Tarkan (1969) User Reviews

Turkish comic hero comes to life in an exciting (if cheap by Hollywood standards) adventure tale

[dbborroughs · 8/10 · 3 December 2005]

This is the first of a series of films about a Turkish comic hero named Tarkan. Its well produced spectacle (by Turkish film standards anyway) and contains more action and plot in its 80 minutes than most bloated Hollywood action films running twice as long. To be honest I have no idea what really goes on in this film since I saw it in Turkish with no subtitles, but it doesn't matter since you get enough to be able to care whats going on, even if you don't know all of the details (I think this is the most "complicated" of all of the movies).

The story has something to do with Romans, Huns and Vikings all running around in some part of medieval Europe. Tarkan who is traveling around with his wolf dog companion, is on some kind of a quest (what it is isn't clear until the end because I don't speak Turkish, though it has something to do with a magic sword). Along the way Tarkan helps some people who become his friends, beds the wives of the Roman emperor, and the Viking King, end up in the arena battling gladiators, falls in quick sand, fights a guy on a chariot, not to mention about two dozen other feats or daring do.

I don't know what to say but this movie moves like the wind. Sure its cheap and very silly, for example the vikings all have helmets that are way too big for anyone to wear and they are all dressed in pink and purple as if someone just discovered color, but at the same time its very earnest and has unique charm. The action scenes, with one exception, are handled well, and while not believable are fun to watch on their own terms.

I liked this movie a great deal. If you're willing to take it for what it is then I think you're in for a great time. If you need a perfect movie with absolute realism and a decent budget stay away. This is just a fun movie (that can be fun to make fun of). If you get the chance and want something adventurous, see this movie.

Colourful Turkish superhero adventure

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 5 November 2016]

Imagine a cross between Robert E. Howard's Conan and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan and the result is Tarkan, a Turkish superhero who originated in a series of successful comics in the 1960s. Tarkan was a legendary ass-whupper who literally took no rubbish from anybody, and his adventures typically involved him wreaking havoc across the globe. It was inevitable that his antics would be transferred to the big screen, and 1969 saw the release of not one but three Tarkan adaptations. This film proved to be the most successful of them all – perhaps because it was the only one that was shot in colour – and it spawned no less than four sequels in the early '70s. I guess the fact that colour film stock was used ate into the rest of the movie's budget, because it appears that the producers of this outing had only a few pennies to rub together.

Fans of Turkish cult cinema will ultimately recognise the type of anything-goes ambiance created here. It's most similar to the historical adventures that Cuneyt Arkin made in the '70s, where he essayed the roles of such heroes as Kara Murat, Battal Gazi and, er, Lion Man! Tarkan isn't as crazy as the '80s rip-offs like Turkish STAR WARS, but it DOES use an achingly familiar piece of stirring music that I'm convinced was ripped off either a historical flick or a spaghetti western.

What can I say about Tarkan's realism? The costumes look like joke-shop props and there's an overabundance of bright pinks and blues that the extras wear. Weapons and helmets at best look to have been made of cheap plastic, at worst, of cardboard. There aren't really any sets as such, the whole film takes place in a hut (dressed different each time to look like different places), in a hall and in the Turkish countryside, where the genuine ruined castles add some nice authenticity to the proceedings. Tarkan is silly, stupid and often plot less, a strung-together sequence of action bits in which the hero is captured, escapes, is recaptured, and escapes, ad nauseam. But who cares when the film is this much FUN? Seriously, a lot of big budget productions have about two or three action scenes throughout their bloated running times, and are a chore to sit through. Tarkan throws in a wild and woolly fight about every three or four minutes, and the result is a kick-ass film.

I have to admit that Tarkan is a pretty weird hero. He doesn't have the natural charisma or likability of Cuneyt Arkin's good guys. Instead, he's a skinny, sly-looking chap who sometimes wears white face paint and always wears a lank, dirty-looking red wig. His fur costume really doesn't do him any favours. Kartal Tibet, who essays the role, does work hard at the job, and I guess he must have enjoyed it because when the Tarkan series came to an end, he gave up acting and became a film director instead! Anyhow, the one great thing about Tarkan is his sidekick: the cutest German Shepherd you'll ever see, named Kurt. Kurt is actually supposed to be a wolf, I think, but he's definitely a German Shepherd and he's a great actor – the best in the film. Okay, so sometimes he's wagging his tail when he's attacking the bad guys and tearing out their throats, but you've gotta love him. Watching Kurt run and keep up with a galloping horse is a lot of fun. Good old Kurt. As you can probably tell by now, TARKAN is no masterpiece, but it sure is a lot of fun and I'm left feeling pumped, more than ready to watch all four sequels. Go Tarkan!

