Last Knights [2015]

December 11, 2024

On the surface, this movie seems oddly underrated and forgotten. It boasts a strong cast, good production values, and an intriguing story. So, why no one is talking about it? Apart from the general blandness, longish running time, and sluggish pacing, it’s missing one key ingredient: something special. Something that’s going to engage you and this can be literally anything. For example, Ironclad made up for its lower production values with graphic violence. The King made up for its convoluted story with production values and atmosphere. I could go on and on, listing what made these historic epics worth watching but I think you get the picture.

Last Knights is a solid historic epic inspired by true events starring Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman. We will be following a group of warriors who decide to take up arms against an evil king. The story takes place in Europe, during the Dark Ages and has nothing to do with Templar Knights. I say this because I assumed this before watching the movie. It’s actually inspired by a very real event best known as the Revenge of the 47 Ronin that happened in 1703 in Japan. If that sounds a bit familiar, it’s because just two years earlier we had the opportunity to check out 47 Ronin, starring Keanu Reeves.

In my honest opinion, Last Knights is a better movie but I’ll let you be the judge of that. So, if you’re looking for your daily dose of historical epics or just movies worth watching set in medieval times, Last Knights is a good choice. Just don’t expect wonders and a lot of action, and you’ll be good. The cinematography was excellent along with production values. Sets, costumes, and props, meaning weapons, all look cool and authentic. As I previously mentioned, the pacing is a bit sluggish, especially because you can feel early on where all of this is heading. And where it’s heading is one grand finale that won’t be as satisfying as you think it is.

I know that I’m constantly undermining my own movie recommendation but that’s just how it is. The filmmakers were focusing on the main story too much, forgetting about all the little things that make the movie actually worth watching. Characters feel generic and solely in the service of the main story. And the same goes for the worldbuilding. I mean, the lead’s name is Raiden, fucking Raiden! I can already hear someone screaming Mortal Kombat in the background and that pulsating soundtrack playing. The fact that all of this is happening in an unknown country also isn’t helping.

Despite these flaws, Last Knights was still able to hold my attention and I did enjoy watching it. Owen and Freeman gave great performances and it was so cool to see Aksel Hennie in a bigger role. Do check him out in Hawaii, Oslo, and, more recently, The Trip. The rest of the international cast did a good job as well. We rarely get medieval epics featuring a cast as naturally diverse as this one. Conan the Destroyer is an exception that confirms the rule.

Finally, I have a feeling you might need a palate cleanser after this movie. Something uncompromising, utterly compelling, and viciously brutal. There’s only one movie I can recommend to you and that’s Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins. I don’t have many film posters hanging in my room but one of them is from that masterpiece. And it says: Total Fucking Massacre.