ARABIAN ADVENTURE
Lyz said of Arabian Adventure, “It is hard to imagine any but the least discriminating of viewers — of any age — really enjoying this film.” And I can’t really debate her on this matter. Instead, about all I can do is admit that it has been my goal to live the sort of life and put forth the sort of opinions that would result in my eventual tombstone reading, “America’s Least Discerning Viewer.” My other choice for an epitaph was, “It Took a Dozen Texas Marshals to Finally Bring Him Down.” Anyway, I freely admit that pretty much all of the criticisms that someone could lay at the feet of Arabian Adventure stick with the tenacity of an extra-gooey Wacky Wall Walker fresh out of the gum machine capsule. None of these should come as any shock if you are familiar with the writer-director team who brought you this movie. Because the last couple of movies they brought you were were just as bad or even worse (and yeah — I liked them, too).
#1 by lyzard on April 4, 2008 - 3:07 pm
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You really know how to hurt a girl.
Well, now, there you put your finger on my state of natural disadvantage.
As a further defence, I would point out that that my own powers of discrimination have degenerated considerably since I wrote that. That review dates from way back in the days when I was still turning up my nose at slasher films, rather than, you know, writing sixteen page essays in praise of them.
Mostly, though, I just don’t get the chance to prove that I’m as undiscriminating as you. If only you could be around when I’m watching something where a helicopter gets blown up! (And yes I’ve seen An Eye For An Eye: only twice, though).
And for the record, if you think Peter Cushing is the world’s least convincing Arab, you’ve obviously never seen John Wayne in The Three Musketeers.
#2 by KeithA on April 4, 2008 - 3:16 pm
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I haven’t but I don’t know if I want to give it to Wayne, purely because he already owns the title of “World’s least convincing Genghis Khan.”
Set the date, Lyz — I’m trying, despite the economy, to go to Australia in 2010. Truly, it could be “the year we make contact.”
#3 by Blake Matthews on April 4, 2008 - 4:00 pm
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Great review. I’m a huge fan of “The Land that Time Forgot” and “At the Earth’s Core” myself, and wish more recent fair were made in that mold. I think the random exploding fire-breathing toad is a high-point in my cinematic experience (although I love everything else in that movie almost just as much). I think “People that Time Forgot”, what with its samurai cavemen who all speak English except for the chief, would’ve been better as a film apart (and should’ve had a few more dinosaurs in it.