Tarkan, loyal and fearless warrior of Attila the Hun.

[HalilKose · 6/10 · 7 October 2014]

Tarkan, the first movie of the cult Tarkan series, was truly adapted from the homonym comic book that is started to be drawn in 1966 by famous caricaturist Sezgin Burak. After its release it became one of the most famous series of Turkish Cinema. The leading character Tarkan was raised by a wolf in the wild nature without any human impact, thereby Tarkan is completely fearless and daredevil person who fight always together with a wolf.

The movie takes places in the historical context when Attila the Hun, leader of the Hunnic Empire began to attempt to invade Europe; the prominent leaders of the era like Attila, emperor of Huns; Genseriko, King of Vandals and Valentinianus, emperor of Roman Empire are in a bloody struggle to capture the sword of Mars (Roman god of war) which is believed to promote ownership of whole world to whom possess. This struggle to capture this sword is displayed by the adventures of Tarkan who is the loyal and brave warrior of Atilla the Hun.

The movie should be considered as an accomplished one in accordance with its shooting period- the late '60s; the costumes and the film set were designed and chosen in compliance with historicity, in other word remained loyal to conditions of the period with the exception of some small-scale errors. Moreover, the famous music of the film was taken from the 'Moderato' part of fifth symphony by a soviet composer Dimitri Shostakovich, I seriously think this music is well-selected and voluminously enhances the quality of movie. One another high point of the movie is the daring erotic scenes and nudity which are thoroughly increased with the subsequent movies of the Tarkan series.

The First Official Tarkan Movie

[quirinus · 10/10 · 11 October 2005]

The best adaptation of a comic book (better than lucky Luke anyway:)) The Hunnic comic hero Tarkan (a phenomenon in Turkey) is an Akinci (commando) of Attila khan of Huns (not king, king is bey, khan is emperor) Tarkan is a son of a Beg in Caucasus and orphaned by Alans in his first birthday ceremony adopted by a she-wolf(its very common in Turkish myths) and raised as a wolf after some time a Hunnic man survived from Alan massacre finds him and teaches him to be a knight(the first knight known is him also) to avenge his tribe... In his adventures Tarkan deals with sorcery(mostly women), trickery (mostly from West Romans and Chinese) and treachery (of minor nations). Unlike western or eastern heroes of today Tarkan isn't a super hero like Conan or Sinbad he is the best wrestler ,excellent swordsman, he is vulnerable in some senses (like nationalism and humanism) he can be arrested, he doesn't like to live socially (his best friend is his Wolf) he is loyal to his Khan etc etc... If you have liked Gladiator you will love Tarkan movies as its original in lot senses they are similar but the end....

Skinny Turkish Connan takes on the World.

[sanliizzet · 1/10 · 2 November 2011]

Tarkan's adventures are fun to see as much as his competitor Cuneyt Arkin's (Kara Murat, Malkoc Oglu & Battal Gazi series). As a matter of fact, Tarkan is once famous comic hero who lived in Hunnic time somehow similar to Connan the barbarian. What he has more is a scantly clad tiger fure which is not long enough to cover his dark color slip underware. His sidekick, a wolf lookalike stray dog that's name is also kurt "wolf".

Tarkan singlehandedly deals with the enemies of the famous Hunnic Emperor Atilla. A natural born swordsman, archer, horse rider and a handsome casanova, Tarkan keeps conquering lands as far as Vikings and China.

Acting wooden, reality non existent, bad screenplay, bad stunt, bad everything. It is so bad actually it is good.

Do not miss.

Drawing a knife is the work of non-confidence fake heroes, fattened pig.

[gonencbiber · 10/10 · 7 December 2015]

The ones who owns the Sword of Mars, will conquer the world. Atilla doesn't believe that. The man who's next to Atilla: "To believe is the first step to victory; i'm talking about faith not peoples." Atilla rejects him: "We are a nation that fighting with heart not with sword; our strength is sufficient to them." The Wise Man: "A nation that lost their faith is doomed to extinction." Atilla: "Who will bring the Sword of Mars to me?" Suddenly, an arrow hits to the middle of the archery practice board. Everyone is amazed. Who did this? Tarkan appears on a mountain. The Wolf barks and Tarkan: Shut up, Wolf! Everyone says his name. This is a Turkish Movie classic, it shows their faces. Atilla: "I'm sure now, he can do it." Scene Ends. And the best movie of all time starts officially. There is much to criticize. In 1969, Turkey's cinema conditions wasn't very well. Thank you.