Red Sonja

Name: Red Sonja
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Released: July 3, 1985
Duration: 89 min
Rating: 35
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielsen, Donna Osterbuhr, Ernie Reyes Jr., Janet Agren

1985

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Red Sonja

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Movie Details & Credits

MGM/UA Entertainment Company | Release Date: July 3, 1985 | PG-13

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brigitte Nielsen, Donna Osterbuhr, Ernie Reyes Jr., Janet Agren, Pat Roach, Paul L. Smith, Ronald Lacey, Sandahl Bergman, Terry Richards

Summary: A vengeful woman sets out to retrieve a magic orb from an evil queen whom she vows vengeance upon after the evil queen slain her family and her loyal warriors raped her.

Director: Richard Fleischer

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 89 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr

It's a great-looking film, filled with wildly imaginative sets and costumes that would have done the Maestro proud, and veteran director Richard Fleischer (The Vikings) rises to the occasion with some sharply staged action scenes. With Nielsen's minimal English rubbing up against the fractured locutions of costar Arnold Schwarzenegger, the dialogue passages don't exactly play like Noel Coward, but this is a movie that succeeds rousingly well on its own humble, Saturday-night terms. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Red Sonja [based on stories by Robert E. Howard] returns to those olden days when women were women and the menfolk stood around with funny hats on until called forth to be whacked at. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Worst of all, there's a charmless brat prince for Sonja to take under her wing. Pap, and Fleischer - who at least brought a touch of humour to Conan the Destroyer - should know better. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Sure, there are a few funny moments here and there with several obviously intended jokes, but director Richard Fleischer never milks the elements of self-parody for what they're worth. Read full review

Gene Siskel

This is going to be more of a consumer warning than a traditional film review, because Red Sonja is like a can of dog food covered by a label featuring a picture of a sirloin steak. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Mr. Fleischer brings absolutely no playfulness to what might, at least, have been enjoyably light. And he brings out the worst in a cast that was ill-chosen to begin with. The most memorable thing about the film is the costume/production design by Danilo Donati, which is genuinely demented. Even the horses wear too much junk jewelry. Read full review

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User Reviews

Frosty1979

Jul 31, 2021

Yeah it is mostly a trash movie, but to me it is so trashy that it becomes entertaining. Besides I am a sucker for amazon woman! ;)

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

snes

Oct 14, 2021

This movie is absolutely terrible, and you should absolutely watch it. Especially if you like good bad movies, this would be great to watch with the gang on movie night with a few brewskies. Hell of a lot of fun!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kai82

Jan 26, 2021

If you have a soft spot for B-movies like me then this is an enjoyable ride. If not you will be disappointed except it hits your “So bad it is good” spot then it is also worth to try;-). Lets start with a small summary. Red Sonja is a spin-off character from the Conan the Barbarian comicIf you have a soft spot for B-movies like me then this is an enjoyable ride. If not you will be disappointed except it hits your “So bad it is good” spot then it is also worth to try;-). Lets start with a small summary. Red Sonja is a spin-off character from the Conan the Barbarian comic series and became a fan favorite which got her multiple solo series. She is a female warrior and really capable. Her tragic backstory involved the death of her family and something I think I cant mention here. In earlier versions her powers are granted or amplified by a goddess and she has to stay a virgin except when a man defeats her in a fair battle. Also the chain mail bikini / armor was made popular and this trope is still used today;-). The movie itself is in the sword and sorcery or low fantasy genre (Low fantasy = Our world but with some supernatural or magic stuff and the grim and dark things from human nature exists). The story starts when Red Sonja finished her training and sets out to the world. Meanwhile at a near temple a powerful artifact is chosen to be destroyed by the priestesses as its increasing power is becoming a threat to the world. This is the set up and yes it is a bit foreseeable, uses a lot of tropes and staples of the genre. However we are in the B-movie territory and for this it is O.K. There are a few good ideas, memorable scenes and lines (Example: I fought over 100 man and only 1 survived and he has no legs). The characters work well (Again I apply B-movie standards). Brigitte Nielsen delivers. She has the looks and acting-skills to perform this role. I think she was an optimal choice and she made an impressive B-movie career with some notable A-movie roles. Then we have Arnold Schwarzenegger as Kalidor. For those who wondered it should have been Conan but legal troubles prevented this and a different name was chose for his character. He also is fitting for the role. I enjoy Paul L. Smith as Falkon in combination wit Ernie Reyes jr as Prince Tarn. The prince is such a spoiled and unworldly child and Falco is his servant who is divided between his duty and the wish to interfere to better the prince. Nice comic relive and the humor works well. Sandahl Bergman who was Valeria in Conan the Barbarian is the antagonist Queen Gedren. She plays such a beautiful over the top evil villainness. She is cruel, slightly insane, power hungry and full of ambition. I want also praise the court wizard Tutte Lemkow. He has really enjoyable scenes. I think the cast saved this movie for me. The battles work well and I still remember at least 3 of them after all the years. Then we have the soundtrack which was awesome. I had forgotten that it was composed by the legend himself Ennio Morricone. He is one of the greatest film music composers in business. I have a collection of his works on multiple CDs. Many say he could tell a story just with his score (no dialogue needed). Overall this is not a good movie but is entertaining enough for me. It has its moments and like I said if you have a spot for B-movies or the “So bad its good” category it is worth a try.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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