Four Warriors

OK, so this isn't a big budget production. In fact, it's probably a 'micro-budget' production. But what I really enjoyed about it is that the filmmakers didn't let that limit the scale of their story.

The people who made this film obviously love big, epic fantasy films... and they decided to make one despite the budgetary limitations. And they did a really good job!

Some of the baddies makeup effects don't quite come off and let it down a little, but this is an enjoyable ensemble film with some very nicely written bits of buddy-movie dialogue that could very easily be in a Hollywood blockbuster. And the relationships between the four warrior characters are nicely drawn, with the characters well acted.

It's also nicely shot, with good use of locations - which usually let lower budget films down.

If you only like fantasy films with $100m budgets and thousands of CGI warriors going into battle etc, then this probably won't be for you.

But if you enjoy fantasy stories and buddy movies give it a try.

Fantasy has to be the most underused genre these days, it's so rare to see one grace the silver screen and even straight to DVD movies are few and far between compared to every other genre.

The Four Warriors tells the story of *Drumroll* four warriors who come to the aid of a town where all the men and children have been taken during the night by unseen forces.

Lots of character development is on display but very little else.

It all looks the part as they often do, from the locations to the costumes it certainly looks authentic but when it comes to actual sfx it lacks. Thankfully it avoids CGI but its practical sfx are really poor and let the movie down.

The Four Warriors is nothing to write home about and certainly doesn't do anything to help the representation of fantasy movies but isn't as bad as most of the reviews would suggest.

Bad, but not THAT bad.

The Good:

Settings are great

The Bad:

Kristian Nairn

"Demons" look terrible

Has no real flow

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

"God & fighting do not go together" has to be the most ironic line I've ever heard in a movie.............ever

Every now and then I want to give some B movie the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes it turns out great, sometimes it doesn't. This is on of the latter.

Story: four crusaders (no idea which crusade, since their costumes are a hotch potch of anachronistic equipment) are on their way back from the holy land, only to come across a village full of hot looking MILFS who's sons and husbands have disappeared. The crusaders, of course after some disagreements, decide to stay and help the MILF in distress.

The movie then slowly drags along with endless silly conversations, one of the warriors performing a (badly choreographed) weapon practice or one of the damsels falling in love with one of our heroes. The entire middle 1/3rd of the movie is a giant bore lacking any kind of flow.

There are some nice scenery shots here and there, but they could not safe this crapfest. Maybe if one of the MIFLS in distress would go naked it would rank a bit higher in score, but I guess that was too much to ask.

2/10

The dialogue is a bit weak here and there, but not absolutely terrible, considering. The story itself is not particularly engaging. The acting itself was OK, all things considered, and above par for a low budget movie. The fight scenes, however, were ridiculous -- swing a sword like you mean it, man! The final fight was just as ridiculous.

I will say that I thought it was mostly well shot and edited, though, everything considered.

I found most of the characters personable which offers a certain amount of redemption to the film, and of them I liked the Mule although I spent the first 30 minutes wondering why they had him carrying around a bundle of wood when there is wood all over the flippin' place...

Oh dear, they did try, bless them. This film is so bad its actually funny. If it had been marketed as a satire of the warrior/action film genre and had thrown in a few Monty Pyton style gags, it might have even been a minor hit.

By and large for me at least, the only way to watch this film from end to end is to treat it as a comedy of errors. Bad sets, bad costumes, hilarious fight scenes and generally chuckle worthy acting. Its the kind of production you might expect the Lower Putney Medieval Enactment Society to put on after a minor win at Lotto.

My advice, watch this one when you have had a few beers and you are in the mood for a laugh. You wont be disappointed. One out of ten from me.