Hercules Unchained (1960)

A Major Disappointment

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

The acting in this movie is really good.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The first Steve Reeves "Hercules" was a big hit in North America and was a pretty good example of the sword and sandal genre. This first sequel (also starring Steve Reeves) did about half of the business of the first movie in North America... which is kind of surprising considering the quality of the movie. True, Steve Reeves still makes a fine Hercules despite not being quite as muscular as you'd expect. And the production values are fairly solid for the most part. However, the movie is kind of lacking in one key area: action. The middle section of the movie, when Hercules loses his memory and is being controlled by the villains, is essentially action-free and is pretty dull and tough to sit through. There is a bit more action in the first third of the movie, and the climax (when it eventually comes) is okay, but despite those moments the entire package feels kind of slow and sluggish. In the end, the movie doesn't manage to distinct itself much from the dozens of other sword and sandal movies of the time.

Only a fool would curse a fairy tale because it narrates the actions of a witch. A good man has a strong enough heart to allow differences to flourish as long as people are allowed to live their lives in a peaceable manner.That's the great lesson that underlines this film, otherwise silly and occasionally mawkish. I suppose that's why intelligent children have loved the Hercules myth ever since it could be recorded. Hercules is pretty dumb, but he's a nice guy with good intentions, the most important of which is to keep those who have let power corrupt them from bringing ruin to farmers and villagers and other peaceful working people.Here he is threatened by three evil generals and an over-self-indulgent witch. The plot is partly based on the Hercules myth itself, but borrows freely from the Odyssey and from the Oedipus plays, with just a dash of the Argonauts legend tossed in briefly at the beginning.Alright, so it's a mess. And the middle third is just outright dull as the witch grows to love her buffoonish captive.Never mind. It's well-made for its time and place, colorful, and even occasionally lyrical. And some of the fight scenes retain their excitement, after all these years.Perhaps best viewed - and understood - by children; but can provide real entertainment for intelligent adults in the right frame of mind.

Hercules Unchained picks up right where Hercules (1958) left off. Hercules and his new bride, Iole, are headed to Thebes. A fight for the throne between two brothers puts a kink in Hercules' plans, so he decides to act as peacemaker. But before he can carry out his mission, he mistakenly drinks from the "waters of forgetfulness" and is taken prisoner by Queen Omphale. Unsure of his real identity, Hercules is at the Queen's mercy and is reduced to being her plaything. Meanwhile, Iole is caught between the warring brothers and faces death. Can Hercules come to his senses in time to save his wife and his beloved Thebes? Hercules Unchained is one of those instances where I find the sequel superior to the original. First off, the movie is just more interesting. The original Hercules had a tendency to drag. While Hercules Unchained isn't a thrill-a-minute, there is certainly more action. Second, I think everyone involved from the actors to the director seemed more comfortable in their respective roles in the sequel. That's only natural. Finally, and probably most importantly, Mario Bava's influence is more pronounced and evident in Hercules Unchained. There are instances throughout the movie that show his touch. For example, when Hercules meets the old king in the cave, the use of colored gel lighting in the scene simply screams Bava. Take a look at that scene and compare it with what Bava would do in his on Hercules movie, Hercules in the Haunted World, and see if you don't agree.A lot of different muscle-bound actors would play the role of Hercules in these Italian productions, but none would do it any better that Steve Reeves. In this instance, the original is still the best. Others cast in the role may have been better actors and some may have been more gifted physically, but few could combine the two into a single package as effectively as Reeves.I realize that these Italian sword and sandal movies may not be for everyone, but I really get a kick out of most of them. For anyone new to these movies, Hercules Unchained would make an excellent jumping off point.

I saw "Ercole e la regina di Lidia" (called "Hercules Unchained" in the USA) on "Mystery Science Theater 3000". The movie itself is actually quite cool, but "MST3K" makes it even cooler. The movie basically has the muscle-bound - and often well-oiled - Greek hero (Steve Reeves) drinking water of forgetfulness and getting seduced by Queen Omphale (Sylvia Lopez). Mostly, it seems like an excuse to show scantily clad women. I guess that even ancient Greece was a male chauvinistic fantasy! But seriously, the "MST3K" version is the one that you gotta see. You can probably guess what sorts of things Joel, Servo and Crow say. Specifically, they sneak in mentions of Uri Geller, Kim Cattrall and Ricky Nelson. How else to keep sane while watching these cheesy flicks sent by Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank? Yes, you know what Hercules and the queen were doing when not on screen. Seriously, a buff hunk and a hot babe. How could they not do it?