lyssa and her strength, the wedding . her love for Colwyn, the battle, her being abducted, the impossibility of escape, the pursuit of the beast, her being trapped in the fortress?

16. Colwyn as hero, coming back from the battle, the marriage, the fight, his being wounded, tended by Ynyr? The recruiting of the various helpers for the quest? The sturdy climb of the mountain to get the sacred weapon? His leadership? The adventures? The riding of the magic horses? The attack, using the weapon, the confrontation with the beast, the end? An attractive romantic hero?

17. The blend of action and adventure, excitement and involvement? - the rather measured pace and the lack of verve?

18. At what level did the film work? Adults? Family? Popular folklore? Comic strip style and dialogue? The age-old ingredients of popular stories?