This week’s selection is from the puzzling 1983 sci-fi extravaganza, “Krull.”
“Krull” gets a bad rap. Created by executives who thirsted for “Star Wars” coin but couldn’t bear the thought of being labeled smug copycats, the picture is a terribly mangled amalgamation of Errol Flynn-like matinee swashbuckling heroics and Lucasian science fiction embellishments. No, for real.
It’s difficult to bring this up in mixed company, but in a small, embarrassing way, I’m completely taken with the movie. That doesn’t confess unadulterated fandom, just gentle fascination with a film that contains so many superb production elements, yet crumbles as an overall motion picture experience. The story is a mess of nitwit dialogue and half-baked adventure motivations, but the feature looks gorgeous, employing massive, detailed sets and appealing handmade special effects. “Krull” has a respectful sheen of substantial production expense, and that glow rescues the movie repeatedly. It’s a mid-80’s curio, but it’s worth a look.
The score of the film, provided by James Horner, has always struck me as a dynamic, brazenly romantic element, helping to sell the majesty of the material in a dangerously bold manner. Some in the movie music community have always pushed Horner around, crying about his liberal recycling of themes, but I’ve always appreciated his more audacious scores. “Krull” is one of his best.
Here’s the slight reworking of the main theme. Give it a minute to warm up.
And here’s the love theme.
The film's trailer for the uninitiated.
And Siskel & Ebert’s takedown, where they play some dirty pool trying to find fault with a film they clearly don’t understand. (sorry, low audio here)
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