Customer Reviews

Hercules Unchained [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Finally, Steve Reeves on DVD! The version sent to me was by Gemstone Entertainment; but appears to be the same version as United American Video. A few years back I was on Steve's web site and commented that I was disappointed that there were none of his films on DVD, and the reply that I got back was, "Only on VHS now; but just wait a bit longer...." Though watching Italian movies can take a little getting used to, mainly due to the editing practices, in addition to dubbing the sound in after the movie had been completed, this movie holds the test of time very well, considering that it's almost 45 years old. This edition of Hercules Unchained is a notch or two up from the edition of Hercules that I previously reviewed. The print was obviously in much better condition, as the colors are generally very good, most of the picture is sharp, and the sound is better. My only real complaint is that it's not presented in a natural widescreen format. Like I said with my Hercules review, some day I'm hoping to see a higher grade edition, in widescreen, possibly with the film digitally restored a bit better and maybe a few extras; but until then, this will more than suffice. Watching these two back to make makes for a very enjoyable afternoon or evening; so don't hesitate to check out these classics!

This movie, a sequel to the original box-office smash, is a wonderful treat for those of us who marveled at Steve Reeves and his awesome presence in a series of otherwise forgettable 1960s sword and sorcery adventures. Reeves, a former Mr. America and Mr. Universe, was absolutely stunningly handsome, and as a result became the perfect archetype for young pubescent males looking for a role model. While his wonderful baritone voice was dubbed (much later I heard him talk on "Entertainment Tonight" about the newer types of bodybuilders coming to the fore under the influence of steroids, and he squawked out an answer in a tinny little voice that made one instantly realize why he never achieved wider stardom in more diverse American films.

But he was all beef and brawn here, and with the magic of a well-dubbed vocal effort became the star of the decade. This, like the original, was a continuation of his first role, as the immortal Hercules, and here again Reeves plays the part well. As someone who saw both movies dozens of times in the theaters, believe me, it was all Reeves that explained the hit movies and the string of successors that followed. Of course, film producer Joseph E. Levine threw in the lovely Sylvia Koscina and a veteran cast of character actors. The special effects are a bit dated, and the sets are nice, but any chance to watch Reeves going through the motions is an exercise in watching someone so handsome and so well built that none of the rest of it mattered. Not a great movie, but one that is fun to watch to remember way back when....Enjoy!

We're not talking quality films.This was made in Italy and dubbed. It wasn't the plot,special effects,music or whatever it takes to sell tickets,..this was popular because of Steve Reeves.
This was at a time when there wasn't stunt doubles.He dislocated his shoulder when the chariot rolled over during a chase. He slammed his shoulder into a tree and popped it back into place.It wasn't glitz, Reeves was the REAL DEAL!

This DVD is produced by Westlake Entertainment Group. It runs for 107 minutes and is presented in the fullscreen format. There is an interactive menu that includes scene selection, photo gallery and very short biographies and filmographies.

The real problem is that the digital transfer used Westlake Entertainment Group is very poor quality. The resultant film imagery is like a very old VHS tape.

I would not recommend you buy from this distributor. This is symptomatic of a wider problem in which classic films that were made before the advent of the digital age are being treated disgracefully by producing bad low budget DVDs transfers. Show some respect to the director, actors and movie viewer and do it properly or dont do it at all and leave the market open for some other distributor to do it the way it should be done.

After reading several of the reviews of this movie, I would like to add my two cents.First of all this is a good sword and sandal film from the late 1950's.If you want superior acting then I suggest Hamlet with Lawrence Olivier.This is a lightweight, fun film that picks up where the original HERCULES leaves off.Although most of his movies follow the same plot formula, this Steve Reeves film is still very entertaining.Alot of the characters in the first film are in this movie as well.The movie also has an above average musical score.In my opinion his three best films are HERCULES, HERCULES UNCHAINED, and THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD.I also have several videos of him appearing in a number of television shows with his real speaking voice. Although his voice was not baritone, it is hardly "tinny".He turned down the role that eventually went to Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns.Reeves did not like the direction in which 1960's films were headed, so he decided to retire from acting.

