Where to watch Gor II
1 1/2 Stars
Better known as “Outlaw” to those of you who watch the TV show “Mystery Science Theater 3000”. It’s about a beefy blonde and his oily friend Watney. They are teleported by a rose quartz because The Elder (he has no name, Just “The Elder”) thinks that Xeno, the Priest by a clearly drunk Jack Palance, has eyes for the throne. Of course, Cabot cares nothing for such intrigue just for the Princess he had “ooh-la-la” with from the previous film “Gor”. The Elder is off, though. It’s the Queen who wants the throne for her own. Naturally, Watney is seduced by the Queen to implicate Cabot murdering the King, and Cabot and his platinum blonde midget friend escape off into the desert, where they free a slave girl and are just as quickly captured by a bounty hunter. The Princess is forced, meanwhile, by the Queen to fight The Leather Women.
Gor II, aka Outlaw of Gor, is an improvement over the original film in the series based on John Norman’s novels. This time, the filmmaking has been elevated, albeit slightly, from the threadbare first installment. All of the technical departments, including the production design and cinematography, look more detailed in this glossier sequel. I’m quite aware of Gor II’s infamy having been part of the MSK3000 series back in its heyday, and there is more than enough to poke fun at, but it’s still better than the terrible first movie simply titled Gor.
Blonde beefcake Urbano Barberini appears more comfortable in his second turn in the lead role, but he isn’t given much to do due to his character being a bystander to the plot mechanism. Ubiquitous B-movie presence Jack Palance is similarly misused and relegated to an emasculated supporting role, appearing sparsely throughout the film and often costumed in ridiculous outfits. Gor II is most assuredly a ‘bad’ movie, but I’ve seen and reviewed far worse in this genre, and at least it’s a ‘watchable bad movie.
Directed by: John ‘Bud’ Cardos
Written by: John Norman, Harry Alan Towers, Rick Marx
Starring: Urbano Barberini, Rebecca Ferratti, Jack Palance