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      Kings of the Sun

      1963 1h 48m Adventure List
      Reviews 34% 100+ Ratings Audience Score When Hunac Ceel (Leo Gordon) leads his army of warriors against the Mayan tribes of the Yucatan Peninsula, he kills their king, and the king's son, Balam (George Chakiris), flees. He takes his people in ships across the gulf, hoping to settle peaceably in a new world. But a native tribe, led by Black Eagle (Yul Brynner), is hostile, and takes Balam prisoner. Gradually, Balam and Black Eagle forge an understanding, and when Hunac Ceel show up, bent on destroying the Mayans, the two join forces. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Oct 16 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Kayaking M A solid old-school epic starring Yul Brynner. He is the only reason I gave this a watch and was pleasantly surprised not a bad film just not historical by any means. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/05/22 Full Review matthew d Surprising dignity is given to the Mayan and Native people despite the abhorrent brownface. Director J. Lee Thompson's historical epic Kings of the Sun (1963) plods along slowly until the excellent sword duels and massive battles with scores of extras. I think the Mayan culture and Native American cultures are depicted with a sympathetic sense of dignity. But, the cast is all white in awful brownface that is very distracting. Thompson does a decent job of directing meaningful drama about culture, tradition, religion, love, and warfare, but it's never quite spectacular. It all feels a bit too campy and stilted to ever be genuinely moving. Old epics are impressive, yet often misguided like Kings of the Sun. Writers James R. Webb and Elliott Arnold create an intriguing love triangle that tries to give the woman some agency and choice in cultures that dictate who she should love. I like the discussions over the ethics of human sacrifice versus the respect for leadership and religion. There's some fairly modern ideas shoved into a movie about some made up Mayan people escaping from a tyrant, who learn to cooperate and understand Native Americans. Yul Brynner is surprisingly dignified and contemplative as the wise and proud warrior from the Native American chieftain Black Eagle. Brynner finds the excitable fighter spirit, caring romantic lover, wise elected leader, forlorn doomed hero, and profound poetic thinker for Black Eagle. It's a great role that Yul Brynner nails as he saunters around with confidence and screen presence like few actors could ever muster. He's interesting whether he's laying there looking sad or delivering a rousing speech to his Native people. George Chakiris is excellent and touching as the Mayan boy King Balam. He feels inexperienced and emotionally charged with a raw performance. He was the best actor in West Side Story and very interesting here, but underused too. He should have had more to say when he abandons sacrifices for his Mayan people's customs and more romantic scenes alongside Shirley Anne Field's Ixchel. Shirley Anne Field has lovely black hair and absorbing green eyes to go with her beautiful face. She's very interesting as the love interest Ixchel as she feels like a modern woman trying to get some choice in who she loves. She's very tender with both men, but also feels like she had so much more to say in this smaller role. She had romantic chemistry with Yul Brynner and plenty of scenes to get to know his Native chief, but she needed more romantic scenes to get to know George Chakiris, because she had a different kind of chemistry with him that felt closer to loving romance rather than sympathy and admiration for Brynner's character. Richard Basehart is great as the main advisor to the Mayan king with his religious and traditional convictions that carry some weight. Brad Dexter is just kind of there as a royal guard. Leo Gordon is sort of terrible as the rival chief tyrant that the Mayans are running away from, honestly. He's barely in the start, then just shows up for the last battle with no menace or screen presence. He's like a poor man's John Wayne. James Coburn has compelling narration, but he only opens the film, then disappears. I wish he could have provided more historical information and context for scenes throughout the picture as he says so much in the beginning, then he's just gone. Editor William Reynolds could have cut this way faster and down to size as there's too much building of temples and too little romantic conversations or action to really hold my attention. The discussions of cultural differences and similarities was the most interesting part for me. Cinematographer Joseph MacDonald shoots shadows like drapes and adorns characters in dark atmospheres for beautiful medium and close-up shots. I love the gigantic wide shots for the battles and building sequences. Composer Elmer Bernstein's music is beautiful and memorable, but it does sound remarkably better suited to a Western rather than an old historical epic. In short, Kings of the Sun has some exciting action and tender feeling with really sympathetic portrayals of the Mayan people and Native American tribes. However, the distracting make-up and strange casting holds it back from ever truly mesmerizing me. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Rick J A good movie for a summer afternoon. Kick back, relax and enjoy. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/15/22 Full Review Audience Member A very oily Yul Brynner in <em>The King(s of the Sun) and I</em> Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Frances H Worth it just to watch Yul Bryner walk around in his costume! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/05/18 Full Review Audience Member Lavish but predictable adventure gives the viewer ample opportunities to see both Yul Brynner and George Chakiris topless. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Kings of the Sun

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis When Hunac Ceel (Leo Gordon) leads his army of warriors against the Mayan tribes of the Yucatan Peninsula, he kills their king, and the king's son, Balam (George Chakiris), flees. He takes his people in ships across the gulf, hoping to settle peaceably in a new world. But a native tribe, led by Black Eagle (Yul Brynner), is hostile, and takes Balam prisoner. Gradually, Balam and Black Eagle forge an understanding, and when Hunac Ceel show up, bent on destroying the Mayans, the two join forces.
      Director
      J. Lee Thompson
      Screenwriter
      Elliott Arnold, James R. Webb
      Production Co
      The Mirisch Corporation [us]
      Genre
      Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 16, 2008
      Runtime
      1h 48m
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