Deathstalker

Deathstalker is pretty stupid but fun: It's kind of a mix of Xena and Hercules (fantasy setting, quest, humor) spiced up with a good dose of gore 'n' splatter. The production is not bad for a B-movie; the cast looks like they are having fun. The gory moments are great fun too. So, if you like sword 'n' magic flicks and you like splatter, you get an entertaining cheesy piece of cake. No doubt, only a special breed of audience will get this one, but if you belong to that family, you will find some fun and entertainment. My rate: five overall, one bonus for the effects.

Went to the cinema expecting a simple movie with great looking monsters and scenery. Wasn't disappointed. Surprisingly fun to watch even though I had no familiarity with the genre! The movie does not take itself seriously and I think that is just right. In one scene there are giants in the background hitting each other in the balls while the main characters discuss stuff. Just my kind of humor! The only thing I would have liked more would be more fighting scenes since the main actor is a kickass swordsman and martial artist.

Steven Kostanski's Deathstalker remake is a curious beast: it's watchable, even occasionally entertaining, but it never quite captures the gloriously cheesy spirit of the 80s originals.

The plot is standard sword-and-sorcery fare... hero collects magical MacGuffins, battles monsters, rescues a princess... but the execution is oddly restrained.

Daniel Bernhardt's Deathstalker is a stoic, muscle-bound hero, but he lacks the swagger or absurdity that made the original films so memorably ridiculous.

The practical effects and creature designs are the film's highlights, offering a tactile, gory charm that's rare in modern fantasy.

The action is competent, but it's missing the wild, anything-goes energy that defined the genre's golden age. Patton Oswalt's comedic moments are a bright spot, but they're too few and far between to elevate the film beyond its middling tone.

Ultimately, Deathstalker feels like a missed opportunity. It's too polished to be a true B-movie, but not ambitious enough to stand out as a genuine fantasy epic. The result is a film that's neither bad nor particularly good - just a forgettable, if occasionally fun, diversion.

5/10: A watchable but disappointingly tame remake that lacks the cheesy thrills of its predecessors.

This movie may be campy, over the top, silly and small budget. But it is a movie clearly made with love and care by very competent people with a clear goal in mind, and it works!

The practical effects are fantastic for a film of this type, and as far as i can tell it was made without any CGI at all. The rest of the production is great too, and aside from a couple of incels complaining about the lack of nudity the positive reviews are well deserved!

If you like sword & sorcery films or great practical costumes (& campy gore-fests) then this is a film you should watch!

Absolutely ridiculous movie. Can't tell if it's a parody or a tribute to the fantasy action movies of the 80s. This doesn't mean its bad, but it's the type of movie that you watch with friends after a few drinks, make popcorn, and just laugh at how insane it is. Surprisingly funny, whether it was trying to be or not. Awesome soundtrack.