Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
Product Description
In this lavish historical epic - set in the Middle Ages Arn, the knightly son of a Swedish nobleman, must journey to the Holy Land on horseback as a sentence for falling in love with a forbidden romantic partner, Cecilia, who in turn, is banished to spend the rest of her days in a convent. The harsh voyage carries Arn through the heart of the medieval world and into the core of brutal and bloody Crusades. Both he and Cecilia must learn to fight to survive, to confront evil and overcome tremendous suffering and misery, guided by the faith that one day they will be reunited. Arn returns home to fight for his love and his life s mission: to unite Sweden into one kingdom. With an esteemed all-star cast, this epic adventure blends thrilling factual and fictional characters to offer up brave knights, powerful queens and treacherous kings in a tale of war, intrigue, friendship and betrayal.
From the Back Cover
Subtitles? The film is predominantly in English, without any subtitles. However, various small sections of the film have characters who speak - for example - French or in Swedish. When these characters speak, there are English subtitles.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
115 of 115 people found the following review helpful
By J. Blakemore
Amazon Verified Purchase
I was almost put off watching this film by the very fact that it seems to have appeared from nowhere. I hadn't read anything about it and had not heard any rumours about it being made. Like a US stealth bomber it seems to have slipped under the radar. But I have to say, when it finally arrived, just like a stealth bomber, it delivered an unexpected bang.
This is a gem of a film. True, at heart, it's one of those soppy love stories. But like Tristan & Isolde before it (2005 20th Century Fox / Scott Free) it is a magical tale that transports you with ease into a world of rich textures, and just like the myriad facets of a gem, mesmerizes you with its tones and depth.
The cinematography is magical and owes I think not a little to Ridley Scott's Kingdom Of Heaven. In fact many of the scenes shot in the Holy Land could easily have been lifted wholesale from that blockbuster of a movie. I don't mean here to suggest that Arn is in anyway a copy of the former, but like Kingdom, this film is a visual feast all be it on a much smaller, cosier scale.
The film skips constantly back and forth between a snow-laden Northern Europe and a sun-scorched Holy Land, and whilst this gets a little disorientating at times, and one often wishes the film would slow down to ponder a little longer on a particular storyline, it does mean that there is very little padding throughout the length of the film. If I have a complaint at all, it is that this two hour ten minute film feels rushed - there is too much story and just not enough time, which is to be expected when a film tries to deal with three novels in one go. This is a big budget movie that works well on so many levels, but would have been so much better had it been two or even three films. But that is a minor quibble.... Read more ›
This is a gem of a film. True, at heart, it's one of those soppy love stories. But like Tristan & Isolde before it (2005 20th Century Fox / Scott Free) it is a magical tale that transports you with ease into a world of rich textures, and just like the myriad facets of a gem, mesmerizes you with its tones and depth.
The cinematography is magical and owes I think not a little to Ridley Scott's Kingdom Of Heaven. In fact many of the scenes shot in the Holy Land could easily have been lifted wholesale from that blockbuster of a movie. I don't mean here to suggest that Arn is in anyway a copy of the former, but like Kingdom, this film is a visual feast all be it on a much smaller, cosier scale.
The film skips constantly back and forth between a snow-laden Northern Europe and a sun-scorched Holy Land, and whilst this gets a little disorientating at times, and one often wishes the film would slow down to ponder a little longer on a particular storyline, it does mean that there is very little padding throughout the length of the film. If I have a complaint at all, it is that this two hour ten minute film feels rushed - there is too much story and just not enough time, which is to be expected when a film tries to deal with three novels in one go. This is a big budget movie that works well on so many levels, but would have been so much better had it been two or even three films. But that is a minor quibble.... Read more ›
146 of 150 people found the following review helpful
By Birgit
This is a good adaptation of the Jan Guillou trilogy. Though it has neither the full depth nor breadth of the novels (impossible in only a few hours of film), it is faithful to the story-line, to the trilogy's focus and the historical 'correctness' of the novels and to the main characters.
It is lovely to hear people actually SPEAKING different languages, and not have everyone speak English with different accents only.
The languages spoken are: Swedish, English (to represent Medieval French), Arabic. Moreover a few sentencs of French and Latin are spoken, and a few characters speak Norwegian and Danish (Danish only in the second film). And what is more impressive: The languages are well spoken - e.g. no 'broken English' or 'broken Arabic' either. Truly an international movie.
