Arabian Adventure
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DVD details
Actor: Christopher LeeDVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Televista
DVD Reviews of Arabian Adventure
DVD Review: "Rose of Elil, in the name of all things good and true, take us back to Jadur."
Summary: 3 Stars
The plot: The tyrannical Caliph Alquazar (Christopher Lee), to gain dark sorcerous might, has enslaved his soul to a mirror. Since then, his only means of defeat lies in the Rose of Elil, a mystical treasure which the Caliph desperately desires in his care. For while it has the power to destroy him, the Rose can also render him invincible. Accordingly, he commissions its fetching to a bold stranger named Hasan (Oliver Tobias), who boasts a claim to royalty. In return, Hasan is promised the hand of Princess Zuliera (lovely Emma Samms). Now, aided by the young scamp Majeed (who himself stumbles upon a magical talisman), Hasan ventures to the Island of Elil and survives many perils in his quest. But his blackest test awaits him when he at last journeys back to the treacherous Caliph.
The movie title doesn't lie. ARABIAN ADVENTURE, coming out in 1979, unfolds a nice, predictable adventure replete with the typical trappings we've come to associate with this exotic fantasy genre: Genies, magic lamps, flying carpets, dread sorcerers, princes and princesses, and a young but loyal beggar sidekick. ARABIAN ADVENTURE is only the latest to follow the mold set by the 1940 Alexander Korda film The Thief of Bagdad.
This film seems to be best suited for one of those weekend matinees they used to put on local television. In fact, in recently viewing my dvd copy, it was almost strange that there weren't any commercials to break up the flow. Back in my kidhood, this film would've been regarded as very welcome fare. There's nothing new here, of course. If you've seen others of its ilk (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Arabian Nights (Universal Cinema Classics), The Sinbad Collection (7th Voyage / Golden Voyage / Eye of the Tiger), and, of course, the 1940 THIEF OF BAGDAD), then ARABIAN ADVENTURE, in its basic plot and sensibilities, moseys along by the numbers. As mentioned, this is from 1979, so the film suffers from a certain washed out drabbiness in its presentation. Also, a less harsh assessment of the now dated special effects is suggested. Yes, the flying carpets do tend to look superimposed, and the metallic fire-demons are plain chuckle-able.
Christopher Lee once again lends his imposing and sinister presence to the screen. As the evil Caliph, he adequately sells it as someone who can quell an uprising with one casual sorcery-summoning wave of a hand. No, Lee doesn't come with his best stuff here, but it suffices. Oliver Tobias as Prince Hasan is appropriately brave and noble and mostly yawnable. There's one extended sequence wherein he does unveil a modicum of panache as he shows off a pleasing style of sword fighting, but when the sequence ends, he again becomes yawnable.
In this sub-genre, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD established the sometimes utilized trend of teaming up a street-smart lad with the grown up hero. And, usually, the kid turns out to be more interesting than that main hero. Same with this one. Young Puneet Sira stars as the beggar boy Majeed, and he's charming (great smile) and unaffected and is the film's true hero. But his pet monkey sucks lame bananas. British television actress Emma Samms makes her screen debut here, and that's all you can say about that, other than she looks mighty pretty. But her role as the Princess Zuliera doesn't really make use of her acting abilities. Fashion note: I didn't know high heels were hip back then, in ancient Arabia.
Other odds and ends: the curious might want to keep an eye peeled for appearances by Peter Cushing (often paired up with Christopher Lee) and a young, slim John Ratzenberger (the mailman from Cheers), who plays a mean-spirited ruffian. Mickey Rooney, someone you just don't expect to see in an Arabian fairy tale, also shows up from left field as Daad El Shur, a metal smith and keeper of the Rose of Elil. He tries hard to be funny.
ARABIAN ADVENTURE is a pleasant and diverting stopover in B-movie country. It's got enough action so kids, especially, should get a kick out of it. There are two pretty good scenes to relish: Hasan's exuberant sword fighting in the palace and the mid-air clashes as, near the end, both sides become airbourne on flying carpets. Not a bad film.
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Description of Arabian Adventure
Studio: Music Video Dist Release Date: 09/11/2007 Run time: 98 minutesBestsellers in DVD
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