Medieval [Blu-ray]

Director: Petr Jakl, Petr Jákl Petr Jakl

Overview

Based on the fifteenth-century warlord Jan Zizka, this film follows the rise of the Czech legend. Zizka (Ben Foster), a well-decorated general, defeated the Teutonic Order and the Holy Roman Empire and was considered one of the few military geniuses of his time. Zizka is hired by Lord Boresh (Michael Caine) to kidnap a powerful lord's fianc?e, Lady Katherine (Sophie Lowe). This historical biopic is written and directed by Petr J?kl.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/06/2022
UPC:	0810103685659
Original Release:	2022
Rating:	R
Source:	Paramount
Language:	English
Time:	2:05:00
Sales rank:	6,977

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ben Foster	Jan Zizka
Sophie Lowe	Lady Katherine
Michael Caine	Lord Boresh
Til Schweiger	Lord Rosenberg
Matthew Goode	King Sigismund
William Moseley	Jaroslav
Roland Møller	Torak
Karel Roden	Wenceslas IV
Werner Daehn	Ulrich
Vinzenz Kiefer	Conrad
Alistair Brammer	Freddy
Magnus Samuelsson	Lars
Christopher Rygh	Mick
Guy Roberts	Cyril
David Bowles	Giovanni
Jennifer Armour	Barbara
Jan Budar	Matthew
Aneva Kernova	Maria
Kevin Bernhardt	Captain Martin
Sean Connor Renwick	David
Zhang Lang	Zel
Ondrej Vetchý	Ondrej
Marek Vasut	King Wenceslas Chamberlain
Václav Jirácek	Zdenek
Martin Kavan	Oldrich
Derek Sotkowy	Prokop
Jake Zahradnik	Josef
Zdenek Gloser	Captain of the Guard
Laura Karolyi	Anna (14)
Roman Sebrle	Javier
Brian Caspe	Flashback Soldier #1
Petr Vagner	Flashback Soldier #2
Viktor Kristof	Jan Hus
Roman Dvorak	Cuman Soldier #4
John Wolfe	Self -Mercenary
James Beaumont	Jan Hus
R. Scott Williams	Jan Zizkov's Father
William Lizr	Nephew
Philip Klein	Composer

Technical Credits

Petr Jakl

Petr Jakl	Director,Screenwriter
Petr Jákl	Director,Producer
Nancy Bishop	Casting
Cassian Elwes	Producer
Arianne Fraser	Executive Producer
Delphine Perrier	Executive Producer
Petr Jákl, Sr.	Executive Producer
Peter Hilcansky	Sound/Sound Designer
Kevin Bernhardt	Producer
Martin Jílek	Sound/Sound Designer
Pam Dixon	Casting
Martin Barab	Executive Producer

Editorial 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.