Kull the Conqueror
Encyclopedia
Kull the Conqueror is a 1997 fantasy film
about the Robert E. Howard
character Kull starring Kevin Sorbo
. It is a movie adaptation of Howard's Conan
novel The Hour of the Dragon
, with the protagonist changed to the author's other barbarian hero Kull. The story line also bears similarities to two other Howard stories, the Kull story "By This Axe, I Rule" and the Conan story, "The Phoenix on the Sword
", which was actually a rewrite of the Kull story.
The film was originally intended to be a third Conan film, Conan the Conqueror. The protagonist was changed due to Arnold Schwarzenegger
's refusal to reprise his role as Conan and Kevin Sorbo
's reluctance to redo a character already played. Screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue
has stated on several occasions that he was extremely displeased with this film, feeling that his script was ruined by studio interference.
. Shortly thereafter a messenger from the palace arrives to notify the leader of this legion testing Kull that the king has gone insane and slaughtered all of his children. Following the legion, Kull then rides to the city that the King and his guard are from. There they are surprised to find that the king is covered in blood and all of his heirs slaughtered. The leader of the guard, Taligaro questions the king as to what has happened, but, still mad with rage, the king attacks him, and brings his sword up to finish him off. However Kull steps in and stops him, resulting in a fight that ultimately destroys the king.
Kull is then given the crown by the dying King, knowing that many will now seek to kill Kull for it, notably Taligaro, and his cousin, both of whom are of royal blood. Taligaro and the king's cousin then conspire to bring back to life an evil witch queen whom they plan to use to destroy Kull and take the crown themselves. This witch queen, Akivasha, once alive, entrances Kull with ease and marries him. Once married she becomes Queen and promptly poisons Kull, who is believed by the royal court to be dead; however, Kull reawakens to find out the truth of Akivasha. He frees himself from confinement and plots to regain his throne and vanquish the evil witch. He is joined in his quest by Ascalante, a priest of an old abandoned god and Zareta, Ascalante's sister and fortune teller who was a member of Kull's harem wrongfully accused of his murder by the queen.
What results is a series of tests and adventures which ultimately results in the death of the witch, the reinstating of Kull as King, the reformation of the laws of the lands, and the inclusion of a new Queen.
.
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
about the Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
character Kull starring Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
. It is a movie adaptation of Howard's Conan
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
novel The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon, also known as Conan the Conqueror, is a fantasy novel written by Robert E. Howard featuring his seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was first published in serial form in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1935 through 1936; and in book form in 1950 by Gnome...
, with the protagonist changed to the author's other barbarian hero Kull. The story line also bears similarities to two other Howard stories, the Kull story "By This Axe, I Rule" and the Conan story, "The Phoenix on the Sword
The Phoenix on the Sword
"The Phoenix on the Sword" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine December 1932. The tale was a rewrite of the unpublished Kull story, "By This Axe I Rule!" with long passages being...
", which was actually a rewrite of the Kull story.
The film was originally intended to be a third Conan film, Conan the Conqueror. The protagonist was changed due to Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
's refusal to reprise his role as Conan and Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
's reluctance to redo a character already played. Screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue
Charles Edward Pogue
Charles Edward Pogue is a film and television writer who has worked in the sci-fi/fantasy, horror, and thriller genres, and he has also scripted several Sherlock Holmes adaptations...
has stated on several occasions that he was extremely displeased with this film, feeling that his script was ruined by studio interference.
Plot
The film begins with what appears to be a great battle between Kull and several of the mad King's elite legion; however, this turns out to be a test required for admission into said legion, which Kull ultimately fails for revealing that he is not of noble blood, and instead hails from the barbarian lands of AtlantisAtlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. Shortly thereafter a messenger from the palace arrives to notify the leader of this legion testing Kull that the king has gone insane and slaughtered all of his children. Following the legion, Kull then rides to the city that the King and his guard are from. There they are surprised to find that the king is covered in blood and all of his heirs slaughtered. The leader of the guard, Taligaro questions the king as to what has happened, but, still mad with rage, the king attacks him, and brings his sword up to finish him off. However Kull steps in and stops him, resulting in a fight that ultimately destroys the king.
Kull is then given the crown by the dying King, knowing that many will now seek to kill Kull for it, notably Taligaro, and his cousin, both of whom are of royal blood. Taligaro and the king's cousin then conspire to bring back to life an evil witch queen whom they plan to use to destroy Kull and take the crown themselves. This witch queen, Akivasha, once alive, entrances Kull with ease and marries him. Once married she becomes Queen and promptly poisons Kull, who is believed by the royal court to be dead; however, Kull reawakens to find out the truth of Akivasha. He frees himself from confinement and plots to regain his throne and vanquish the evil witch. He is joined in his quest by Ascalante, a priest of an old abandoned god and Zareta, Ascalante's sister and fortune teller who was a member of Kull's harem wrongfully accused of his murder by the queen.
What results is a series of tests and adventures which ultimately results in the death of the witch, the reinstating of Kull as King, the reformation of the laws of the lands, and the inclusion of a new Queen.
Reception
The film received mostly negative reviews from critics and currently holds a 26% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.