tony_le_stephanois What can one expect of a film about raving amazons from 1973? I expected something really terrible but it wasn't at all as bad as I expected. The basic story of a competition between two female leaders is kind of silly, but it has not at all the campy weirdness one would expect with all these big breasted women doing naked oil wrestling, throwing javelin, riding on horses, sleeping together, fighting, et cetera.There are even sincere dialogues, nice looking sets and mass fight scenes. It has the looks of an expensive film. The story line of Antiope finding affection of a man, and being troubled by it, is not very interesting, but believable in a sense, also thanks to the reasonable acting by Angelo Infanti. All other acting is not very good, but never the cringing kind of bad.But how to watch this? It is not too bad to get the predicate 'camp'. It is not funny enough to be a comedy (only a slight bit, when women are torn between aversion and lust for men). And it is certainly not factual to be enjoyed as an historical drama, as many others already have pointed out.And what about an erotic film? There are pretty women in it, often naked. But the characters themselves HARDLY seem to enjoy sexuality. They have to ENDURE it in order not to die out. Which was perhaps the whole joke of the film, I guess, but only director Terence Young could have told us that. I rate this 5/10.

Woodyanders Fiery Antiope (well played with admirable gusto by gorgeous blonde stunner Alena Johnston) becomes queen of a mighty tribe of formidable Amazon women and enforces a strict code to keep them strong. Bitter rival Oreitheia (a suitably fierce portrayal by lovely brunette Sabine Sun) tries to have Antiope dethroned. Further complications ensue when Antiope has to mate with charming and noble Greek king Theseus (an engaging performance by Angelo Infanti) and winds up falling in love with him. Director Terence Young relates this wild and melodramatic tale of savage conflict and inflammatory passions at a swift pace, stages the exciting battle sequences with considerable aplomb, and loads this flick with a pleasing plenitude of tasty bare distaff skin (the definite highlight occurs when Antiope and Oreitheia participate in a ferocious anything-goes catfight clad solely in their birthday suits!). Moreover, we also get a few vigorous rough'n'ready swordfights, a memorably steamy wrestling match between two delectable half-nude honeys, and even a little lesbianism to further spice up the already delicious cinematic brew. Of course, having such luscious ladies as Helga Line, Rosanna Yanni, Malisa Longo, and Luciana Paluzzi in sizable supporting roles doesn't hurt matters in the least. The expansive cinematography by Aldo Tonti and Alejandro Ulloa gives the picture an impressively massive sense of scope. Riz Ortolani's full-bore robust'n'rousing orchestral score likewise hits the stirring spot. A really fun flick.

slaw5648 "War Goddess", a 70's vintage sword-and-sandal movie that depicts life in a strong Amazon nation, is worth watching for two reasons. First, although it was remastered onto DVD from several VHS versions, it does a good job explaining how an Amazon becomes a warrior, how the nation was ruled, and, how the Amazon army fought.Unlike other Amazon movies that portrayed women warriors as bimbos or inaccurately dressed with little fighting skills, "War Goddess" depicts women dressed as a warrior should be dressed, with the light leather armor of the time. And, you will be most impressed with the three battle scenes that show a high amount of training in horsemanship, throwing the javelin, and fencing with the short sword. Sadly, they aren't shown wielding the labrys and their shields are round and not half-moon. But, their bravery and ferociousness in battle are great examples of what a real Amazon of the Bronze Age would be like.There is some gratuitous nudity which I didn't' care for, but overall, this movie was fantastic. You can rent or buy it from Netflix, Blockbusters, and Amazon.com.

Escribar The idea of women in battle seems to always draw men to the screen. After Thunderball in which I participated, I remain distressfully unimpressed with Director Young's haphazard portrayal of a classic theme. It seems to come apart at the seams. It's saving grace (to me) was the portrayal of the Amazonians ...at home. The sequence in which the young Amazons live amidst the warriors becomes more natural and intimate to this viewer. In particular the little five or six year old blond Amazon played by Mary Scott O'Connor was heartwarming She came across as feisty, vibrant and ready to challenge the world compared to the "Queen" who walked through her role as if she were with 'valley girls' on a shopping spree.The 'Greek Army' portrayed by actual Spanish Army soldiers and extras was a far cry from the Greek Warriors of an antiquity we all come to expect on the screen. For my money, I'd give the little blond Amazon star billing over most of the other so-called warriors out to exterminate all but the breeding stock of the male gender. The repetitious axe visuals might be more suited to the next generations 'Texas Chain-Saw Movie' ... give the kid credit and move on. Fred Vallachi was wise in gathering and casting the youngest Amazons from the hinterlands and ex-patriot communities of Spain.