Movie Review: Clash of the Empires (Age of the Hobbits)

Clash of the Empires a.k.a Age of the Hobbits a.k.a Lord of the Elves a.k.a The History of Mankind
The Asylum, USA, Cambodia, 2012. 

The bankruptcy of Finnish department store / online store Anttila caused that my order of movies including "The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition" vanished into limbo of undelivered packages. Luckily I didn't pay for it in advance. The package is now collecting dust in some warehouse:

But no worries, at least I can watch "Clash of the Empires" a.k.a "Age of the Hobbits"!

12,000 years ago in Indonesia a peaceful tribe of vegetarian little people (Tree People a.k.a Hobbits) is attacked by cannibal Rock Men (Java) and their flying lizards. Goben (Sun Korng) survives the attack and runs to warn the villagers. Only Giants (Humans) could help them but the hobbits do not want to ask them. The Rock Men capture the tribe and Goben's mother Suta (Tom Eurt) but she marks the path with her medicine stones. Goben, his father Tak Tek (Srogn) and little sister Omi (Khom Lyly) set out to save their tribe.

Goben

Lizard Attack!

The Rock Men

The resourceful 'hobbits' meet tribe of humans and save master hunter Amthar (Christopher Judge) from being stomped to death by ancient rhinoceros. King Korm (Antonis Greco) does not want to help. Amthar and female warrior Laylan (Bai Ling) along with a couple of other warriors join the quest to free the little people.

Amthar and Omi

Laylan

King Korm

The original title ripped off "The Hobbit" and caused a lawsuit and the title had to be changed to "Clash of the Empires." Not that it had anything to do with Tolkien's book. It is a prehistoric adventure, not like the more serious prehistoric films "Clan of the Cave Bear" or "Quest for Fire " but more like poor man's "10,000 B.C." However there is some anthropological foundation to the premise as race of tiny humans Homo Floresiensis once lived in Indonesia.

Rock Man Queen

The Tree People

Even for Asylum standards this is a weird film. The movie was filmed in Cambodia with mainly local actors. Then it was dubbed in English causing an awkward déjà-vu of watching cheap Filipino midgetsploitation movies. The over-acting is hilarious, the worst offenders being the Human King (Antonis Greco) and Rock Man Queen (Rachana). Also Rock Men's crazed pet midget Koto (Kreb) induces Achondroplasiaphobia. The Rock Man actors are fun to watch, they are always grimacing with their strange teeth. Arrr! Lots of unintentional humour there is. Action lady Bai Ling has also cheesy dialogue and she has had better action scenes. Still she looked good as a warrioress. Christopher Judge keeps his cool being basically a prehistoric Teal'c. However the little people family was sympathetic and something to root for.

Still the adventure story is clearly made with serious intentions without ironic nods that some of the craziest Asylum monster films often have. Probably some of the vitriol towards the movie came from the mockbuster title controversy. The sceneries are good and the monster effects look above average. Especially the lizard models look nice. Again the cover image makes the action look more epic than it really is. Still the end battle seems to use more actors than Asylum usually can afford. Not a good movie in traditional sense but quite entertaining cheapo fantasy that somehow brings back memories from Italian sword and sorcery films of the 1980s. Maybe the Asylum should make more sword and sorcery type films?

Rating: Good (In cheapo film sense)

Starring: Bai Ling, Sun Korng, Srogn, Khom Lyly, Christopher Judge, Jerry Earr, Armani Nguon, Antonis Greco, Tom Eurt, Kreb, Savorne Horm, Neng Houy, Hak Hoy, Hun Soph, Ka, Brem Brey, Rachana, Sothorn Sith, Tol, Sopha Ok, Norm Phan, David, Channsadab Soth, Thavatt Sun, Vutha Yim, Suar Nou, Suon Nou, Ta Kley, Chean Prek, Am Sok, Salin Aon, Ra Bo, Pheab Chan, Rachel Anderson-Lebron, William Boodell, Courtney Branch, Brian Brinkman, Jon Kondelik, Matt Lasky, Joseph J. Lawson, Kelly P. Lawson, Kim Little, Kyle Morris, Jonathan Nation, Christopher Ortiz, Cody Peck, Sarah Restrepo
Director: Joseph J. Lawson