MovieChat Forums > Tales of an Ancient Empire (2010) Discussion > I did not expect a masterpiece, but this...

I did not expect a masterpiece, but this is awful

posted 14 years ago by facebook-869-340413
31 replies | jump to latest

This film has tried to jump on the band wagon of the current success of the Vampire genre. The problem is that it is badly written, poorly acted and has little in the way of effects to make it worthwhile for the Sci-fi aficionados. The initial rising of the vampire from the grave would have been comical in a 1950’s horror film, but in one that has been produced in 2010 it is just atrocious.

All the Vampires' Teeth are so obtrusive they make most dialogue difficult to understand, making the film difficult to follow. The acting throughout the movie is laughably bad which, added to the mumbled and incoherent dialogue the whole movie is bad. Not that bad that it becomes a classic cult ‘B’ movie, just so bad that I want the one hour and ten minutes of my life back, and if in a theatre I would also want my entrance fee refunded.

[–] wildfire160 14 years ago

I have to agree with you ...having watched it i was getting so annoyed with Pyun he seemed to take everything that worked in The Sword And The Sorceror thrown it out then added a nonsense vampire story a completely stupid heavy metal soundtrack and the worse sfx he could find,and dont start me on the whole Red Moon con at the end ...
jesus..even Uwe Bol makes better films than this it makes me seriously question wether Pyun did actually direct The Sword And The Sorceror at all or if maybe someone else who had some talent ghosted it

[–] willowfox 14 years ago

Folks, believe us, this film is BAD.

[–] lobotmyser 14 years ago

I have the ability to appreciate just about anything but I could not make it past the HORRIBLE acting terrible heavy metal score and even worse attempt at directing. I really cannot believe that it is possible to make a movie this bad.

[–] billie-mack 14 years ago

The copy I downloaded was not great quality but I thought the acting was better than most Sci-fi channels movies. I confess I love this genre. But I think it needed more money (especially on the effects) and more Sorbo (who I thought was great and funny). The dialogue was hard to hear and that made the actors seem more stilted but I liked the photography and sets and music score.It did a nice job of creating a stylish world. Again, budget needed to be bigger. 1 million isn't enough. It was nice that it wasn't derivative and was trying to be original. I look forward to part two and the conclusion of this story. Definitely a solid 7 for me. I heard there's another longer version. Anyone know if this is true?

[–] karmakitty 12 years ago

This film is not bad in a cheesy way...this is the worst film I have ever seen. Period. I personally have been IN some horrible movies so i have extra tolerance for low budget or b-movie style films, this one is unwatchable. I just rented the dvd from Redbox and im writing them next to get my $1.oo back. Do NOT support this piece of crap.
Kevin Sorbo and Michael Pere: i am embarrassed for you.

[–] joezen777 12 years ago

It's so bad I can't stop laughing.

Joe Zen
http://www.watchingyouseries.com

[–] aeo 14 years ago

I just watched it and it really was bad. I would have given it 1 star out of 10 but IMDB does not allow it because this terrible movie is not released yet.

[–] pnselling 14 years ago

I agree it was horrible. I *love* Sword and the Sorcerer but this was a mess. The story didn't make sense and the camera work was horrible. A lot of scenes it doesn't even look like people are in the same room. And it's short -- maybe 1:10 of actual film and then 20 minutes of credits.

I was shocked when I saw Kevin Sorbo. I assumed this was a no budget movie with a bunch of anonymous actors. Sorbo is the only thing not painful here. There seems to be some connection to S&tS, like they were trying to reboot the franchise, but this was so bad...I actually wish they'd just bury it.

[–] Iuliu 14 years ago

I just watched 5 minutes of it and it has the acting quality of a mediocre porn movie. Total crap! They would have been better off doing an actual porn movie, since the female cast seems appropriate enough.

[–] Blackace 14 years ago

Wow.. that's too bad. I don't know why they didn't get a bigger budget. Now I'm wondering if this will even make it to DVD, let alone a movie theater. It was suppose to be released in theaters, but because it got pirated somehow and everyone is saying it sucks, the producers may not even release it in theaters now. Most likely it'll go straight to DVD and they will hope many people didn't see it or hear how bad it was.

This should have been made like 20 years ago. Sword and the Sorcerer came out in 1982. Took 28 years just to get this done? Lee Horley is to old to do any further action movies. Hopefully they will redo this movie with a bigger budget and a new script.

[–] christian-bayer 14 years ago

Read this today from producer Jeremy Thomas but seems apropo to inject here and probably on most imdb pages:

“…when it comes to movies everybody thinks they’re an expert. Not in literature, not in architecture, not in music. It wouldn’t happen in any other business”
- So true! If you think you know about films, then go and make one…and THEN come and tell us what you know about film production (Mr/Ms Polititian and Mr/Ms new Producer – who has never made a film)

Amen, brother!

[–] eugene_dude_4you 14 years ago

Oh please. Everyone makes this argument at some point, so I'll make mine. You don't have to be a world class chef to know when you're being served a piece of excrement.

