Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!
Stars: Jorge
Rivero, Andrea Occhipinti, Conrado San Martin, Violeta Cela, Jose Gras, Palau,
Maria Scola, and Sabrina Sellers
Director: Lucio
Fulci
Feature length: 87
minutes
Extras: Trailers,
Poster & Still Galleries, and Lucio Fulci Biographical Notes
Languages: English
Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles: N/A
Packaging: Keep
Case
Chapter Stops: 20
Sound: Dolby
Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical
Release: 1983/DVD Release: 2004
Theatrical
Distributor: United Film Distributing Company
Home Video
Distributor: Blue Underground
MPAA Rating: Not
Rated
Reviewer: Mark A.
Rivera
In the early 1980s
Hollywood produced as well as acquired for distribution several sword and
sorcery style fantasy films. There were some films like “Excalibur” and
“Conan The Barbarian” that were well received by viewers and continue to be
popular on DVD today while others like “The Beast Master” and “The Sword
And Sorcerer” that grew in popularity on home video and cable broadcast to
develop a cult status. “The Beast Master” spawned two sequels and a
syndicated TV series. Even Disney got into the act with a Paramount
co-production entitled “Dragonslayer” that featured one of the best pre-CGI
dragons to appear on the big screen outside of the Dynamation™ work of master
stop motion animator Ray Harryhausen. Much like the way previous generations who
look back at the films of their childhood as adults only to realize that few are
not always truly as good as they remembered them to be, there are films that are
simply guilty pleasures that people enjoy anyway regardless of how flawed they
might be.
Unfortunately
there are many fantasy films that were produced that quite honestly should have
never been made and I’m sorry to state that I think “Conquest” was one of
them. I mean after some successful international cult horror films, I have to
ask myself “What was Fulci thinking?” Now there was a trend to put some gore
in fantasy films as can be seen in “Excalibur” and “Conan The Barbarian”
as well a scene where a resurrected sorcerer uses his powers to pull out a
woman’s still beating heart in “The Sword And The Sorcerer,” but in the
case of “Conan The Barbarian” and “Excalibur” I think the violence
enhanced the film and did not compromise the storytelling. In Fulci’s
“Conquest” the violence is simply there for exploitive purposes and instead
of shocks or titillation, it merely disgusts.
Yet if that was
the only problem with “Conquest” I might still recommended it, but this is a
film that almost defies an explanation of plot and screen direction. The film
looks like someone greased the camera lens throughout the whole movie to create
an otherworldly effect where every thing looks almost out of focus, which really
spoils what little there is to enjoy like the evil chick with the hot body and a
gold mask is blurred. A joint production between Italian, Spanish, and Mexican
financiers, I have to tell myself that Fulci must have been overruled by his
producers because I’ve seen some of his prime horror films and I just can’t
believe the guy who directed “The Beyond” okayed this mess. Forget the
story. It makes so little sense that one may wish the folks on the Satellite Of
Love did a companion soundtrack for this DVD because it would have made watching
this it a lot easier.
Now I realize I am
being harsh, but I have no doubt Blue Underground did the best they could to
bring this film to DVD with the best available elements. I guess the source
materials just were not as well preserved and some of Fulci’s other features.
Presented in an anamorphic (1.85:1) widescreen aspect ratio, the picture quality
is grainy and uneven. The English Dolby Surround Soundtrack fairs much better
with a clear digital quality and no background analogue noise whatsoever. The
U.S. Trailer (1:28) and International Trailer (2:55) as well as still galleries
with one-sheet and home video art as well as the promo book and lobby cards
round out the bonus features along with some onscreen biographical notes on
Lucio Fulci.
The interactive
menus are easy to navigate with animated transitions featuring scenes from the
film. Well I’m sure there are admirers of this film out there so if you are
one of them, “Conquest” is available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and
offline from Blue Underground.
© Copyright 2004
By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Icon Below!