SuperHeroBooks - Hercules/Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules
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List Price: $19.99
Our Price: $6.51
Your Save: $ 13.48 ( 67% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Starring: Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Fabrizio Mioni, Ivo Garrani, Gianna Maria Canale
Directed By: Antonio Leonviola, Pietro Francisci
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Image Entertainment
EAN: 0014381295221
Format: Color
Label: Image Entertainment
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-05-30
Running Time: 180
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 1959-07-22
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Like Cliffs Notes for Greek mythology
Comment: This review is of the Retromedia double feature "Hercules" and "Mole men Against the Son of Hercules"
"Hercules"
This well-made film is far superior to run of the mill "Sword 'N Sandal" movies. Steve Reeves does a creditable job of playing Hercules, while the rest of the cast includes several well-known Italian actors of the period, some of whom are recognizable from Biblical epics co-produced in Italy.
The story revolves around Hercules' efforts to return the rightful heir to the throne of Iolcus, a small city-state where the king had been murdered and replaced by his brother several years earlier. Hercules encounters many individuals from Greek mythology: Jason, Ulysses, Laertes, Castor, Pollux, Argos, Pelias, and several others. He performs many heroic deeds: rescuing a beautiful Princess (Sylva Koscina) from runaway horses, fighting lions and bulls bare-handed, and searching for the golden fleece, among others. He also encounters Amazon warriors and Sirens. Although there is considerable deviation from Greek legend, the story is well done and follows a consistent narrative.
Quality wise, the enhanced DVD is very good, with a clear, sharp image and well-saturated colors - though the sound track is noisy. Mario Bava was the director of photography, so the camera work and lighting are above the norm. Recommended.
"Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules"
I was so unimpressed I did not watch it all the way through. What I did see in the first hour or so seemed to be almost the inverse of the first movie. Acting was at the high school level and the visual quality of the unenhanced film was faded and washed out. Other reviewers have said they enjoyed it, so I will leave it at that.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A True Classic!!!!!
Comment: They don't make'm like this one anymore. I remember seeing this in the theaters when I was a kid, and believe me it was an event. Just like Clayton Moore was the Lone Ranger, and Guy Williams was Zorro, Steve Reeves was the perfect person to play this character. The story was great and the action fantastic! I recommend this one for both kids and adults.
John
Customer Rating:
Summary: Picture-good/Audio-weak
Comment: As another reviewer states this is an inferior audio dub of the classic Hercules. BUT, it's a very good widescreen picture copy. Well the best I've seen so far and I've ordered about 4 versions in the past. It beats the heck out of the HORRIBLE remastered version going for $19.95 elsewhere at Amazon. But if we could only have the audio of one and the video of the other :( There is also a very odd hum in the audio at parts of the mvie but not so bad it's distracting. I'd rather have deep lush color than a perfect audio track. Although as others have said why can't Criterion master this Classic movie and get the two parts right ?????
Hercules has never looked as good and considering the other choppy pale versions this is the one to get by Jupiter, wish it were Zeus though :)
Customer Rating:
Summary: The 40 year search has ended
Comment: I saw what I thought was Son of Hercules vs the Mole Men over 40 years ago late one night on a black and white tv while living in greater Chicagoland. I may have been the only one to see it as for the last 40 years my quest to see it again was met with laughter and ridicule. And now, I have a copy. It's not Hercules vs the Moon Men as so many insisted, It does exist and the Son of Herc does indeed save his black friend by preventing tons of concrete slabs from pressing swords into his flesh. Incredible Feats of strength, an underground city powered by thousands of the mole men's slaves running in a circle, Italian damsels with pointed chests in distress, a fortune in GIANT jewels and more silliness than we have a right to expect...who could ask for more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hercules/Mole Men Against Son of Hercules
Comment: The original Steve Reeves "Hercules" (released in the U.S. in 1959) is an Italian, import classic: low-bugeted and dubbed, yes, but in terms of its influence, it has no equal. It is the movie that inspired a slew of sword-and-sandal epics that dominated the drive-in theater scene for nearly a decade.
Reeves is the proverbial, cinematic Hercules, and his influence can be clearly felt in other popular Herculean portrayals: Reg Park and Lou Ferrigno immediately come to mind.
Slyvia Koscina is quite a fetching leading leady. The film's score is appopriately grand, and the story engaging (culled mostly from the "Jason and the Argonauts" legend).
What makes this edition so damn alluring is that it is presented in a crisp, clear widescreen format. This is truly the way that this movie must be viewed. Widescreen certainly gives the film a more sprawling, bigger-butgeted feel. Also, most full-frame copies of this classic look washed-out or the prints are heavily scratched/nicked.
As a bonus on this disc, one gets "Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules". While no classic (and not a true-blue Hercules installment), the latter is still a fun (full-frame) adventure that should hit the spot for those hankering for additional sword-and-sandal thrills.
Let's hope that Retro-media will release Reeves' "Hercules Unchained" in widescreen soon.
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Editorial Reviews:
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A double feature of epic proportions! In Hercules, the granddaddy of all sword and sandal films, the mythical muscleman (played by former Mr. America and Mr. Universe Steve Reeves) joines the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece. Along the way, they encounter a bevy of buxom Amazons, hideous apemen, Italian sex goddesses Sylva Koscina (Lisa and the Devil) and Giana Maria Canale (I Vampiri), and a gigantic dragon. Presented on DVD for the first time in its original widescreen splendor, this is the original monsters-and-muscles classic you've been waiting for! Plus: Mark Forest stars in Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules as Hercules' son, Maciste, who goes underground to discover the terrifying kingdom of the Mole Men, who are ruled by beautiful but wicked Queen Alismoyab... whose evil is no match for her weakness for muscles! Also starring black bodybuilder Paul Wynter, this is one of the wildest and weirdest of the Italian beefcake fests.
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