"10.000 AD - Black Pearl" is one rather unusual movie, you can't really compare it to "10.000 BC" or any other recent blockbusters. If the comparison is allowed, it rather is following the footsteps of "Conan the Barbarian" with John Milius' questionable 'Nietzsche for dummies' bits between fights - just with a kind of ecological mysticism for substitute, although that would-be philosophy finally boils down to a "we can only save the world if all tribes unite" idea combined with the cringe-inducing "you are the chosen one". The story around that is equally simple: as always in fantasy movies, the heroes need a magical object (sword, amulet, crown, crystal... in this case a black pearl) to win the war against Evil. Thousands of years after the Third War, Evil is personified by the demon Sinasu and Good by a warrior who requires two teachers until he is ready to fight.
I really enjoyed the technical side of the movie. The camera makes beautiful shots of the wilderness, from the mountains to under water. The music creates a mysterious 'otherworldly' atmosphere with simple folk instruments and voices. The editing is amazing. Scenes which begin on a mountain top are suddenly continued on a beach, a fight is suddenly interrupted by a dialog, the present by a glimpse of the past - you constantly have to pay attention, this makes the whole movie much more challenging.
"10.000 AD - Black Pearl" is esthetically superior to 99 per cent of the low budget movies. Unfortunately it makes the mistake to rely on its story and symbolism too much. The actors are discussing the drought after the Third War destroyed nature - while they are standing in a green forest next to a brook. It is meant to be meaningful, but doesn't make much sense, frankly speaking. "Good looking, ambitious, creative, but not convincing enough", could be the fitting bottom line.
I really enjoyed the technical side of the movie. The camera makes beautiful shots of the wilderness, from the mountains to under water. The music creates a mysterious 'otherworldly' atmosphere with simple folk instruments and voices. The editing is amazing. Scenes which begin on a mountain top are suddenly continued on a beach, a fight is suddenly interrupted by a dialog, the present by a glimpse of the past - you constantly have to pay attention, this makes the whole movie much more challenging.
"10.000 AD - Black Pearl" is esthetically superior to 99 per cent of the low budget movies. Unfortunately it makes the mistake to rely on its story and symbolism too much. The actors are discussing the drought after the Third War destroyed nature - while they are standing in a green forest next to a brook. It is meant to be meaningful, but doesn't make much sense, frankly speaking. "Good looking, ambitious, creative, but not convincing enough", could be the fitting bottom line.