Medieval

Medieval

The story of 14th century Czech icon and warlord Jan Zizka who defeated armies of the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 120 minutes
  • Genre: Action, Drama, History
  • Stars: Ben Foster, Sophie Lowe, Til Schweiger, Matthew Goode, Roland Møller, Michael Caine, William Moseley, Karel Roden, Jan Budař, Marek Vašut, Ondřej Vetchý, Vinzenz Kiefer, Magnus Samuelsson, Werner Daehn, Jennifer Armour, Sean Connor Renwick, Roman Šebrle, Alistair Brammer, David Bowles, Christopher Rygh, Guy Roberts, Martin Kavan, Viktor Krištof, Filip Antonio, Aneta Kernová, Romana Jákl Vítová, Denisa Pfauserová, Kevin Bernhardt, Zhang Lang, Václav Jiráček, Brian Caspe, Petr Vágner, Ben Cristovao
  • Director: Petr Jákl
 Comments
  • bananarchie-59503 - 5 July 2023
    100% Middle Ages
    I think it's a little pity that this movie is completely in English. But for the makers to do in the original languages, with old dialect and all would probably too much effort for what is basic an action movie.

    For me this movie was pretty entertaining because of the use of extreme violence, the blood almost spatters onto the camera, limbs got chopped off, it's a real distasteful affair. And that's the way fighting was in that era.

    No corteous swordfights, but pus, blood, moaning, perishing.

    And no, I'm not a sadist that enjoys atrocities, but unlike this movie claims to be a true story, it's a Medieval fairytale with all ingredients in place: a dame in despair, tirrany, power-games, intrigues, treason, the Catholic Church(es), the one in Rome and the one in Avignon.

    The movie is inspired by a historical figure, strongly romanticized of course. Jan Zizka z Trocnova a Kalicha (English: John Zizka of Trocnov and the Chalice; c. 1360 - 11 October 1424) was a Czech general - a contemporary and follower of Jan Hus and a Radical Hussite who led the Taborites. Zizka was a successful military leader and is now a Czech national hero.

    Some Czech nationalism seeps through in the movie, but personally it doesn't bother me.

    But all this aside, the movie has beautiful filmed battles, the ruthlessness is sometimes schocking and there's a scene with a lion that is brilliant.

    The better spectacle entertainment!!!
  • PartTimeCritic - 26 February 2023
    Forgettable Action Film Drowned in Grey
    MEDIEVAL (C) is a historical action film that was sold as the epic of Jan Zizka, the medieval general who never lost a war. In fact, it's a small slice of his role (he's a real figure part of much bigger battles than this film hints at) as a mercenary in a political kidnapping. Unfortunately, the film does not do a great job making all the political sides here memorable and compelling which leads to a bit of, "Why is he teaming/backstabbing him again?" Additionally, there's not a figure involved in the whole affair who is likeable, relatable, or really "the good guy in all this - it's all so very grey. Now that's kind of the point here, these Lords are all greedy and bent despite claiming their mandate from God. Still, it leads to a pretty obvious and boring story without much of a cheering interest. None of that would matter much if the film produced what it sold - high quality medieval style action. On that account, it is a bit disappointing. The action sequences are decent, but largely forgettable and routine.
  • henry8-3 - 10 January 2023
    Medieval
    Tells a fictional early life tale, including a romance, of Czech hero Jan Zizka (Ben Foster) who is tasked by Lord Boresh (Michael Caine) to kidnap a powerful nobleman's fiancée, Jatherine (Sophie Lowe) to force the nobleman to help Wenceslas IV to be crowned the Holy Roman Emperor.

    Whilst this could easily have been your typical blood thirsty medieval epic with lots of swords, mud and limbs flying everywhere, which in large part it is, Zizka is apparently a great hero in the Czech Republic and director Petr Jákl has made a noble attempt to bring a rousing adventure of romance, drama and derring do to the screen, punctuated with familiar levels of viscera.