No one here claims to be an expert at cinema, but we still know when something is garbage.

[–] madripor 14 years ago

Im a sci-fi guy and i watch almost anything that even resembles sci-fi. But this movie was so bad that i actually have to go and see a doctor coz i tryed to claw my eyes out.

Ps. A friend is typing for me ;)

[–] INeedANewNickname 14 years ago

A producer should know when a script isn't good enough, or they have not enough money to actually make a good movie. They should make something they can afford to make good.

Argue on internet is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win you're still retarded

[–] wildfire160 13 years ago

Ok i will go out and make a film but only if he go`s out and learns how to make one first

[–] ronald-singh-1 13 years ago

Jeremy Thomas is full of $hit I'm afraid. Anyone with an opinion on something thst has been created for the masses is a valid critic. Just to pick his three no-go areas, it's widely accepted Harry Potter has made children read again because it's very entertaining for them, not because it's award-winning literature; the Eiffel Tower is just a dirty great oil-rig in the middle of Paris (no really, it is); and with one or two exceptions, anything to do with Simon Cowell has a shelf life of 12-18 months. I don't need to be an author, architect or musician to recognise these as popular opinion based on valid criteria.
As for this film, I just watched it and the best thing was the quality of the download... 'nuff said!

[–] vstaffa-2 14 years ago

I would like to know where you saw this movie, since it isn't out yet? I pre-ordered this movie back in April and since Pyun didn't release it because of the piracy issue, I got my money back. It has been released in some countries overseas, but won't be released here until next year at least. I also would like to know what Kevin Sorbo's role was like, since he was the reason I ordered to begin with. If it's that bad, will it be released in the theaters or go straight to dvd? Thanks, in advance for any help..

[–] vegetol-mp 14 years ago

You can buy this movie from Thailand, I think. My friend show it to me, because Im fan of Albert Pyun, but this movie is terrible. Low budget really shows. Bad production desing, bad actors and really bad CGI. This looks more like badly animated storyboard, for some fantasy movie, then real movie. Sorbo and Moeller are Ok in this. Moeller is here for 2 minutes, Sorbo shows after 40 minutes. He is fine, but I feel sorry for him, to play i crap like this. Pyun cut this movie in half, so if you are fan of Kevin Sorbo, wait for part 2.

[–] aletannu 13 years ago

Who the fck wants to buy this piece pf $hit ?!?! Horrible !

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vstaffa-2 13 years ago

As far as I know, Kevin isn't in the 2nd part, being called, "Red Moon", I believe. As for waiting to see Kevin for 40 minutes is a waste of time in my opinion.

Oh, well, I really wanted to see this movie, but since it seems to be so bad I might as well not even bother...

[–] chuckimmen 13 years ago

You really miss one of Kevin's best characters and performance. He looks great as well in this nicely photographed film and though it does end abruptly. Its just a Part One.

[–] vstaffa-2 13 years ago

You are right, I have seen some of the stills from this movie and he does look good! I probably will eventually get it, since I have almost everything he's made so far. Someone mentions a sight called tor.rent for either buying or renting movies. I'm not sure if they are pirated movies or not... The last thing I bought of his was "Meet the Spartans". He was hilarious in that one...My favorite is "The Avenging Angel". I think he should make more westerns.

[–] jackiepowell88 13 years ago

Its the best Kevin has ever been. Looks really handsome and just shines with charm. If they are smart, they will have Kevin in the sequel. He really made the movie work.

[–] heavykevinater 13 years ago

I read these posts yesterday before watching the movie and I thought they were exceedingly harsh.

Now, after watching this horrible "film", I can only say they aren't harsh enough.

This is the worst piece of tripe I have seen in a long, long time. It is not "so bad it's good." It is so bad you find yourself hating anyone that was associated with its production- and that's coming from someone who turned it off after half an hour. I just couldn't take anymore.

So who would like this film? Someone who enjoys acting that is far below "porno" or "soap opera" in quality. Or someone who likes to hear loud "wooshing" sounds every time an evil character appears. Seriously- every single time. Wooosh! I guess they thought adding those sound effects might inject some energey into the film. They were wrong.

This film doesn't even come remotely close to "The Sword and the Sorcerer." First of all, it is not fun at all. It is all seriousness and takes itself too seriously. You are supposed to care about characters who aren't developed at all. I found myself wanting everyone in the film to die. At least that way it might end. I couldn't even bring myself to stick around for Lee Horsely's or Kevin Sorbo's appearances.

I'd rather get a root canal thab watch this again.

[–] hotrodhenderson73 13 years ago

where can a person watch it at? I dont see a way to buy it online or view it anywhere...please help...I'd like to see for myself how bad it is.

[–] ckreskay 13 years ago

its a jaybob release found where ever you like to get your tor.rents from. that was the piracy leak that the producers are complaining about. however i doubt piracy is holding this film back, except for all of our comments having seen it already from that tor.rent