I should really be avoiding this type of stuff - it wastes so much of my life - but they know how to lure me in; attractive cast, knights, bloodshed, and historical significance, but this was a tough sit.

It is a run-of-the-mill DTV sword and armour movie that just didn't impress me at all. I suspect it was shot in Czech Republic on the cheap. It certainly loves its drone shots, as if it was still 2016. In terms of violence, much of it is concealed behind quick edits or cutaways - probably due to budgetary constraints - but I'd argue in 2022 if you intend to make an action movie in the age of the sword you can no longer half-ass it, you need to know how to stage and film exciting and violent swordplay. Admittedly it gets better in the second half but by then it is too late.

It also doesn't have an easy plot like in Troy and Gladiator where the story is well-known and simple. Here it cannot seem to get out of the nettles of something to do with Catholicism, the throne, a kidnapped princess, and opposing factions of Eastern European warriors. There's fighting, there's a hierarchy, but I couldn't tell you why they're fighting and who's fighting for who. And for a film that ends with text, "Jan Zizka is considered one of the greatest military commanders and innovators of all time", it sure doesn't show much in the way of innovation and decision-making to warrant such a claim.

Impressive cast, though, with Ben Foster, Matthew Goode, Michael Caine, Til Schweiger, and Karl Roden, but they are under-utilized, and most of the film is Foster fighting or being chased by Roland Møller (the gang leader from Riders of Justice) in the woods. Foster also doesn't have a commanding presence nor voice like a Brad Pitt or a Russell Crowe type, so it is hard to root for the little short ass.

This is one of the most hilariously bad movies I've ever seen.

F