In order to flee from powerful enemies, young Mayan king Balam leads his people north across the Gulf of Mexico to the coast of what will become the United States. They build a home in the new land but come into conflict with a tribe of Native Americans led by their chief, Black Eagle, while both Balam and Black Eagle fall in love the beautiful Mayan princess Ixchel.
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Reviews
Sorry, this movie sucks
Just perfect...
best movie i've ever seen.
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
J. Lee Thompson making another adventure, working this time with a great gifted actor who was Yul Brynner and the extremely talented Richard Basehart of Fellini's "La Strada". But if "La Strada" is probably the best movie of all time, this one it's just a show of hundreds of extras dressed in some costumes that should look like ancient Maya, fighting on a seashore. Shirley Anne Field was beautiful and George Chakiris was just a presence.
I liked this film very much for the following reasons: Number 1) Yul Brynner. Number 2) Yul Brynner in a loin cloth. Number 3) Yul Brynner's body in a dark, rich suntan. Number 4) Yul Brynner's body glistening with oil. Number 5) Yul Brynner with his suntan oiled limbs stretched out & tied. Number 6) Yul Brynner writhing around on a bed of hay. Number 7) Yul Brynner strutting around like a jaguar. Number 8) Yul Brynner in several seductive poses. Number 9) Yul Brynner's deep sexy man voice whispering sweet nothings, even if it was to goofy blind Ixchel. Yes, blind! I would've run off with Chief Black Eagle immediately but yet she only heals him so he can be a human sacrifice for her people!
"Kings of the Sun" is the story of a civilization burst into full flower In their profound desire to win favor from the deities, the Mayans made human sacrifice the keystone of their religion Keeping the Buddhist monk hairstyle as his trademark, Brynner easily steals the show with his virile personality, distinctive look, speech and mannerism He is Black Eagle, the barbarian chief who comes to the defense of the Mayans George Chakiris plays Balam, the jaguar, king and son of kings to the ninth generation Although in spite of being young and brave and untried, Chakiris lacks the heroic stature with which the role might have been satisfied Shirley Anne Field is the delicate Ixchel who would never leave Black Eagle except if he ever used to tell her that he loved her Richard Basehart is the high priest who tried to make the king understand that he cannot bring this new life to his people without giving a life For a thousand years they've been bound by this law The gods cannot be cheated Leo Gordon is the tyrant Hunac Kell His strength is a sword of metal and the Mayans are powerless against it Filmed beautifully in Chichén Itzá, Yucatán Mexico, J. Lee Thompson's motion picture is colorful and highly entertaining
Rarely rate any movie under 5 stars but this one earned its own. The enthusiasm of some reviewers is understandable, particularly in regards to the conviction from Yul Brynner and the miscast beauty of Shirley Anne Field.British director J. Lee Thompson, rarely more than a journeyman, failed to show any enthusiasm and scriptwriter (Elliott Arnold) was totally at sea in conveying a sense of authenticity in regards to culture: saw this movie only once 40+ years ago but my now wife and I still recall and occasionally quote to each other with great amusement one peculiar bit of dialogue. Balam (the George Chakiris character) reproaches Ixchel (Field) over her attraction to Bald Eagle (Brynner) - this is our recollection: IXCHEL: "Why'd you send for me?" BALAM (in a fit of jealousy): "Before, when he sent for you, you went to him willingly, and NOW I KNOW: it was not for the FIRST time!" His line, not only poorly delivered but compounded by the contrast between Field's British inflection and Chakiris' American accent - the exchange merits inclusion in some anthology.
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