Too much of everything

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Another firm favourite from my childhood years is revealed to be a fun, if not classic, British movie. The biggest problem with THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD is the first hour; boy, does it drag! Most of it is taken up with a voyage by boat, with lots of talk and non-action and only the occasional moment of dialogue. At least the last forty-five minutes, on dry land, offer up some of the grand spectacle and fast-paced action as in earlier Harryhausen outings like JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS, the best of them all. THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, whilst never equalling these dizzy heights, is certainly better than the last film in the Harryhausen/Sinbad trilogy, SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER. However I still prefer Harryhausen's final stop-motion fest CLASH OF THE TITANS and believe that the master went out with a bang.Back to SINBAD, and it's a fairly typical genre outing, never rising above a level aimed at kiddies. The plot is simple and straightforward and the characters clean-cut and old-fashioned. One nice thing is the set design, which includes some fantastic ruined temples and weird faces carved in rock faces. The movie has a sunny, European look to it which makes it pleasurable to watch, and is bolstered by a scene-setting score to highlight the action. The actors aren't really required much to act, but instead flesh out crudely-drawn caricatures - there's the dashing, tanned and turbanned hero; the drunk who does good; the loyal first mate; the gorgeous love interest; and the cackling bad guy. Aside from Harryhausen's stop-motion creations, the film offers up a lacklustre horned deity who rises in mist from a well, a very wet sea storm, a cool invisible man, and a silly tribe of green-skinned natives who bring back shuddersome memories of AT THE EARTH'S CORE to this viewer.John Phillip Law (later a stalwart in Italian action-adventures) is Sinbad, and while he's no Kerwin Mathews, at least he has quite a likable screen persona. Caroline Munro's cleavage gets another airing as she plays the romantic interest, Margiana. The actress' range isn't exactly stretched by a role which requires her to stand around in the background and just LOOK pretty. Meanwhile, Law's thunder is always stolen by the villainous Tom Baker, who plays the wizard Koura, a guy who keeps getting older and more wizened (via some cool make-up) every time he casts a spell; with his wide, staring, mad eyes, ripe dialogue, and loud delivery, Baker has a ball in the part and is a delight to watch. Familiar supporting cast members include former heart-throb Martin Shaw, badly miscast as shipman Rachid; Kurt Christian as the drunken idiot Haroun, and finally Douglas Wilmer as the Vizier, a Dr. Phibes lookalike after being caught in an explosion.Of course, every actor is upstaged by Harryhausen's effects work, most of which is typically marvellous, with the exception of the fake-looking homunculus, which gets far too much screen time as Koura's watchful spy. The first monster is the figurehead from Sinbad's ship, which tears itself free from the wood (with the help of some excellent splintering sound effects) and proceeds to attack the ship's crew; this wooden creation is a pretty tough foe, and I love the complexity of Harryhausen's effects work here (in one instance it goes BEHIND the mast, so it isn't just straightforward front projection). Next up is the best creation in the movie, the six-armed statue of Kali, which at first dances and then engages in a superb, hair-raising sword fight with Sinbad and the rest of his crew.After this triumph (Kali is one of Harryhausen's fastest and finest masterpieces), the final two creations - a griffin and a cyclopian centaur - are a little disappointing, but still good value for money. As in all of these films, they have a bloody fight which makes for some great spectacle before both are slaughtered. Gordon Hessler's direction is a little uninspired, which comes as a surprise from the man who brought us the tremendously fun SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN. THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD isn't a bad film, exactly, it just isn't the greatest out there, and undemanding fans should enjoy it a whole lot.

Sinbad (John Phillip Law) and friends search for the third piece to a map that leads to the Fountain of Destiny. Along the way they must deal with the evil magician Koura (Tom Baker) and the many threats he puts in their way. These threats are brought to life by special effects legend Ray Harryhausen.Wonderful fantasy adventure film, highlighted of course by the Harryhausen creations: homunculi, centaur, griffin, ship's figurehead come to life, and a six-armed Kali idol. But we also have Tom Baker having great fun playing the villain Koura and the beautiful Caroline Munro as Margiana, whose cleavage steals the picture. It's solid pure entertainment and my personal favorite of all the Sinbad movies.

This story unfolds effortlessly with noble characters who take us on a spontaneous adventure. It is a spin on the original story from "1,001 Arabian Nights." John Philip Law makes a dashing Sinbad, and he and his costars do a great job of underplaying. Even the villain is likable. This movie is a feast for the eyes with amazing costumes, sets, and Ray Harryhausen's legendary special effects. I love the historical and anthropological references to the evil eye, the temple of faces at Ankor Wat, the Gryphon, and a multi-armed Kali doing best version of Bharata Natyam. I also appreciate the message of fighting evil with bravery, positive attitude, etc. This is a great movie for kids.

The Golden Voyage of Sinbad is directed by Gordon Hessler and stars John Phillip Law (Sinbad), Tom Baker, Caroline Munro, Douglas Wilmer, Takis Emmanuel & Martin Shaw. It includes a score by composer Miklós Rózsa and features stop-motion effects from Ray Harryhausen (this one in Dynarama). It's the second of three Sinbad films that Harryhausen made for Columbia, the others being The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977). The plot sees legendary sailor Sinbad come into possession of a tablet dropped onto his ship by a mysterious flying creature. The tablet is one part of a map which greatly intrigues Sinbad so he wears it as an amulet. However, the tablet was bound for evil magician Koura (Baker) who now wants it back as it will lead to The Fountain Of Destiny. Can Sinbad, aided by the Grand Vizier Of Marabia (Wilmer), fend off Koura before he gets the rewards from the fountain to use for his evil ways?A smooth adventure piece that's low on plotting but high on magical mystery fervour. More known for directing horror films, Hessler does an admirable job in not letting the thin story bog the movie down. Sometimes with Harryhausen led movies the stop-motion creations end up being the sole reason for watching the film. And while, as always, they are the best thing in this movie, they give the film an Arabian Nights feel to the piece, managing to charm and engage enough to round it out as a full film viewing experience. Yes the cast are sub-standard B listers, with John Law and Munro featuring, one thinks, for looks (cool beard and turban look) and bosom (whoosh!) respectively. While Tom Baker's pantomime villain act could never become tiring; such is the fun he and the audience are having with it. But this be a good old yarn that's spun well in conjunction with Harryhausen's effects. Here we are treated to a vengeful ships Figurehead, a Centaur, a winged Griffin, a tiny Gargoyle and best of the bunch-the goddess Kali, a six armed statue that is brought to life by Koura. The latter giving a moment to rival that of Talos' awakening in Jason & The Argonauts. Look out for Robert Shaw who features uncredited as the "Oracle Of All Knowledge". Rózsa adds the aural joy with mystical Arabian flavours, and Ted Moore's cinematography brings the gorgeous colours and costumes to life.Good wholesome family entertainment. 7/10