King Solomon's Mines is the third film adaptation of H.Rider Haggard's novel of the same title.It stars Richard Chamberlain as Allan Quatermain together with Sharon Stone,Herbert Lom and John Rhys-Davies.It takes a light and comedic approach of the novel and it parodies Indiana Jones,one of the most popular movies that was released during the decade this film was shown in theaters.In the screenplay,Allan Quatermain was hired by a woman to locate his archaeologist father who apparently has discovered the location of a vast treasure.Despite the fact that it was panned by critics and gaining two Razzie nominations for Worst Supporting Actor for Lom and Worst Musical Score,the movie was entertaining enough as long as one does not intend to take it seriously.Also,the viewer should also not compare with the 1937 and 1950 version for it was made for laughs and an Indiana Jones parody instead of being a critically acclaimed film. Aside from lots of laughter that it presents,it is not short on action and explosive scenes.Overall,try to enjoy and be entertained this movie which should have been titled,"King Solomon's Mines Lite."

This new agreeable version from H. Rider Haggard adventure follows again Allan Quatermain played by a likable Richard Chamberlain . However , the original novel took place in the 1880s or earlier, but this film moves Quatermain's adventures to the era of World War I, in an unusual case of a semi-update . This is the adventure of a lifetime starred by a fortune hunter called Allan Quatermain (one of the members of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) who teams up with a resourceful woman (Sharon Stone , according to her memoirs Kathleen Turner turned down the role of Jesse) to help her find her missing father lost in the wilds of 1900s Africa while being pursued by hostile tribes , a rival German explorer (Herbert Lom) and a slaver Arab named Dogati (John Rhys-Davies who along with Richard Chamberlain starred TV-series "Shogun") . Allan is leading a safari in search of legendary diamond mines and to save the damsel's father . They are pursued by German soldiers and must confront natives , animals and several dangers and risks until they find the King Salomon's mines . The brave hunter and the elegant lady become fast friends, confronting magic rites and cannibals in search of legendary diamonds mines . While a native (Ken Gampu) is reclaiming his rights over throne of an African tribe next to King Salomon's mines .This amusing spoof picture displays exciting action , thrills , humor with tongue-in-cheek , extraordinary adventures and outlandish cliffhanger situations abound . Richard Chamberlain as Quatermain is passable , though Stewart Granger in the classic of the 50s -by Compton Bennett, Andrew Marton and with Debora Kerr- is incredibly missed . Heat and ills affected the crew and main actors but Sharon Stone surprised for her resistance . Polished and colorful production design by Luciano Spadoni , though in low-budget and excessive transparency . The natives are played by a real ethnic people from Zimbabwe . Evocative as well as glowing cinematography by the Mexican Alex Phillips, being shot on location in Harare, Zimbabwe . Special mention to rousing and thrilling musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith . The motion picture was middlingly directed by J. Lee Thompson , though filmmaker Tobe Hooper was attached to direct early in production . This film arrive in theaters in 1985, the year of the 100th anniversary of the first appearance of Allan Quatermain in the novel King Solomon's Mines in 1885. The sequel, Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1987), adapted the novel Allan Quatermain (1887), it was an impressive accomplishment that Quatermain had two films arrive in theaters for his centenary celebrations .Other versions of this known story are directed by Robert Stevenson, a 1937 version in which the supreme role was performed by the singer Paul Robeson who proved his singing faculties. The best and classic version resulted to be directed by Compton Bennett, Andrew Marton with Stewart Granger and Debora Kerr . Kurt Neumann directed a rendition titled ¨Watusi¨ with George Montgomery and David Farrar . And TV adaptation directed by Steven Boyum with Patrick Swayze and Alison Doody, among others . Furthermore , ¨King Salomon's mines¨ was filmed concurrently with its sequel, "Allan Quatermain and the City of Gold" starred by same duo along with James Earl Jones and Henry Silva directed by Gary Nelson .

No excuse can erase the travesty that is King Solomon's mines. Spoof. Camp. Fun. HOmage. Whatever! Now, if you're looking for the best post-1985 submission to Mystery Science Theater 3000... then you have yourself a winner.Let me address some of those 'it's funny' good reviews here... There are NO funny lines in this film.... if the creators wanted it to be funny they would have used some lines that WERE actually funny... no, I don't get a kick out of watching terrible site gags with wires, fake backdrops, fake everything and dull, forgettable, anything but funny performances.... NOW IF THAT's your bag baby...by all means rent this one. If I want that I'll watch a comedy....and if I want 'campy' comedy I'll watch 'army of darkness' or something that has A.Comedy...and B. a little of something else to offer... Admittedly, this film does 'appear' that it tried to achieve the 'worst movie of all-time status' that I'm granting it... BUT THAT DOES NOT make this viewer want to watch it... THere's a REASON the networks NEVER replay this one.... NEVER.... it would be a broadcasting death sentence.King Solomon's is terrible. HOnestly, this is right there with Ishtar, Leonard Pt.6, and Pluto Nash as the worst high profile film ever made. I figured I'd write one review on 'my worst theater experience ever'... this is the choice.... We walked into the adjacent theater and watched the end of Rocky 4.... I could have killed my parents for making me sit through 3/4 of this film. I did revisit this about ten years later to confirm my opinion, and I must say, my opinion has not changed. The.....Worst.....EVER! If Indiana Jones sold out their rights and they made 12 MORE sequels with no-names(that nobody rented).... this would be the equivalent of 16th installment, probably starring some washed up wwe wrestler and Shaq. You can always notice the truly terrible films...the one's with bad numbers(here on IMDb) and a bunch of 1/13 'thought this comment was useful' votes from the 'OBSESSED IDIOTS'. There will obviously be a 'cult' following when you're talking about one of the 'worst ever'.10/100

While this movie is not as good as the first Indy movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or the third, "Last Crusade" it compares rather favorably to "Temple of Doom" and "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". It mainly can compete with those two movies as it has a very fast moving story and for a low budget picture they sure do get a lot of places. The story follows Allan Quartermane and this girl who I don't recall her name played by Sharon Stone as they go on a quest for the lost diamond mines of King Solomon. They have to fight their way there through hordes of bad guys, have a train ride, have a couple of chase scenes and get caught by cannibals and nearly get cooked. Then they have to get through the mines guarded by a very annoying witch lady, in fact the movie would have been better had she never entered the movie, yes she is that annoying. Still, for a low budget movie that I am sure was trying to capitalize on the success of the Indy films this movie was rather good, much better than the very boring sequel.