Having already made his best buddy Yanez the ruler of Assam in a previous adventure, the time has come for Sandokan to reclaim his own thrown. We learn the origin of the Tiger of Mompracem on the deathbed of his former maid Bavaria. Turns out his father was a king, his mother was a queen and little Sando was saved from certain death by Bavaria when rebels attacked. Seeing all this in flashback makes you wonder why our hero has no recollection of these events when he was at least ten years old when it happened. Also, why did Bavaria postpone telling her story until she was at death's door? Not very keen to see her home land again apparently. But enough picking of the nit, la Tigre has the Royal seal and now he must take back his kingdom. The usurper is a vile and evil villain who likes to have his enemies crushed underneath elephants on public display anyway, so there.
On his way to help his pally, Yanez is attacked by pirates (and not the good and kindly ones like Sandokan either). Naturally a big bloodless battle breaks out. Even when people die of a gunshot wound at close range, they neatly fall down and curl up in a corner so they don't get in the way. Their broadswords stay squeaky clean as well. After the usual rescue operation, Sandokan sends Yanez off on an errand of his own. It appears his Kingdom-to-be is inhabited by stock-shot natives, elephants and one rhino looking at the camera. Having had a good long look around, Sandy does what he always does: safe a princess from a tiger. She is princess Samoa, and Mr. Kahn introduces himself as 'Dragmani' and starts circulating rumours of the 3 headed elephant amulet held by the rightful ruler of Smakbasan.
Once inside the palace, Sandokan still wants to take bloody revenge on all of it's inhabitants, even Samoa, until she does the "Thank You dance of Love and Hate" for him. Meanwhile his old buddy 'Nez is up to his neck in cannons that only fire smoke, yet still take down the advancing enemy. More curious spectacle is provided by stampeding oxes dragging pots and pans tied to their legs. A group of villains throw Styrofoam rocks at them (but they have the courtesy to wait until the beasts have just passed by). Even worse, one traitor causes all the grainy and scratchy stock shot animals to make a run for it. They even flip flopped this colour drained material a couple of times to make it last longer.
On the other side of the island Samoa has been sentenced to death for high treason. Still, this time the evil Vizier can's use the elephant to do his dirty work, as the big old beast has chosen the mighty side of goodness and rightness for love of the princess. Sandokan arrives just in time (what kept him, anyway?) for the grand finale in a burning sacrificial temple that has only one exit. I'll leave you with that cliffhanger so as not to spoil the ending.
6 out of 10
