Allan Quatermain et les mines du roi Salomon

It cannot be denied that the 1980s production of film adaptations of the Quatermain novels was motivated by Cannon Films’ greedy plan to come up with its own cash cow, which would hitch its wagon to the popularity of Indiana Jones, or rather its successful clone Romancing the Stone. But forget about the obvious parallels with Raiders of the Lost Ark, because what’s far more important are the features that belong solely to King Solomon’s Mines – slapstick sequences including accelerated shots, using wit and absurdity instead of suspense, fantasy creatures appearing out of nowhere without warning and people exploding when they fall into lava, all set in a fantastical variation of Africa, where the romantic naïveté of 19th-century adventure novels, miles removed from reality, meets absurd exoticism and intentionally exaggerated stereotypes. What does it matter that part of the fun is due to the vanishingly small budget? The awkward cardboard creatures and flashy rear projections fit right into the overall campy framework. The central duo, 120% embodying the templates of swashbuckling adventurer and frisky damsel in distress, have the right charisma and exaggerated nature thanks to the energetic performances by Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone. King Solomon’s Mines is an outstanding bit adventure slapstick and a magnificently goofy farce that treads its own path thanks to its humour and stylisation. (22/12/2014)

Just because you love Indiana Jones movies doesn't mean you won't enjoy other movies like them. In particular, King Solomon's Mines proves that it is possible to have fun in an almost royal way. I don't know why, but I liked this silly movie. The first fifty minutes consist of one big, action-packed and cruelly funny scene, then the film slows down for a while, and then we get the finale, again in the spirit of the first fifty minutes. I have nothing against the great one-liners by the actors (they all evidently had a great time, especially Herbert Lom), Goldsmith's music is perfectly addictive and plays nicely with Wagner's “Ride of the Valkyries", Thompson's direction does exactly what it should - the action is action-packed, the suspense is thrilling, and humor and exaggeration oozes from everything. I give it four stars. (03/04/2011)

The movie King Solomon's Mines is really too reminiscent of the Indiana Jones style, but it's not that funny it's not that cool, it's just something that emulates it. Unfortunately, the stunt scenes don't look too good either. Chamberlain is fine, Sharon is pretty, but not much else. An adventure film, but without any real drive. (02/08/2017)