June 4, 2023

This is a cracking action fantasy tale with Patrick Wayne as our hero out to restore his friend the Caliph to human form after the evil sorceress "Zenobia" (Margaret Whiting) turned him into an ape. Sam Wanamaker treats the audience as more grown up than in many of these stop-motion animation films; the monsters seem to have bit more "soul" - particularly the cyclops; and Patrick Troughton as "Melanthius" is more of a telepathic scientist than po… read the rest.

This is a cracking action fantasy tale with Patrick Wayne as our hero out to restore his friend the Caliph to human form after the evil sorceress "Zenobia" (Margaret Whiting) turned him into an ape. Sam Wanamaker treats the audience as more grown up than in many of these stop-motion animation films; the monsters seem to have bit more "soul" - particularly the cyclops; and Patrick Troughton as "Melanthius" is more of a telepathic scientist than possessor of mystic powers. Ray Harryhausen is in his element and we have plenty of fun with a cast also featuring Jane Seymour and Taryn Power. It doesn't need your brain to get out of second gear, but is a very creatively put together adventure film with loads going on.

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