Reviews on movie Warlords of Atlantis (3)

Early 20th century. Professor Aitken and his son Charles charter a ship and set off in search of Atlantis. They go underwater in a special diving bell and find an ancient statue. Participants of the expedition are attacked by sea monsters and soon fall into the city on the bottom of the sea, which is ruled by the descendants of the ancient Atlanteans.
In the late 70s, director Kevin Connor shot 4 films, united by the theme of lost worlds, where scientists from the 20th century fall. The main role in all was played by Doug McClare, mostly known in the States for cowboy series and films (I remember him from the series Fantastic Girl by Mayor Kyle Applegate, which was on the CTC in my youth). “Leaders of Atlantis” is the last film of this original series and, perhaps, the best.
The picture was in the Soviet box office in the early 80s and was a success. I must say, though, that it is now pretty old. Cardboard monsters and scenery are unlikely to impress anyone now. And acting is mediocre. Such adventures in the spirit of Jules Verne for primary school age. There is, of course, a peculiar charm in such tapes. But if there are no nostalgic feelings, then it is difficult to appreciate this movie highly.
5.5 out of 10

This commercial British film was the leader of the Soviet box office in 1981. Was that any surprise? Adventures under sail, diving in a submersible, underwater monsters, fights and chases, the mysterious and sterile world of the lost Atlantis. There was even the Sea Devil, who frightened everyone in the Soviet Amphibian Man, but never showed up.

Sending his heroes from 1896 on an expedition, screenwriter Brian Hales decided to hide the true purpose from the crew. Only Professor Aitkins and his son Charlie knew that somewhere in the Sargasso Sea there are countless treasures that can only be obtained with the help of a submersible. But when a mysterious idol is cast out of gold on board the yacht Rose of Texas, the sailors decide to riot. But a giant octopus intervenes in human quarrels and pulls everyone into a strange place - one of the five cities of Atlantis. And it turns out that underwater adventures are just flowers. The berries are ahead!

Now the film looks very naive, and the script is so raw that the desire to squeeze water out of it by the middle of viewing becomes a physical necessity. Especially disappointing outwardly formidable police guards, too quickly losing their belligerence. And the Atlanteans themselves, with all their abilities to control underwater creatures and foresee the future, for some reason can not cope with a handful of unarmed travelers.

It has long been known that it does not always make sense to review films that struck the imagination in childhood. Unfortunately, "The Chiefs of Atlantis" is the very case where the film is simply outdated. And we now know that he only imitated the science fiction films of the 1960s. For example, the same "Amphibian Man" - much more complete movie.
P.S. A funny bonus is the appearance of children's writer Donald Bisset as Professor Aitkins. His "Forgotten Birthday" and "Journey on the River of Time" about the Tiger cub Rrr and Ugly Dicks with the names Cannot, Nesmey and Shame were my favorite books as a child. But they are not outdated at all.

6 out of 10

A beautiful film masterpiece from a distant and also beautiful childhood.

In the second half of the last century, the greatest interest was shown to two places on Earth: to Lake Loch Ness, in which a plesiosaur was allegedly seen, and to the Bermuda Triangle, where aircraft and sea vessels disappeared without a trace.
Connor revived the legend of Atlantis sunk in the Bermuda region. And in his own way he embellished this legend. No matter how modern teenagers, spoiled by the superpowers of the computer, laugh at rubber monsters, I can safely say that in the “Leaders of Atlantis” even such rubber monsters look very natural. Just one giant octopus is worth what!
The plot, of course, is a little crumpled, somewhere limp due to inconsistencies. But in general, against the background of impeccable acting and atmosphere, the film makes an indescribable impression even now, with a 10-time viewing, is already far from childhood.
I was particularly impressed by McClear (Greg) and Gotthard (Atmir). Rimmer (Captain Daniels) played well.

I’m not excited about Gilmour [Charles Aitken], he could have played better. And the hero came out kind of ugly. He didn't convince me to be a scientist.