Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

If you want to see a good movie, watch the Sword and the Sorcerer not this mistake. If I read you the script for this movie, I could not spoil the movie more than is already is. The photographic cinematography was as horrible as Beverly Hills Cop 3; however BHC3 had a score that they used throughout the movie. The movie score at the beginning of the movie was reminiscent of Conan or other slayer movies, but it was hardly used in the movie. The grade school stage backdrop sets were as laughable as the CGI. The story would have been OK if it would have had Talon and his mighty mercenaries save the queendom; however Talon does not appear in this movie. The Stranger, Lee Horsley, was a nice scene, if only he was used throughout the movie. You just have to wonder if Lee Horsley, Kevin Sorbo, and Ralf Moeller lost a bet. If you still want to see this movie, don't spend the money like I did just check out my local library to watch it for free.

After suffering through a horrible beginning and the longest roll of names of the cast I have yet to see in a cheesy B-film, I thought it could only get better. I thought that was the case until I realized the movie ends without really resolving the conflict. Did they run out of money? It sure looked that way. The heart of the story and the satire of it all made the middle of the film quite enjoyable. I laughed at the cheesy hero adventure comedy that was persistent but was still very upset by the failure to properly compose a storyline. I feel like 10 minute of re-writing could have solved many people's woes with this movie. Watch it and see for yourself, but I suggest fast forwarding through the first 10 minutes and turning it off 20 minutes before the end. You will not regret it that!

This is the first movie I have reviewed here, and I do so as a response to those who are praising this movie.I don't know how anyone can honestly praise this movie, it is a shear mess. Editing and pacing were terrible, production quality below most TV episodes. I'm sure the actors did the best they could with what they had but what they had wasn't much. This movie is in no way near as enjoyable as "The Sword and the Sorcerer", it is in no way nearly as coherent. This movie made little sense, even with the ham-fisted exposition. The trailer for this movie was better than the movie!Maybe this mess could be salvaged by throwing it into the category of "so bad it's good", and that's a big maybe.There are only two suggestions I have for watching this movie: either watch it inebriated or, simplest of all, not at all.

Would give it higher f that were possible. Got DVD as a gift and have to say its far superior to Clash of the Titans or Prince of Persia, even better than the higher budgeted Solomon Kane.What Ancient Empire had going for is that its a very unpredictable plot and story line where it starts as a story about a sorceress demon taking over a kingdom with vampires and then we understand that the vampire/sorcerer attack is merely a catalyst for characters to learn who they are and the rallying to defeat the sorceress (an superb Whitney Able), really is about a dysfunctional coming together to make peace with being abandoned by a mercenary warrior who fathered a lot kids as he adventured.The back story is deep and it takes a while to assimilate it.Kevin Sorbo gives a strong performance as hustling Aedan. Actually all the performances are at worst interesting. Melissa Ordway and Victoria Maurette really stand out as half sisters on opposite sides and Jessica Delgado as a slave girl turn vampire lackey.The pace overall was good though a bit fast in the beginning. You have to get use to the pace.The photography was lush and striking at times, though the DVD picture seemed to be blown up which caused scenes to be soft and overexposed. Music was excellent and captured the tone.The movie is more a family drama than action and magic. That only really bad moment is at the end where the film ends abruptly and announces a coming sequel called Red Moon, where I guess, all the story lines climax.This film was a wonderful surprise and I can't wait for the sequel and to watch this again. The scene with the tongue is memorable!