Review of Ironclad (2011) by Jim M — 06 Nov 2011

England, 1215: After having been forced to sign the Magna Carta by rebellious Barons King John (Paul Giamatti) as assembeld an army of Danish mercenaries (led by Vladimir Kulich) to restore his position as absolute ruler of England. The Baron Albany (Brian Cox) assembles a small force, including Templar Thomas Marshall (James Purefoy), and seizes the strategically vital Rochester Castle, there the outnumbered rebels will face the horrors of siege warfare and hope to hold the castle until the rebels can raise reinforcments.

Kick ass depication of siege warfare. Be forewarned like Centurion, Ironclad seeks to depict the effect of medeval weapons on the human body as unflinchingly and realisticly as possable. Maces crush, oil burns, limbs don't get cut off they need to be hacked at a bit, neather the battle axe wealding Kulich or the Broadsword wealding Purefoy do anything to fancy with there weapons, battles are fought too closely and the weapons too heavy. Giamatti, Derek Jacobi, Brian Cox and Charles Dance are solid, Kate Mara is lovely and Purefoy has stoic warrior monk nailed. Kulich looks like he belongs covered in furs swinging an axe (he was the lead Viking in The 13th Warrior).