Review - The Barbarians

The first time I saw this must have been about 30 years ago, when it came out on VHS.

So I only have vague memories of it.
I recall that I liked it, but that was about it.

Did I like it this time around?
Yes.
But for different reasons than I expected.

I was expecting bad swords and sorcery, barbarians beating the crud out of bad guys, women showing their gratitude by getting their baps out and villains having evil female wizards who also get their baps out.
Also with a lot of films of this type and age there is the obligatory rape of some sort.

This film however had none of that.
The bad guy did have an evil female wizard, but she wore sensible clothes and her power over people came from her craft not the exploitation of men through their bits via her baps.
The bad villain captured a woman who he coveted but he never forced himself on her and he remained frustrated.

In fact the only sex scene iirc is when a harem decide to take advantage of the barbarian twins, it is all very consensual.

Not only did it avoid all those less admirable things, it also did not take itself seriously, it was a sort of parody.
It knew it was a cheesey film and the characters hammed it up.
It was a light hearted romp of sorts.

All the tropes were there, bad villains, evil monsters, overlords, sneaking into palaces, tavern brawls, female sidekicks, misunderstood heroes etc etc.

But you know what, it worked, it is not serious and does not try to be, as is clear from one of the twins bizarre war cry/noises.
But is was enjoyable.

I would say go watch it, if only cause it is something a bit different.
Just don't expect anything serious and moody.

In fact if they announced a sequel I would watch it.

TRUE RATING:   2/10 
RATING AS A SWORDS AND SORCERY FILM:   6/10

SAMANTHA'S RATING AS SWORD AND SORCERY:   6/10