Review of Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) by André D — 12 Feb 2014

Filmed back to back with the first film ('King Solomon's Mines'), the continuity is spot on with all surviving cast members returning for the new adventure. Like before this plot is VERY loosely based on the Haggard novels, this time 'Allan Quatermain' which is the sequel to 'King Solomon's Mines'.

The plot is pretty thin, 'Quatermain' goes off to find his lost brother deep in the African jungle (where else?). His brother is suppose to have found the long lost 'City of Gold' so that is what 'Quatermain' (and Sharon Stone again) search for. Alongside them they have James Earl Jones in barbarian mode again, well tribal African barbarian mode, a spiritual guru who is suppose to be the comedic relief and some tribal warriors (booby trap fodder).

Problem with this film is its pretty much the same as the first one, there is nothing much to get your interest going as you've seen it all before. Also, and strangely, the visuals are much worse this time around with even more god awful bluescreen, hokey props, repeated stock footage, fake sets, tonnes of revolting natives and faceless booby trap fodder tribesmen. Location work is still the only plus point really, although James Earl Jones is clearly having a blast hamming it up in his over the top costume.

Stone is even more terrible in this film as well! god knows how she became big after these films, shes a total drip!. Chamberlain still looks the part and offers some nice light touches but he's no Harrison Ford lets be honest, he doesn't really look like he could be a hero or fighter, ladies man yes but not a tough adventurer. Cassandra Peterson has a non dialog role as the sexy evil Queen, she merely stands around looking hot with her large boobies.

So yeah its pretty much the usual African jungle safari stuff all over again. There is nothing really original or exciting here, the last part of the film which is set in the 'City of Gold' looks like it was filmed in an African hotel complex in the wilderness somewhere. The plot makes no sense as we move towards the finale and the way 'Quatermain' defeats the main baddie and his tribesmen is utterly ridiculous.

Both films aren't taken seriously and extremely hokey all round but the first film is clearly the better one. I guess the money must have been tight for the second part as it seems a much poorer production. Its still reasonable old fashioned swashbuckling type stuff but definitely moving towards B-movie territory.