Kull the Conqueror
Reviewed by: Joe Meadows
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Very Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | 16 to Adult |
| Genre: | Fantasy Adventure |
| Length: | 98 min. |
| Year of Release: | 1997 |
| USA Release: |
| Featuring | Kevin Sorbo, Tia Carrere, Roy Brocksmith, Harvey Fierstein, Thomas Ian Griffith |
| Director |
John Nicolella |
| Producer | |
| Distributor |
Who says barbarians are uncivilized? Kevin Sorbo stars as King Kull, a survivor of Atlantis who proves himself a true man of valor as he battles the forces of darkness to save his kingdom from certain destruction.
As the new king of Valusia, Kull finds himself taken in by the beauty of a slave girl (Karina Lombard), but is enchanted by the evil Akivasha (Tia Carrere) whom he marrys. When an attempt on his life fails, Kull sets out on a quest with the slave girl Zareta and her high priest brother to search for the legendary Breath of Valka, the only thing that can destroy Akivasha.
With better than expected acting and special effects galore, “Kull the Conqueror” does a respectable job of bringing to life the character created by pulp fiction giant Robert E. Howard. The film also is sprinkled with humor (like when Kull is informed that his new wife is really a 3,000 year old witch, he replies “But she told me she was only 19.”)
The film is rated PG-13 for its violence, language, and sex scenes. The violence was well-done with very little blood, none of the really gross stuff. There were several obscene words spoken, but I did not hear the Lord’s name used (and I carefully listened for it). Most disturbing to me were the 2 sex scenes, one of which took place out of wedlock. Both scenes showed a lot of skin but no actual nudity and certainly left nothing to the imagination. There are also plenty of scantly clad women and bare chested men, which, sorry to say, is to be expected from a movie of this type.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the film from a Christian point of view is its constant theme of polytheism, the belief of many gods. This is clearly condemned by the Bible and is even one of the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:3 says “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The Bible goes on to say “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)
Being a Christian, I cannot recommend “Kull the Conqueror”. Its message of many gods and several sex scenes cause this film to fail the test of Philippians 4:8—“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
