Amazons | |
---|---|
Directed by | Alejandro Sessa |
Written by | Charles R. Saunders |
Based on | The short story Agbewe’s Sword by Charles R. Saunders |
Produced by | Héctor Olivera associate Roger Corman |
Starring | Penelope Reed Danitza Kingsley Joseph Whipp Ty Randolph Jacques Arndt |
Cinematography | Leonard Solis |
Edited by | Edward Lowe |
Music by | Oscar Camp |
Production companies | Aries Films International (Argentina) Concorde Pictures (US) |
Distributed by | Concorde Pictures (US) Aries Films Internacional MGM/US (video) |
Release dates |
20 May 1987 (video) |
Running time | 76 minutes |
Countries | Argentina United States |
Language | English |
Amazons is a 1986 Argentine-American fantasy adventure film directed by Alejandro Sessa and starring Penelope Reed, Danitza Kingsley, Joseph Whipp, Ty Randolph, and Jacques Arndt. [1]
The screenplay was written by Charles R. Saunders, based on his short story Agbewe’s Sword, which first appeared in the 1979 anthology Amazons! [2] The short story is included as part of the series Dossouye , about the real-life female warriors of the West African Kingdom of Dahomey, gathered together in a novel published by Saunders in 2008. [3]
Saunders and Sessa later collaborated again on Stormquest (1987).
Amazons is an epic story that follows a legendary tribe of warrior women from a mythical time, whose spirits are tied to magical trees. The amazons are currently being attacked by an army led by the evil king Kalungo, whose magic powers are given by the Weird Ways and the demonic being Balgore. The amazons' High Priest performs a ceremony, which reveals the magic sword of Azundati in the future of amazon warrior Dyala. Thinking the sword can stop Kalungo, the Emerald Queen selects Dyala and Tashi to retrieve the sword. Unbeknownst to Dyala, Tashi's mother, the one-armed combat instructor Tshingi tasks her daughter to kill Dyala and retrieve the sword for her, as she wants revenge for Dyala's mother cutting off her arm due to a fight over a man.
Tshingi is also revealed to be working for Kalungo, who promised to make her the next Emerald Queen. She warns Kalungo, but tells him Tashi will get the sword for her and that he shouldn't worry. Not trusting Tshingi not to turn on him, Kalungo tasks his shape-shifting servant Akam to trail the two warriors, make sure they reach the sword, and then kill them.
Meanwhile, oppressed servants of Kalungo plan a rebellion against him. The guards capture one of them, Vishti, but she manages to stab the guard who tries to rape her and escape in his clothes to join the amazons.
Dyala and Tashi are attacked by bandits while bathing, who try to rape them, but Akam, shapeshifted to a lioness, kills a bandit and Dyala kills the rest. They enter the area of the reptilian demon-worshipper Pagash, who kidnap some drugged women sent to the forest as sacrifices for a demonic tree. The Pagash capture Tashi with a trap as well. Dyala lures the Pagash away and kills them with the traps she has set, and saves Tashi from sacrifice in the last minute.
They meet a horse that leads them to a nomadic seer. She predicts that three will enter the cave holding the sword, but only one will leave - and that the holder of the sword has to pay a price.
After crossing a gorge on ropes, the two of them enter the cave, followed by Akam in lioness form. Dyala claims the sword, and Tashi is unable to stab her in the back, as they have become friends. Akam hurls a knife at Dyala, and Tashi pushes her out of the way, dying to save her. Akam shapeshifts to a lioness and fights Dyala, but she manages to stab her to death. In the meantime, the amazons mount an attack on Kalungo's castle, but he has the upper hand due to his magic, which the High Priest can only repel for a while with the aid of the Soul Stone.
Dyala returns to the seer, who reveals she is the legendary Azundati whom the sword belonged to. She gives Dyala her horse, which can navigate the Weird Ways and take her instantly to the amazons. In the Weird Ways, Balgore attacks Dyala but she kills him with the sword. Using the magic sword, she reflects Kalungo's spells on his army, turning the tide of the battle. She follows a fleeing Kalungo, and after a fierce battle, beheads him. Displaying the head makes Kalungo's army surrender. The Queen names Dyala as the new commander, however she suddenly feels intense pain and realizes someone is trying to cut down her spirit-tree. It is Tshingi, and the two have an intense fight. Tshingi managed to cut down Dyala's tree, but it lands on her and crushes her to death. Dyala survives because possession of the sword made her immortal. She leaves to return the sword to the cave, but finds Tashi at Azundati's tent, alive. She explains Azundati somehow brought her back to life, then left, saying her task is over. The two friends embrace each other and ride off on a new adventure.