    To a large degree he is to be congratulated as this is often thrilling, occasionally sweet and tells a fine story. The performances are solid and Foster is good at roaring, covered in mud and blood, whilst Caine still has it and provides presence. On the downside it is a bit too long, there are a few plot holes, Zizka is laughably indestructible and the villains, whilst fun are very familiar / Sheriff of Nottingham types. Nevertheless it's good fun and quite stirring - definitely worth a look.
  • Orby2283 - 31 December 2022
    Just so dull
    Sadly I hoped I would have liked this movie, a movie called Medieval based on one of my favourite eras of human history, how can you go wrong? Well this movie finds a way.

    The movie is just slow, plodding and very dull. The action is fine if not very choppy. The editing just seems all over the place too, some scenes are paced well while others go by very quickly.

    None of the characters seem very well developed, we do not spend long enough with them to have any investment. As well as the lead character who is just as well might have been a robot, lacks any emotion or character traits, he is so one note. Things happen around this character and he doesn't flinch and it boggles my mind, because if he doesn't feel anythign about these things why should I? Sophie Lowe and Sir Michael Caine are the only actors to really show some effort and urgency in their roles. I couldn't tell you anything about anyone else.

    The sets are nice but you never hang around long enough to really soak in the locations. Nothing in this movie has time to breathe and sink in, even when there is some character development and time to settle it doesn't feel like its earned or its just exposition.

    Its a interesting premise with no real soul or heart. I was ready to turn off so close to the end.

    One compliment I will add is the costumes were really nice and the set design, when they were around them long enough to admire, were good too, and some of the action was brutally satisfying in places. But it was so hard to have to admire all of that while slugging through this movie.
  • deloudelouvain - 5 December 2022
    Confusing but well filmed.
    Well I never heard of this Czech warlord. Ben Foster did a good job portraying him. The production of this movie is good, with some well directed battle scenes, good acting from the entire cast, and a normally interesting story. The problem I had with the movie is how confusing it gets sometimes. I really tried to concentrate but it's just not an easy told story. If you're into medieval movies though it's certainly worth a watch. The costumes and the sceneries are very good, the battles gruesome but excellently filmed so you can't really go wrong with Medieval. Too bad the story was a bit confusing.
  • erikmsandreid - 23 November 2022
    Has NOTHING to do with the medieval time period
    Watched just two scenes, and had to shut it off:

    First scene: Knights acting carelessly and smug, and talk back to their future king, literally seconds after saving his life - Why do they act in such a way? Because he's not king yet, and haven't payed them... Thaaaat's an execution!

    Second scene: King then proceeds to walk into a hall, full of all his political enemies (one of which who literally just had tried to have him killed), and be smug himself, with a cringey one-liner, at end the scene.... Thaaaat should had ended with him getting killed, where he stood. Not really, but how I wish that was the case, though.

    Not a fan with the nonchalant attitudes and smugness of from every single actor in this movie. It has nothing to do with the medieval time period, being it british or any other place for that matter.

    5/10.
  • searchanddestroy-1 - 8 November 2022
    I expected far worse
    Since two decades now, medieval movies from Europe, Eastern Europe are galore, more gruesome one than the other, huge budgets for huge craps most of the time, available mainly un streaming platforms. Most of those lousy productions bet only on gruesome battles, bloody, brutal, battle scenes, where cruelty is the main word. Besides this, nothing at all, bad directing and I don't even speak of the acting. This one is from Czech Republic but seems to be co produced with UK film industry; it is spoken in English and stars Ben Foster and Michael Caine. So, it won't be a surprise if I say it is not for the sissies, it is bloody, with man details concerning meat chopper fight sequences. But the story is not that bad for such a film, not that bad. However, it will never make me forget THE WARLORD, starring Chuck Heston; FLESH AND BLOOD from director Paul Verhoeven, or any Ridley Scott's movie for this scheme.