Fortress The theme of the siege of a single castle was revealed in this film richly and vividly, without the framework of censorship and glamorous brilliance. With a good casting, albeit not the star category, it is possible to deploy a good entertaining film about battles in the Middle Ages. A small detachment, led by a former Knight Templar, holds a small but strategically important fortress from the army of the king, who violated his own peace treaty with the support of the Vatican. Waiting for the army of the French, the main characters are forced to confront the best soldiers of the kingdom, the coolest mercenaries, fire catapults and completely other enemies in the spirit of hunger, panic and a decline in morale.
Very strong and tough movie turned out even on a modest budget. Without the need to tell the epic story of the confrontation, all the funds went to a strong casting and technical design of the capture of the fortress and attempts to make this very capture. The beautiful choreography of fights and battle scenes is decorated at the same time with the absence of any censorship - blood gushes with streams, severed limbs fly in all directions, the high level of violence makes the whole film exactly what a spectacular historical film should be. In addition to bright types and meat spectacle, there will be a pinch of eroticism and a beautiful love story without excessive soaring in the clouds and pink snot.
On the screen, only passion is given out, whether it is the thirst for justice, the madness of the ruling ruler or the feelings between a man and a woman - all at the highest level of emotions, in violently clashing bouquets of feelings. Paul Giamatti’s incredibly bright acting from a rather ridiculous and cowardly villain makes a bright madman with clear convictions in his excesses and bloody actions. James Purfoy not only waving his sword, but also the dilemma between this oath and true justice. Pretty Kate Mara appears as a fiery ray of hope and happiness. And the acting ensemble from Brian Cox, Jason Fleming, Anairin Barnard and some others - gives a set of diverse personalities involved in a colorful and cruel fight. Well, Vladimir Kulich showed himself the coolest - his brutal and uncompromising barbarian amazingly symbolizes the side of the antagonists.
The monologues of the king cause delight, the combat patriotism of the main characters inspires, and a diverse look at the oaths from different sides of their effectiveness and necessity, gives semantic importance to the content of the picture, without becoming an unnecessary edifying burden and morality, but also in a thoughtless mess of video without turning. A great plot with well-written and played dialogue leads and keeps attention from beginning to end, causing a storm of positive emotions, feelings for the characters, and brings pleasure from viewing.
And although some types do not get beyond the standard templates, individual characters die in packs, not having enough time to open up and be remembered, the cast does everything possible to embody charismatic images that cause specific feelings, from empathy and pity to approval or hatred.
A really powerful and cool movie, without unnecessary scenes and unjustified delay. Properly calibrated and spectacularly presented by the director, it successfully pulls entirely into its surroundings and atmosphere, distracts from everyday life and shows a beautiful and strong history of the siege of the fortress. Everyone coped with a hurrah, giving out a bright genre sample, which you want to watch and review, admiring each time. Great historical guilty pleasure!
9/10
Original