Iron Warrior

This is very different from the standard sword 'n sandal pics, and indeed the other two Ator films. It feels more like an art house film. Lots of swirling cloths, slomo-scenes, coloured filters, weird hair styles and make up and a WTF?! Ending. Our princess wears dresses made of swirling cloths in either scarlet or blue, she has pink lips and one pink eyebrow (weird) and her hair is kinda gathered into this crest like a Greek helmet which is just odd. Ator, has his hair done like a girl, beautifully braided and is too neat and styalised to be the 'warrior hero' he is supposed to be. The whole thing feels like a rock video, or an advert for something. The one great thing is that it isn't dubbed.

This is by the director of the awful 1973 'Beauty of the Barbarian' and had I known that I might not have bought it. This is a terrible film. Nothing much happens, its very very arty ie: pretty in a very 80's kind of way, but not much substance. The music is again poorly chosen, though its not as cringeworthy as the skippy the kangaroo stylee stuff from 'beauty of the barbarian'. The characters are underdeveloped, and although Miles O'Keeffe is undeniably lovely to look at, even he cannot save this film. The ending is sudden, weird and non sensical, if you can make it that far. The special effects like Phaedra's spinning hula hoop are tacky. There is no tension, no emotion, no real story and even the sword fights aren't particularly exciting. Still, it is quite pretty, the scenery (its filmed in Malta) is beautiful, and it does have a shirtless Miles O'Keeffe.

This is the third sequel to Ator The Fighting Eagle. Ator was a cheapo Italian barbarian movie that was bad that I did like. This flick is even cheaper, cheesier and more poorly acted. Ator( a different actor from the original film) must help the princess reclaim her kingdom from a evil witch that also has Ator's evil twin brother under her command. This is a clumsy film and is super cheesy, even by 80's standards. The fight sequences are mostly bad, the chemistry between Ator and The Princess is not there, making the love story really awkward. The editing and overall continuity of the movie is really bad. In the realm of cheapozid sword and sorcery flicks, Iron Warrior scrapes towards the bottom of the barrel of beefcake fantasy action. It's good for a laugh, but I would much rather watch Death stalker or any movie in that series over this.

I can understand why fans of Sword and Sorcery films might be disappointed with this film. However it is a distinctive tale with some genuinely artistic direction. The Maltese locations are inspired especially when you consider the mystique surrounding those early cultures.

The action sequences don't stand up to modern scrutiny, but the hero certainly looks the part. Trogar isn't the worst unstoppable creature I've seen. The two leads are restrained - you might say 'wooden' but that works well if you accept the film's legendary feel.

The real liveliness of the film comes from the Witchy bad girl who is clearly having fun; and the Timelord-style goddesses who oppose her.

The film isn't exciting but neither is it predictable. The script isn't bad at all and seems to have some ambitions with regard to dualism and the need for balance in the universe.

I won't throw my copy away.

"Iron Warrior" introduces a new style both for Ator (he has black hair now, in a ponytail, and barely utters more than fifty words in the entire movie) and for the series itself. Director Brescia drops the silliness and campiness of the two D'Amato-directed "Ator" flicks in favor of a pseudo-arty approach. He employs every trick in the book: slow-motion, fast-motion(!), wide-angle lenses, cheap editing tricks to make people "disappear", etc. But the result in nothing more than a ponderous, often incomprehensible film that you may have to struggle to get through. The Malta locations are admittedly very beautiful, though. (*)

I recently watched the Italian fantasy film 🇮🇹 Iron Warrior (1987) on Tubi. The storyline follows a kingdom plagued by a witch who returns who they threw out before and is back for revenge. The princess of the kingdom escapes and seeks help from a man with a grudge against the witch. Can they overthrow her together?

Directed by Alfonso Brescia (The Conqueror of Atlantis), the film stars Miles O'Keeffe (The Blade Master), Elisabeth Kaza (Rosebud), Savina Gersak (The Lone Runner), and Iris Peynado (Warriors of the Wasteland).

Iron Warrior is undeniably low-budget, and it shows. The costumes, props, wigs, and sets all appear cheap, giving the film a made-for-television feel. It embodies the essence of the 80s with its characters and premise. The acting and dialogue leave much to be desired, and the random poses by characters come across as awkward. However, it's worth noting that the Italian damsels are gorgeous, and there is occasional splashes of nudity. The soundtrack, reminiscent of 80s arcade video game background music, and stands out as a positive aspect.

In conclusion, Iron Warrior is a mediocre addition to the fantasy genre that may only appeal to diehard fans. I would rate it 4/10.