Review of Last Knights (2015) by Mark S — 12 Jan 2016

There are many critics who say this film is wanting in title, story, as well as its very existence lending little to the chivalric knights genre. Yet I could not disagree more. I found the acting to be fine, Freeman giving a decent effort while Owen (Raiden) thrives. The rest of the cast also performs with gusto and diligence to the craft. This is a story of the code of honour of the knight, he who is honest, brave, trustworthy, and unrelenting in doing that which his lord desires, but that which is waning in the empire at hand.

Lord Bartok (Freeman) is tired of the new way, one that he deems self-serving and weak or that which if it continues could not only take down the crown but an entire empire. Raiden serves Bartok with great honour and esteem, yet he finds it difficult, of course, to satisfy Bartok's final request: to take his life or that which the king has ordered after Bartok has offended the king's second, Geza Mott. Bartok is one of the last knights, so much that he designs to offend Geza knowing his life will be taken for such an offence. But he only does so in an attempt to restore honour to the clan and hopefully to the empire. Bartok is ill and knows he doesn't have much longer to live, so why not use his life to set things right to restore honour to the kingdom for the long run, an honourable task indeed.

After Bartok is dead, the clan is broken up and all the knights lose their positions and must fend for themselves earning a living as they can. Bartok appears to have lost all hope, for he falls into drink, lets his wife go, sells his sword, even ignores Bartok's daughter when offered to him in a whorehouse as a virgin. And it is this last action that marks the time for revenge. Raiden has proven his worth by his patience and humility, qualities of a true knight, or he that puts the code above all else and does whatever he has to do to honour that code, even if it entails temporarily forgoing love, his sacred sword, even the pledged protection of his lord's only daughter to properly set the stage for revenge. All that he has, all that he posses in life, he puts on the table to bring back honour to the kingdom, himself, his men, family, and friends.

Raiden ultimately revenges his master's honour by killing Geza, yet the king must do something to restore honour. Lord Auguste, friend of Raiden and father of his dishonoured daughter, wife of Geza, puts a plan in place whereby the Bartok clan survives, but like his lord, Raiden must give his life to maintain order enabling a returned honour to the kingdom.

This is a wonderful story, intricately crafted and well executed. Enjoyed this one thoroughly.