Amazons Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Amazons Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 4, 2021

While 1985’s “Barbarian Queen” was mostly an exercise to photograph topless women and stage swordfights, 1986’s “Amazons” aims a little higher in the storytelling department. That’s not to suggest producer Roger Corman is giving up his sexploitation ways, but the screenplay by Charles Saunders (adapting his own short story) tries to conjure a complex fantasy world to explore, laboring to become a “Lord of the Rings”-style epic on a meager Corman budget. “Amazons” is unexpectedly ambitious, but its imagination isn’t always a participatory event, finding Saunders lost in own world- building while director Alejandro Sessa tries to make sense of it all, resulting in an intriguing but confusing odyssey into a sword-hunting, battle-ready Arthurian-tinged adventure that also makes time to watch actresses bathe.

The evil wizard Kalungo (Joseph Whipp) is threatening to take over the world, searching for the Spirit Stone, which will amplify his powers. While a peaceful kingdom protects the magic, its queen sends Dyala (Mindi Miller), her fiercest warrior, to collect the Sword of Azundati, a weapon capable of killing Kalungo. Joined by Tashi (Penelope Reed), Dyala crosses deadly terrain and battles various enemies during the mission, testing her strength against Kalungo’s powers.

There’s a lot to keep track of during “Amazons,” which isn’t messing around when it comes to the introduction of supporting characters, evil hordes, and dangerous areas of the land. Saunders is trying to summon a regal quest for Dyala and Tashi that details heroism and partnership, but Sessa is simply hoping to survive his directorial debut, attempting to deliver 75 minutes of dangerous encounters and threatening characters, but also satisfy certain Corman expectations, like the aforementioned river bathing sequence, and the picture stops for a sex scene between Kalungo and Tashinge (Danitza Kingsley), who’s also motivated to stop Dyala.

Saunders is trying to bring viewers to a complete fantasy realm, but many of his ideas aren’t properly established by the production, including a concept that connects the spirit of the Amazon warriors to living trees. Supporting characters tend to come and go as well, but there’s a certain level of action and peril to keep the picture moving, as Dyala and Tashi encounter a killer snake, multiple cults, and are forced to cross over a chasm on a rope.

Amazons Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures ideal clarity for "Amazons," highlighting impressive detail throughout the viewing experience. Facial surfaces are most appealing, exploring elements of age and makeup, and body particulars are easily surveyed. Locations are dimensional, and interiors retain distinct decoration. Colors are secure, offering bright greenery and varied costuming, dealing with animal skins and metallic battle gear. Magical additions offer blue lightning and the green spirit stone. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with brief speckling and mild scratches.

Amazons Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix supplies a crisp listening experience for "Amazons." Dialogue exchanges are largely dubbed, securing intelligibility. A few, short volume dips are encountered, but nothing sustained. Scoring offers satisfactory support, with the production often hesitant to dial up orchestral and synth sounds. Sword clangs and magic strikes are defined, along with community bustle during battle scenes.

Amazons Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes (12:18, HD) provide a shortened subplot featuring Dyala's attempts to toughen up a cult of virgins, teaching them how to defend themselves against male opponents (which involves a swift staff swing to the groin area). Some dreamlike limbo visits are included, and a handful of seconds-long shots, with many already included in the final cut.

• And a Green Band Trailer (1:34, SD) and a Red Band Trailer (1:43, SD) are included.

Amazons Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It rarely makes necessary sense, but "Amazons" has pace and committed performances, providing an acceptable distraction in the barbarian subgenre. Saunders provides storytelling expanse and some strange ideas (including a shapeshifting lioness), and Sessa tries to keep up with it all, paying attention to battle scenes and attacks, providing some level of escapism while the writing tries to cram an entire trilogy's worth of events into a drive- in-ready run time.