The High Crusade

Patrick E. Abe

I read Poul Anderson's book way back in high school in the 1960's. (The pre-computer, pre-Internet, pre-everything Age!.;) The idea that a technologically advanced Alien civilization could be tamed, much less conquered by a "swords-knights-archers" group was intriguing. The War in Vietnam was about to go from "advisors and observers" to "boots on the ground," which resonated with me at the time. I saw this film on DVD and bought it, wondering how this tale played out. The setup was fine, then the spaceship landed at a gate...and went no farther. Did the producers runs out of money or ideas? (Or both?) Comedy may be hard, but this back-and-forth "five finger exercise" got OLD immediately. So the Knights in Shining Armor didn't conquer the technically advanced Alien civilization, but returned to Earth, no wiser and still as parochial as "the nation of shopkeepers" stereotype. This "Ed Wood-level" movie screams for a swashbuckling remake, but "Star Wars" has "been there, done that." Final rating: 2/5, as schticky Anime source material.