The Film Utopia summer quest continues in this second instalment on fantasy cinema of the 1980s as Steven, Benjamin, and Sean tackle the shimmering, sword-swinging, and body oil-drenched years of 1980 to 1983.
From popular mainstays such as Hawk the Slayer (1980), Clash of the Titans (1981), Conan the Barbarian (1982), The Dark Crystal (1982) and Krull (1983), to side quests veering into the more eclectic cult offerings of Heavy Metal (1981), Conquest (1983), Deathstalker (1983), and Ironmaster (1983), we explore an exhaustive, yet somewhat curated list of muscle bound heroes, animatronic dragons, stop-motion mythical monsters, glistening boobs, and weirdly shifty wizards.
Along the way, we ponder why the fantasy boom of the ‘80s refused to die despite the genre’s apparent box office curse, and take great amusement in highlighting the genre’s many cliches. Namely the barely restrained outfits that seemed contractually obligated in the era. There’s also a spirited (and faintly absurd) debate over whether Flash Gordon (1980) counts as fantasy or if that’s heresy punishable by vivisection with The Glaive.
Prepare for deep cuts, big laughs, and a nostalgic adventure through the gloriously mad dawn of 80s fantasy cinema.
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