Goliath and the Sins of Babylon (1963)

I thought that "Goliath and the Sins of Babylon" was one of the weaker Italian-made sword and sandal movies I have seen to date. I admit it could have been a lot worse, because buried in the movie are some positive traits. For one thing, it does deliver some nice eye candy, most particularly with the production design. The props and sets are quite lavish at times, from gigantic ocean going ships to areas. And often when these good production values are on display, there are some decent action sequences that do raise the pulse of the movie momentarily when they are unfolding.Unfortunately, the eye candy and the action only take up a small portion of the eighty minute or so running time. Most of the movie is quite boring, with a lot of dry chat and more plot points that are necessary. And the movie's main protagonist (played by Mark Forest) isn't all that engaging. He doesn't seem to have that much that differentiates him from his brothers in arms that are fighting the antagonists, and as a result he comes across as quite bland.This movie could have been a lot worse, but as I said, there's not all that much that makes it stand out from the dozens of other Italian sword and sorcery movies made in this period.

Goliath helps to free the Babylonian people from it's own evil rulers that demands 30 virgins to be sacrificed each year. Mark Forest is in the lead strongman role of Maciste / Goliath / Marcellus.It's an average peplum, nothing all that great. A few of the costumes look really cool and that's about as far as it gets with me.What I disliked strongly is the fact that they enjoy putting little people in the comic-relief roles and here is another prime example of that. It's a shame to waste talent this way.Another Mill Creek film from the Warriors 50-pack. Color faded. 2/10

Way above average for this type of thing. Lavishly produced, with plenty of truly rousing action sequences and a real sense of fun helped in no small way by the presence of Mark Forest. Forest had charisma to spare, with his teen idol good looks (impaired only slightly by a prematurely receding hairline!) and herculean physique. Most of all he really seemed to get into the action and fight scenes and in this film he's ably supported by the stunt choreographers, who bring a sense of humor reminiscent of the old Burt Lancaster epics (THE CRIMSON PIRATE etc.) or the early Jackie Chan. In addition SINS OF BABYLON is directed with real flair. Highly recommended for those into peplum.

Goliath returns to his home land to help stop the flow of 30 virgins a year to Babylon.As Sword and Sandal films go this is pretty good. Its not the worst its not the best. Its just a good, light entertaining film that makes you smile as things go along. Filled with interesting set pieces, a chariot race, a sea battle, dungeon torture, this movie attempts to give you more than the usual film of this nature.The trouble is that the film seems to have been done before. Its not even so much that the film has the same plot as the vast majority of this type of film, its that the sets, the tortures and perhaps whole sequences show up elsewhere. Even allowing for the fact that the trailer has shown up on various other taps and DVDs, this film seems overly familiar, especially to anyone who has ever watched more than a handful of these films.Still as these things go its not a bad movie. See it.