Fantasy

The Magic Carpet, starring Lucille Ball and John Agar

The Magic Carpet [Lucille Ball]

by user
December 29, 2018July 10, 2023

The Magic Carpet (1951), starring Lucille Ball and John Agar

I’ve just finished watching The Magic Carpet with my children, having DVR’ed it earlier. How can I describe this movie? The word “cheesy”comes to mind; it’s a very typical Arabian Nights-style story, with an evil man overthrowing (and killing) the Caliph of the land, in order to seize control. The Caliph’s wife, however, manages to send their baby son to safety on the “magic carpet” where he’s raised by a relative, without knowing his true identity. He (John Agar) grows up, and on his own leads a Robin Hood-style insurrection against the evil, oppressive Caliph.

7th Voyage of Sinbad

by user
May 29, 2017December 31, 2023

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) starring Kerwin Mathews, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer, Torin Thatcher

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad is best remembered as a Ray Harryhausen special effects extravaganza. And as a huge fan of Ray Harryhausen’s work, I certainly appreciate the great work that he did here. But a film has to be more than special effects; and thankfully, this film is more than great special effects. The acting is good, with characters that the audience care about. Also, the effects enhance the story and don’t take it over.

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad

by user
May 29, 2017May 21, 2024

Movie review of Ray Harryhausen’s classic The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) starring John Phillip Law, Caroline Munro, Tom Baker

The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug

by user
April 8, 2015March 27, 2022

The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug, by Peter Jackson

I saw The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug last Saturday with my wife, and I really wanted to love this movie–but I didn’t. If I hadn’t read the book, I would have thought it a typical adventure fantasy movie – not terrible, but not great, either.