Customer Reviews

Kings of the Sun

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Here's an obscure, highly original adventure story that's better than APOCALYPTO and PATHFINDER put together! A United Artists release from the 60's, it's a macho field day for Brynner, who plays a native North American butting heads with the Mayas - particularly chieftan Chakiris. It's eccentric matinee fun, nicely staged, beautifully shot and filled with a pulsating, trademark score by the great Elmer Bernstein. An out-of-print, letterboxed DVD was available in Japan, but this MGM DVD is the first time this picture has been viewed in anamorphic Panavision since it's theatrical run. Terrifically enjoyable stuff!

This is a such a wondefull movie!!. I can not believe is finally going to be available. I have been waiting years to get a copy. I have no idea it was projected to be release on DVD. What a nice surprice. Sorry I know I do not sound too profesional on my review. I just watched this movie once 35 years ago, and that was enough for me to love it for the rest of my life. 5 stars? 10 stars? ...you name it

If you loved Kings of the Sun when you saw it many moons ago...you will
still love it... If you are 25 years old or less, please take in consideration the year the movie was made. There was no CGI in those days,
actors/actresses physically worked for a living and it was not a blue/green screen world. These types of movies were rare, as most movies
dealts with guns/crime/war/murder.
So when a big adventure movie came up we jumped on it and ...this movie
looked big...big cast...pyramids....it was a kid's dream....
So today the movie still hold, is entertaining and Yule never looked better.

Having been given a home video release years earlier in Asia of all places, KINGS OF THE SUN finally arrives on these shores. If you're expecting plenty of extras and a really pristine print, unfortunately this is not the case as noted by other reviewers. But we do have a great action/adventure from British director J. Lee Thompson fresh off completing TARAS BULBA with the same star Yul Brynner. Now theres plenty of stunt action in this picture with hundreds of extras and so on, but the added bonus is the pulsating music score of master maestro Elmer Bernstein. In fact as he said himself on a TCM TV screening with Robert Osborne, it's his most requested score by his loyal fans. He was about to re-record the score before he died, but it never happened.

Shot on location on the beaches of Mazatlan and at the Mayan city of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan of Mexico back in 1963, you just know that there are plenty of beach resort hotels spoiling the same views these days. It's a B-movie story that is livened by the action, music, great photography of Joe MacDonald and the uncredited narration of James Coburn, years before he found a retirement career voicing commercials.
It's Yul Brynner's picture for sure and it's his last iconic period piece prior to finally playing the robot gunslinger in WESTWORLD. George Chakiris is passable coming off WEST SIDE STORY, but Shirley Anne Field and her heavy British accent is way miscast. Still THE GUNS OF NAVARONE director Thompson, keeps your attention with the widescreen layout and detail of the scenes.

I personally remember seeing this in London upon it's intial release and I loved it then. So much so, that I saw it three or four times in the theatre.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SAY "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOVIE FOR SO LONG". THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND SAY EL CID ( WHICH IS ALSO "FINALLY" COMING TO DVD IN JAN ) WHICH WAS AVAILABLE ON OTHER FORMATS, I'VE NEVER SEEN KINGS OF THE SUN AVAILABLE ON VHS OR LASERDISC, AND REMEMBER IT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND WATCHED IT MANY TIMES ON TV. THIS IS A FINE ADVENTURE AND EVEN WITH ANY HISTORICAL COMPLAINTS IT IS WELL ACTED BY ALL ESPECIALLY MR. YUL BRYNER AND MR. GEORGE CHAKRIS. ALSO IN WIDESCREEN AT LAST. I'M NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY ABOUT THE STORY BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE IT ALL, ACTION, LOVE, EMOTIONS, MORAL REVELATIONS, EVERYTHING. I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL SOON ENOUGH, BECAUSE I JUST SAY, BUY IT. REALLY, FINALLY!

For years I was condemned to watch this movie on an old VHS tape, in Pan & Scan (aaargh), but now, finally we have it in glorious Cinemascope.

As per usual habit of the people at MGM/UA though, there is not very much about special inserts. Also, the sound is not very special. Just a lame Mono or Stereo sound, which seems to be their specialty for most of their titles, unless naturally, treated by someone else (see the Sony treated James Bond Collection and you see what I mean).

Only thing that indeed got a vast improvement is the image. Crystal clear and in the correct widescreen format (for those who actually like the black bars on top and at the bottom of their screens).

The story is not very accurate and takes many liberties with Mayan and Toltech history.

It is, after all, just an adventure movie, with just a hint of historic background intertwined in its plot.
But who would like to miss out on a Yul Brynner movie?

Now, if only they would release "The Ultimate Warrior" on DVD, also starring Yul Brynner, in a perhaps more potent role, then I would really be satisfied...

"Kings of the Sun" is the story of a civilization burst into full flower...

In their profound desire to win favor from the deities, the Mayans made human sacrifice the keystone of their religion...

Keeping the Buddhist monk hairstyle as his trademark, Brynner easily steals the show with his virile personality, distinctive look, speech and mannerism... He is Black Eagle, the barbarian chief who comes to the defense of the Mayans...

George Chakiris plays Balam, the jaguar, king and son of kings to the ninth generation... Although in spite of being young and brave and untried, Chakiris lacks the heroic stature with which the role might have been satisfied...

Shirley Anne Field is the delicate Ixchel who would never leave Black Eagle except if he ever used to tell her that he loved her...

Richard Basehart is the high priest who tried to make the king understand that he cannot bring this new life to his people without giving a life... For a thousand years they've been bound by this law... The gods cannot be cheated...

Leo Gordon is the tyrant Hunac Kell... His strength is a sword of metal and the Mayans are powerless against it...

Filmed beautifully in Chichén Itzá, Yucatán - Mexico, J. Lee Thompson's motion picture is colorful and highly entertaining...

Aztecs? North American indians? Yul Brynner? George Chakiris? A dusky foxy babe? A Pyramid? Hell-yea! Saw this once as a kid...and loved it. Just ordered it and anxiously wait to devour it. Pure saturday afternoon escapism with an intriguing story.

Yul Brynner makes Gerard Butler look like gravy. Perhaps Brynner, in the best shape of his life, gives a larger than life, fierce, explosive performance in his portrayal of 'Black Eagle', the king of the tribe of hunters. It's just amazing to see him in a role almost suited for him in every fashion.

This historical drama, more or less about who has the right to land, (sound familiar), offers a nice combo of Mayan/Indian life and the villages are quite impressive to say the least.

James Coburn narrates.

It is so wonderful for MGM/United Artist to bring this matinee adventure to dvd. Some of us at the age of 10, remember seeing previews on television on a movie that looks so cool to see. Well this was one of them. I remember cutting grass to get the 75 cents to go to the Roxy Theatre to see this film. I was not disapointed. Again, with this new DVD, I am not disapointed. The Elmer Bernstien music opens up and a great smile comes on my face. The DVD transfer is spectacular and the colors vibrant. Yul Brynner strolls across the screen with tough and gentle masculinity. The action of the film is epic and contained perfectly within it's 2:35 wideescreen lens. This movie was played with Steve Reeves film "The Slave" aka "Son of Spartacus". We must have stayed all day at the Roxy...it was 9:00pm when we walked home. A day well spent and a day to remember. So will you...if you can remember.