Hercules Against the Barbarians

The setting and time is odd, It feels like Hercules is walking around nearly naked amid much later European armor wearing troops. Another thing that may or may not be true is that there are some beautiful shots of lots of extras storming the castle, but when we are usually with the principal actors we rarely see anything of this scope and or are on interior sets with poor fake skies. So I'm saying there may be stock footage being used here.

Regardless of this the sets are quite well made and the photography in 2:35 is also frequently impressive and the film has a good music score as well. The story is decent but it's not heavy on fighting or action for the most part. The 2 fight scenes with animals are pretty bad, with the pretty big snake, or really bad, with the floppy pillow they call an alligator. And yeah why is there an Alligator in Poland or did the Huns bring it from Mongolia with them? Wait there aren't any alligators there either.

But the basic story, more of a kind of romance amid the barbarians is good and the women sexy. Mark Forest gets to do some acting and doesn't do it too badly. Despite what may, or may not, be stock footage the outdoor photography is good as is the interior costuming and photography. The weak and distracting thing is those bad set built "exteriors."

Still this is a real movie, not a super cheap or shoddy entry in this genre, nor is it a kind of hidden treat for beefcake fans--be they men or women. Music score and production design is above average and there are a lot of well done sets.

Not typical in good ways but low on action overall. Most of the action is in the final third of the film. Above average acting and casting in this one--the Mongols actually look like Mongols not Italians.

Can't say this is great. Can't say it's terrible either.

This is a good movie. It is kind of scarier. It has a great story line. It also has great acting.See this movie. 4.7 is just underrating it. I give it 8 out of 10. See this movie. It is a great movies

Maciste / Hercules has a new battle to face against the Mongol Empire lead by Genghis Khan in the 12th century. Hercules must help to free Poland from the clutches of Genghis Khan and his band of Mongols.

I find this one better than Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (1961). "7 Miracles" has Gordon Scott running around in a loin cloth in the entire film. "Barbarians" has Mark Forest wearing a bit more. "Barbarians" is a better made and acted out film - it also has a little bit better story. Both films have Maciste (Hercules/Samson) in a strange place and time era.

Not a lot here for me to enjoy though. I was uninterested in the film even though "Barbarians" is better than "7 Miracles" - I still did not enjoy either film.

1.5/10

When the Mongols invade Europe, they are defeated at Krakow for the first time after many victories. Kubilai (Ken Clark), the responsible commander, asks his emperor Genghis Khan for a second chance. Kubilai has two ideas how to avoid another defeat. First, he wants to eliminate Maciste (aka Hercules in the American dubbed version), the hero of the Polish people, played by Mark Forest. And then, Kubilai holds a prisoner who reveals an important secret: the princess and future queen of Poland lives in a village under false identity. The Mongols want to capture her, but of course, Maciste is a guardian to any maiden in distress...

Maciste is wrestling with a giant snake and a crocodile (yes, in Poland!); there is also a fight in an arena with spikes (spears) similar to the famous scene in 'Flash Gordon' (1980). This is all smoothly directed and well photographed. People who liked similar movies of the genre shouldn't be disappointed.

The print I looked at was of variable quality. Some of it seems to have been 16mm. pan-and-scan with failing color, while the last half-hour was widescreen and beautifully presented both in color and clarity. It's all dubbed into English. That will affect this review!

So. Mark Forest, who is Maciste or Hercules, depending on what language you're watching it in is in Poland. He's in love with José Greci , a poor woodcarver's daughter, whose father is the most respected man in the village. Forest, whoever he is in this movie, has just turned back the Mongol Hordes singlehandedly, but they're coming on again. It turns out that Miss Greci is actually Queen of Poland and....

Oh, why bother? It's all nonsense, and the point of this movie is the costume design, the strong men with their oiled torsos and the big fight scene at the end. Because that was the part that was in pristine condition, it looked good.