If you have seen season one of Knightfall than you know that it’s about the Knights Templar and their feud with King Philip of France. Although the series is a work of fiction, the Middle Ages (1200’s-1300’s) military group Knights Templar that defended the church was a real order. The historical account includes the battles between the two factions and at the finish of the first season the conflict is on the verge of all-out war.
No one gets the juices going like the filmmakers introduction that goes something like this. We enter season two as the Templars are licking their wounds following the Battle of Versailles and adding more men to their ranks called “God’s Executioners”. They are being trained by Talus (Mark Hamill) who’s a battle-hardened veteran of the Crusades.
Landry du Lauzon (Tom Cullen) has survived the first season but has suffered personal loss in the process and been demoted to an Initiate. But, he’s holding strong as Talus readies the Templar army to get revenge and make their attempt to take down the traitor and ex-Templar Gawain (Padraic Delaney) who has allied with France’s King Philip’s (Ed Stoppard) cruel advisor De Nogaret (Julian Ovenden).
The production is truly amazing with excellent costuming, sets, locations and props. Directors use this playground to deliver a brilliant drama, actioner and thriller that’s compelling and gritty as the Middle Ages were. The music and feel of the film is much like segments of Game of Thrones, but with reduced quality and transitions. Each of the 8 chapters start with a “Previously on Knightfall” introduction to keep you up to speed.
Knightfall has been rated TV-M and contains violence, language, gore and sex. It is available on DVD.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good series for those that like a lot of action. (4 out of 5 stars)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Tom Cullen, Pádraic Delaney, Simon Merrells, Julian Ovenden, Ed Stoppard, Tom Forbes, Mark Hamill, Jim Carter, Genevieve Gaunt, Clementine Nicholson
Directors: Don Handfield and Richard Raynor
TV Rating: TV-MA
Genre: Action, History, War, Drama
Running Time: 5 hrs. 45 min.
Video Release Date: August 6, 2019
Original Theatrical Release Date:
Language: English
Reviewed Format: DVD
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Widescreen, 16×9, Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Number of Discs: 2 Discs
Distributed by: Lionsgate
Released on: DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
