Sword and the Sorcerer is maybe one of the last films I have been searching out on Blu-ray since Blu-ray began. This is film that has been trapped needlessly in DVD hell for so long, that it has basically skipped Blu-ray and gone straight to 4K UHD (there is a Blu-ray included too). I know the reasons why it was unable to hit the format, and it killed me, but none the less, year after year this video store staple of my youth was unable to be seen in quality HD, and now it’s here in glorious 4K UHD, so thank you Shout! Factory for getting this one restored in the best possible way (and now on to the review).
Sword and the Sorcerer is the debut tour de force by cult cinema wunderkind Albert Pyun, who would go on to direct so much amazing and wild films I’ve probably lost track of the in my head (Dollman, Radiation Dreams, Nemesis, and so forth). An Albert Pyun film, especially when given the resources is essentially guaranteed to be a fun one, and Sword and the Sorcerer is an epitome of fun time sword and sorcery cinema.
I got my first Dungeons and Dragons box in 1992 at age 10, and had just seen the cartoon, and maybe the first Conan movie on TV prior to that, but was obsessed with the world’s that could be created in game’s like D&D and movies like Conan. So needless to say when Sword and the Sorcerer well into my lap, I became obsessed with this one.
The plot, streamlined as best as I can involves the exiled Prince Talon, the true heir to the throne, joining in with the Princess Alana to fight back against the evil King Cromwell (Richard Lynch), and his wizard assistant Xusia. Alana, wants her brother rescued from Cromwell’s castle, and Talon wants his revenge. Will he got both?
Sword and the Sorcerer is just still a fantastic film. This film is just as good as Conan or any other Sword and Sorcery film of the period. It is filled with solid action, and is loaded up with atmosphere. The cast is solid, the FX are great, and this one is just super memorable from top to bottom. The Tri Sword which is a 3 Bladed sword which fires projectiles is just a fantastic and fun idea is well executed and one of the most memorable ideas from the film.
Sword and the Sorcerer is presented in a 2160p transfer 4k transfer that while not perfect just looks fabulous all the way through. It’s filmlike, well detailed, colors are natural and while not always jumping out at the screen (there are mostly muted Earth tones, and dark tones) what is here is well translated. Audio has multiple tracks including a stereo track and a 5.1, there is a disclaimer from Shout Factory that they recommend the stereo track due to audio issues, and I’d suggest the same. There is some hiss, and some sounds and dialogue that is buried here, but overall it’s better than what you’ve heard before. Extras include a commentary by director Pyun, and an epic pile of interviews, featurettes, trailers, and galleries, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED