Strong on stunts and special effects but often rambling and ponderously lurching into comedy, it's not the greatest of Christmas treats, but does have enough cherishable moments between the wordy longueurs...

The only real fun comes from guessing which cinematic predecessor it'll rip off next.

Mr. Sherman... incorporates some wit and intelligence into the proceedings. And Mr. Yates works hard to bring understatement and dimension to the material. His ''Krull,'' which is decorous and dignified throughout, has more depth than excitement.

The result was an enthralling experience that many Kiwi kids at the time preferred to the Ewok-infested, New Hope re-run that was Return of the Jedi... However, 40 years on and Peter Yates’ “intimate epic’ has not aged well.