"Black Angel" is a 27-minute movie from 1980, so this one is already almost 40 years old. It was written and directed by Roger Christian, a 2-time Oscar nominee in art direction and he won the trophy once for his work on George Lucas' Star Wars. But this one here has really not much in common with this saga, except the fact that they are both fantasy films. This one here has a lot more to do with knights and princesses than with extraterrestrials as we follow the ways of a man named Maddox and what happens when a supernatural appearance saves him from drowning. The consequence is that he goes up against a dark knight (no pun intended!) and the outcome is somewhat interesting for a change as an ending like this is nothing you see in medieval films very frequently. If you can call this one medieval, that is. It's probably set in a different time and space perhaps. Anyway, Christian was a much more prolific filmmaker than most people know, but honestly judging from this one here I am not too mad that I am not really aware of his work either. The film had some lengths, even for a movie under half an hour, and is never as artistically impactful as I would have expected it looking at who's the man in charge. Story-wise, there is also nothing really memorable except the ending. I read that this film here may be turned into a new movie at some point in the near future, but it's all very vague. Cannot say yet if I have an interest in checking that one out if it does. Christian is still making films these days, so there is a possibility he could be directing here too. Being in the mid-70s should not keep him away. Back to this one here, I thought the uninteresting is more frequent than the interesting eventually and that's why I have to give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.

If you're looking this movie up you probably already know the story of George Lucas' art director making a short film to show before 'The Empire Strikes Back'. For years it was thought lost and luckily it was found again in the 21st century. Although a bit thin on plot this director puts more scenery into a 20 minute film than most directors can put into their 2 hour long movie. The Scottish scenery is absolutely gorgeous, but for some reason the film seems other worldly. The overall plot may feel a bit familiar, but the twist ending just seals this up as a great work of art. The few actors involved are good, the action sequences are done very well and the bleak and creepy atmosphere make for a good film, but it is Roger Christian who makes it great. Christian went on to make a few decent movies, but this is his masterpiece.

A can't really add very much to what others have written about the plot, except for my very vague memory of what may be the final scene. For that reason, please do not read on unless you want to see a possible spoiler! (assuming I've remembered it right!).SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER! I saw this just once 27 years ago and I've never forgotten it, even though I couldn't remember the title again for a long time (until today!). A fantasy set in medieval times, it had the same kind of realistic but romanticised "feel" of something like John Boorman's Excalibur or the Robin of Sherwood TV series, with the use of dark filters to make the film moody and atmospheric. The "knight" (presumably the Black Angel of the title?) was, I think, dressed a bit like the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail ("It's just a graze!"), with one of those archetypal flat-topped helmets with an eye slit, and black armour. I think he may have been on some sort of "quest", although my memory is so vague that I may be confusing it with Arthurian stories like Excalibur.Unlike other people, I remember seeing the film as a support to the ecological horror film Prophecy (1979). Remembering the title of that film (Prophecy) and the year it was made led me eventually to work out that this film's title was Black Angel, released the same year. Presumably, it made sufficient impact for it to be used to support The Empire Strikes Back the following year? The only scene I seem to remember from it is what I think may have been the ending. The "knight" is killed (maybe blown up somehow or shot by arrows? - I said my memory of the film was sketchy!), and after his body flies through the air (in slow motion, probably) it ends up sinking to the bottom of a lake..? That may be completely wrong, but as I say this is a 27 year old memory! A similar but expanded story set in the same period and filmed in the same style might have made a great feature film.This is one film I would love to watch again to see if it was as awesome as I remember, but being a short it seems unlikely, unless it's perhaps been posted on the internet somewhere..? Well worth 25 minutes of your time if you ever get the opportunity.

The Black Angel had quite a profound affect on me, more so than The Empire Strikes Back. I remember the Angel itself as being a fantastic creation, ultra decayed evil, in the same style as Tolkien's Black Riders. I also remember the cinematography was stunning, very dark and moody.I've been trying to get in touch with Roger Christian about the movie through both Warner Brothers (who didn't want to know), and Stonelock Pictures (company behind his current project, Gilgamesh). I'm still waiting to hear from them. My only other option, I can think of, is to try George Lucas, being as it was originally shown with The Empire Strikes Back and he was involved in funding the project in the first place.I'll keep you posted chaps. But any help and advice would be gratefully [email protected]/7/08 UpdateWell I'm pleased to say after years of searching and metaphorically banging on peoples doors, I've had a result, and it really does restore your faith in the power of the internet. I have managed to contact Roger and quizzed him about the film. Here is the response I got:Dear Andy, it has touched me as i received many letters like yours at the time it was released with Empire Strikes Back and since then they continue. It was made specifically for the movie as George was upset about the short film with Star Wars. I am trying to find the 35 mm master to convert it, but somewhere in vaults in the Uk there is a beta copy and one day when I return there i will get some DVD's run off. It is interesting really as when it was shown industry people like ?David Putnam hated it and told me i should stop directing, but it was the response from the public who were deeply touched by the film that made me go on as a film maker. I will somehow let everyone know when I do get a DVD copy. all best and thank you again for your kind words. Roger ChristianNow how cool is that :) Roger, you the man...!!!!!12/3/10 Yet another update.Thought you might be interested in this interview with Roger which he talks at length about Black Angel, and the possibility or a release.... or not. Roger, please release this in some form..!!! :)http://www.shadowlocked.com/index.php? option=com_content&view=article&id=134: exclusive-interview-the-worlds- of-roger-christian&catid=47: movie-interviewsI've had to split up the URL a little in order to be able to post it. You'll need to put it back together before visiting the interview page.31/12/12 The best update yet...!!!!This is stunning news. The original negatives have been found at Universal, and to quote "Christian is still debating how to share Black Angel with fans...".More info can be found here: http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/12/20-12-pl_blackangel/Thanks to David Freeman for the heads up :)10/01/2014 Another fantastic update thanks to Mark Grey.According to Wikipedia the movie will be available on Netflix and iTune early this year (2014). Finally :)20/05/2014 Final update.At long last this movie is now available on iTunes. Only £1.99 for the HD copy. :) Very happy person...!!!!