Hercules Unchained. My, my, my. I watched these movies as a boy. As an adult, I just assumed they were childrens' movies and not very good at all. But surprisingly, this is enchanting. There are images that will not leave you easily. If you are not a romantic and are easily put off, forget it.

The Westlake Entertainment version has a photo gallery in the extras section; the background music to this photo gallery consists of themes from the movie by the great Enzo Masetti, not easily found. Simply amazing music, very cinematic and dreamy.

However, keep in mind that if you are looking for the actual story of the great hero Herakles, you will not find it here. This is primarily just entertainment.

My review is not about the movie, that would be a high 'camp' 5. The quality of the DVD is what gets my complaint. The studio that claims this has been "remastered" and has digital sound is selling a lie. BUYER BEWARE!

Hercules Unchained (Ercole e la Regina di Lidia, aka Hercules and the Queen of Lydia aka Hercules and the Queen of Sheba) was Steve Reeves' second (and last) Hercules film, a direct follow-up to the well-received original Hercules. A lot more money went into the production of this film, but it never succeeds in becoming anything more than merely good. Perhaps part of the problem is the fact that the storyline diverges from the original mythology of Hercules and stumbles here and there along its way. There's nothing wrong with Herc and his fellow good guys, but the villains here are just a little bit too silly to really take seriously. The women in this film, on the other hand, are gorgeous, and that's always a plus.

Herc, Laertes, and the guys have just returned home, and Hercules, with wife Iole (Sylva Koscina) and young Ulysses (Gabriele Antonini) in tow, can't wait to return to his beloved Thebes. Before he even gets there, the half-god Antaeus attacks him just for passing through his land. It soon becomes clear that the portrait Herc has been painting of the city is way off, as bad times have fallen on Thebes. Oedipus has been forced into exile, while his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, stand on the verge of a civil war to determine the rightful king. Herc undertakes a peace mission, but during his journey he makes the mistake of drinking from the Waters of Forgetfulness. Ulysses clams up and plays the role of a deaf-mute as he and Herc are transported to the island of Lydia, where Queen Omphale (Sylvia Lopez) waits to add Hercules to her collection of stuffed and mounted former lovers.

The amnesiac Hercules truly forgets everything, including his marriage vows to fair Iole, as he embraces the life of a king with the dangerously becoming Omphale at his side, serving girls trotting and giggling all over the place, and not a single care in the world. Ulysses, now a slave, keeps trying to awaken Hercules' memory as he awaits the aid of his father Laertes and his allies. All the while, as Herc is eating grapes and smooching with the queen, disaster draws nigh for the city of Thebes, and his wife Iole stands in mortal danger.

Pietro Francisci directs this 1959 Italian release, while the great Mario Bava oversees photography and special effects. If you ask me, the best special effect is Sylva Koscina, but a number of fights and even a chariot-drawn duel ensue as the movie winds toward its conclusion. For whatever reason, though, it's just hard to get overly excited about any segment of this film - but at least it's not as silly as some of the other Hercules movies.

I agree with other viewers that this is a worthy successor to the original. I generally watch films on my computer tied up to a 22" monitor (DVD/Blu-Ray on a Vaio). Hercules Unchained is available on DVD from Italy widescreen for about $9. It is a nice transfer and gives you the option of English or Italian. (Sylva Koscina is speaking Italian in the film). When Iole is singing in the beginning of the film it is interesting to hear the same singer sing the Italian and English version. The fact that the film is PAL is zero problem when run on a computer. As for region coding, there are ways around that. ([...]the film and they will ship it to you in one week with an American VISA/Master). The edition is letterbox 1.85:1 ratio. Letterbox allows you to truly appreciate Mario Bava's brilliance in how he frames a scene. Generally I buy this stuff www.amazon.de, .uk, .co.jp, etc but there is no amazon.it
The film is put out by Passworld. Also "Hercules" is available from Italy 1.77:1 (I own both). However you can only watch in English w/ Italian subtitles or straight Italian.

the sequel to the Steve Reeves Hercules. A must for any Steve Reeves collector! Actually continues from the original Hercules movie. Locations are great and the story is OK too.