disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

MEDIEVAL -- A Historical Epic With Stellar Cast and Direction by Petr Jákl

9/6/2022

1 Comment

 
Review by Dan Skip Allen
Picture
Ben Foster as Jan Žižka in the action film, MEDIEVAL, The Avenue release. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
I've seen a lot of films about various times in the history of the world. There has rarely been an era I haven't seen covered a film or a television show on. Most of them have been pretty good. Gladiator, 300, Rome, Spartacus, and Ben Hur come to mind. These are just a handful of historical epics that have been covered at various times. Medieval is the newest historical epic, but it covers a time and place I haven't seen covered before on the big screen, Czechoslovakia.

Jan Zitka (Ben Foster, The Survivor, 3:10 to Yuma) is a young soldier caught up in the Hussite Wars. This story takes place before he became a military commander/icon and warlord. He has to deal with treachery all around him, which prepared him for his eventual place in Czech history. His daughter Katherine (Sophie Rowe) plays a big part in how his story unfolds. With many men trying to help their kings rule, it isn't an easy time to be around. It's even harder to keep your head.
​
Petr Jákl is a Czech director, so this material has to mean a lot to him, and he wanted to bring it to the big screen. He has infused this film with a lot of blood and violence, making it more authentic to the time it takes place. This wasn't a nice time to be around, being a very violent era in world history. The 13th century was a barbaric time no matter where people lived, especially in Europe, where everybody wanted to rule the world.
Picture
(L-R) Ben Foster as Jan Žižka and Michael Caine as Lord Boresh in the action film, MEDIEVAL, The Avenue release. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
Jákl was so confident in this historical action epic that he enlisted the help of some big-name talent in various supporting roles in the film. The most notable are Michael Caine as Lord Boresh, Matthew Goode as King Sigmund, and Til Schwieger as Rosenberg. These men played a game of thrones before the phrase became popular in our vernacular. There weren't many political discussions in those days. Swords, axes, and bows and arrows did all the talking for these men.

With historical war epics such as this, you must have an authentic look and feel to the film. The movie has a lot of gray and brown hues to show the era's dirtiness, but there are times when the film looks beautiful with sunsets and green forests that haven't been covered in death just yet, or the light hits them at the right time in the day. The costume and make-up, and hairstyling work are first-rate throughout the film. Every aspect of the technical side of this movie was well thought out and implemented to perfection. This film looked and felt like a historical epic.

Medieval is a movie that lives up to the great historical epics of the past. Jákl has combined a great cast with Foster in the lead role with fantastic action and bloody violence. The look of the film rivals any in the past, with the characters looking the parts they play to a tee. Not having known about this man or his story before didn't prevent me from watching it with open eyes. It is an achievement in filmmaking by this Czech director, one whom I look forward to seeing more from in the future. The motto of the main character, "For Honor, For Justice, For Freedom," is one we all should live by. 

Medieval hits theaters on September 9.

Rating: 4/5
​
               
1 Comment
Motny
9/13/2022 02:42:00 am

I am sorry but god, this is sooo American. All about the emotions but not caring much about the details. I would suppose that when you’re writing a review, you’d do some research.
The country where the movie takes place is Kingdom of Bohemia, not Czechoslovakia which was founded like a 500 years afterwards. That’s more than twice the whole history of the US! Or maybe you wanted to mention the country of origin of the movie, which is Czech Republic, replacing Czechoslovakia already 30 years from now.
The main character’s name is Jan Žižka, not Zitka. I understand that this can be a typo but come on, when the whole movie is about one persona you should get the name right. It takes just a second of googling.
And 13th century? Again why wouldn’t you just google a bit, Žižka lived in 14/15th century which is a significant difference. How would you feel reading about ww2 movie which would the critic call a “19th century” movie. That would be just so odd.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Borja Izuzquiz
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About