Variety called it "a lightweight entry in the science fiction/fantasy sweepstakes, offering some statuesque beauties doing hand and sword battle, and little else. Pic has bypassed theatrical release [in the US], going straight to video... Story is harder to follow than it should be, with not much dramatic impetus to maintain viewer interest. Filmmakers, while intent on lining up the most attractive actresses they can, strain credibility by casting two thesps of same approximate age as mother and daughter." [4]
Xena is a fictional character from the Xena: Warrior Princess franchise, portrayed by New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless and co-created by Robert Tapert and John Schulian. She first appeared as a villain in the 1995–1999 television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys before joining forces with Hercules. Xena was popular with fans, so the producers decided to create a spin-off with the character in the starring role. She later appeared in the subsequent comic book of the same name, as well as the spin-off animated film The Battle for Mount Olympus, and non-canon expanded universe material, such as books and video games.
Pyramus and Thisbe are a pair of legendary, ill-fated lovers from Babylon whose story forms part of Ovid's Metamorphoses. The story has been retold by many authors.
The Fionavar Tapestry is a book series of fantasy novels by Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay, published between 1984 and 1986. The novels are set in both contemporary Toronto and the secondary world of Fionavar.
Artemis of Bana-Mighdall is a fictional Amazon superheroine, a comic book character published by DC Comics. The character was created by William Messner-Loebs and Mike Deodato, and debuted in Wonder Woman #90 as a rival to Princess Diana of Themyscira. Artemis had briefly succeeded Diana as the new Wonder Woman, but was later killed while assuming the role, fulfilling a prophecy of Wonder Woman dying. After her death, Artemis was sent to the Underworld, but eventually returned to the world of the living.
Wild Magic is a fantasy novel by Tamora Pierce, the first in a series of four books, The Immortals. It details the emergence of the powers of Veralidaine Sarrasri as a wild mage and her coming to Tortall.
The Crimson Shadow series is a fantasy novel series created by R. A. Salvatore. It consists of three books:
The Amazons of DC Comics are a race of warrior women who exist as part of Greek mythology. They live on Paradise Island, later known as Themyscira, an isolated location in the middle of the ocean where they are hidden from Man's World.
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom is a 1985 sword and sorcery film written by Ed Naha and directed by Héctor Olivera. It stars Bo Svenson as Kor the Conqueror, Vidal Peterson as Simon, and Thom Christopher as Shurka. The film is one of ten that Roger Corman produced in Argentina during the 1980s, beginning with Deathstalker in 1983.
Deathstalker II, also known as Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans, is a 1987 Argentine-American fantasy comedy-adventure film directed by Jim Wynorski and a sequel to 1983's Deathstalker. It was written by Neil Ruttenberg and starring John Terlesky, Monique Gabrielle, John LaZar and María Socas. Terlesky replaced Rick Hill, the protagonist from the previous film, in the starring role of Deathstalker. This is the last sword and sorcery movie that Roger Corman produced in Argentina during the 80s.
Deathstalker, also known as El cazador de la muerte, is a 1983 Argentine-American sword and sorcery film directed by James Sbardellati, and starring Rick Hill, Barbi Benton, Bernard Erhard and Lana Clarkson.
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún is a book containing two narrative poems and related texts composed by English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and HarperCollins on 5 May 2009.
Dossouye is a sword and sorcery novel by American writer Charles R. Saunders, and published independently in 2008 by Sword & Soul Media via the online press Lulu. In 2012, Saunders published a sequel Dossouye: The Dancers of Mulukau.
Thor and the Amazon Women is a 1963 Italian / Yugoslavian sword and sandal film directed by Antonio Leonviola. The film is also known as The Amazon Women and Women Gladiators in the United Kingdom. It is a sequel to "Taur the Mighty".
This is a list of works by American fantasy author Tamora Pierce.
The Scorpion King: Book of Souls is a 2018 American direct-to-video sword and sorcery action-adventure film. As the fifth and final installment in The Scorpion King series, it represents the culmination of the original series and a sequel to The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power. The film stars Zach McGowan as Mathayus, along with Pearl Thusi, Mayling Ng, and Peter Mensah in supporting roles. Directed by Don Michael Paul and written by David Alton Hedges.