(1983)
1.5
Jeremy Wheeler
Completely surreal and immensely cheesy, Luigi Cozzi's first Hercules film is an effort in excess -- excessive dubbing, excessive loincloths, and excessive low-budget Italian special effects. Picking up where his amazing Star Crash left off, Cozzi now turns to the sword-and-sandal flicks and who better to be his Hercules than TV's The Incredible Hulk himself -- Lou Ferrigno! Sporting feathered hair and a neatly trimmed beard, our hero battles everything from big, squealing Harryhousen-esque stop-motion creatures, to a guy in a bear suit (and yes, he does throw him into space!). Speaking of the costumes, boy, did they know how to make 'em in '83 -- with Zeus in a tacky Halloween wig/beard combo, and our hero in a leather mini-skirt; these threads are truly a sight to behold. On par with the costumes, of course, are the epic sets -- yes, you will believe that models can float after you see some of these suckers. Add in the complete butchery of Greek Myths and Gods, and some "thrilling" fight scenes (just wait 'till you see lil' Baby Hercules fight the dreaded Eels!) and Cozzi's Hercules goes down in kitsch history as a one-of-a-kind. That is, until the sequel hit just a year later!
cast-crew for Hercules on AllMovie
Hercules (1983)
