Medieval Reviews

15th Century Bohemia must have been a brutal time to live; right after dealing with one of the worst plagues in human history, the people were caught right in the middle of a power struggle between two self-proclaimed kings. Screenwriter and director, Petr Jákl, knew there was a story to tell here, and he used the perfect vehicle to tell it - Jan Žižka. Medieval is an entertaining romp through a dark, brutal world, but one that wears thin in spots. The film is shot well, and most of the scenery is eye-popping, but a lack of tension and mediocre acting hold this movie back. Jan Žižka (Ben Foster) is one of the most respected European generals of all time. He was known for his innovative battle techniques, like devising a vehicle that is very similar to a modern tank, and his leadership of many untrained peasants won him many victories. When his ally, Lord Boresh (Michael Caine), talks him into kidnapping a highly prominent princess, Katherine (Sophie Lowe), his world starts to unravel. Jan must now face the wrath of the King's army, mercenaries, and the woman he just captured.Medieval starts slow, as it takes a while to understand the setting and the conflict. Yes, it is a simple plot once the film moves along, but the fractured storytelling makes for an uninteresting buildup. Once viewers get past some meaningless battle sequences and over-the-top gore, the story starts to pick up.The acting by Caine, Foster, and Lowe is great; the trio show chemistry while on screen with each other. The rest of the supporting cast does little to enhance the cinematic experience; there just seem to be many actors who do not fit the roles. This can also be said about the countless battle scenes in Medieval. Most of these scenes are without any sort of tension, and just seem off in some way. When a random foot breaks or an arm gets chopped off, it feels like it may have unnecessarily been added to the film, interrupting the flow and choreography of the skirmish.From a top-down level, Medieval is a decent stroll through the Dark Ages, with Jan Žižka acting as the personal tour guide. The story is compelling enough to stick to the end, but the lack of tension makes it tough to stay memorable. As a tribute to the legendary general, Medieval is worth watching, especially for those interested in world history.