But if you don't like having to read subtitles you will not like this film.
It is lovely to hear people actually SPEAKING different languages, and not have everyone speak English with different accents only.
The languages spoken are: Swedish, English (to represent Medieval French), Arabic. Moreover a few sentencs of French and Latin are spoken, and a few characters speak Norwegian and Danish (Danish only in the second film). And what is more impressive: The languages are well spoken - e.g. no 'broken English' or 'broken Arabic' either. Truly an international movie.
But if you don't like having to read subtitles you will not like this film.
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By alex
Having read about this film on the internet, and that full story came in two 2 hour films - Knight Templar and at road's end, I was really looking forward to it. After what was an enjoyable film which was finely acted and director, I sought to find the 2nd part "at Road's end". I am now disappointed to find that this dvd is a combination of both films with a huge 2 hours cut from the story. Some of the missing scenes can be seen on the extras part of the dvd in the making of featurette. Although I enjoyed the film and the story did flow naturally, it did feel that there were chunks missing and that the main characters 20 year punishment went by very quickly. It is such a shame that the makers of this dvd cut so much of the film in what can only be an attempt to sell to the mass market and hope that this subtitle heavy story becomes popular. Hopefully one day the full story will be available on dvd.
I have given this dvd only 3 stars to reflect the fact that it has been cut so severely, otherwise I would have given 5 stars.
I have given this dvd only 3 stars to reflect the fact that it has been cut so severely, otherwise I would have given 5 stars.
162 of 168 people found the following review helpful
By Inthannon
This film is without doubt the best historical fiction film I have ever seen. The story, based on a trilogy by Jan Guillou, is enchanting and gripping and the film makers have obviously done their history research and actually utilised the information. The Swedish landscapes whether winter or summer are cinematically breathtaking and you can taste the sand and feel the heat in the desert scenes. The romance is believable and the cast is fantastic and international with at least four languages spoken in one film! The final film Arn: Riket vid vägens slut, Arn: The Kingdom at Road's End, is also definitely worth a watch as the stellar quality continues. All in all, this film is and will probably remain as one of my favourite movies.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Mr Chairman
I am always wary of films or a TV drama which involve the Knights Templar, as more often than not they contain a complete load of nonsense and concentrate more on the 'myth' than actual facts, but reading some of the reviews on here and elsewhere for this film I thought I'd give it a try, seeing as it was fairly cheap.
I was certainly pleasantly surprised and this is a very good film.
Parts of the plot of the film are quite similar to 'Kingdom of Heaven', although I must say with probably only a fraction of the budget of 'Kingdom', this is a far better film and the lead character, Arn, is certainly far more believable than the rather limp and weak Orlando Bloom, who I thought was very badly cast in the lead role in 'Kingdom'.
In this film though Arn leaves his loved one, Cecilia, at home, banished to a monastery where she has his child (with a particularly good performance from the rather sadistic and cruel Abbess). Meanwhile Arn is sent to the Holy Land as a warrior monk with the Knights Templar as his punishment - It is his story which resembles that of Kingdom of Heaven, but far better handled by the both writer and director.
I've never been one to be put off by sub-titles and there are quite a few in this film, although to the director's credit I did like the way in which we get a multitude of different languages spoken throughout, and it certainly made the whole film seem much more authentic.
I won't go into any detail of the story anymore as other reviewers have already done that, but the comparison with 'Kingdom of Heaven' is always there, although I believe this film stands head and shoulders above it, both in the quality of the acting and the script.... Read more ›
I was certainly pleasantly surprised and this is a very good film.
Parts of the plot of the film are quite similar to 'Kingdom of Heaven', although I must say with probably only a fraction of the budget of 'Kingdom', this is a far better film and the lead character, Arn, is certainly far more believable than the rather limp and weak Orlando Bloom, who I thought was very badly cast in the lead role in 'Kingdom'.
In this film though Arn leaves his loved one, Cecilia, at home, banished to a monastery where she has his child (with a particularly good performance from the rather sadistic and cruel Abbess). Meanwhile Arn is sent to the Holy Land as a warrior monk with the Knights Templar as his punishment - It is his story which resembles that of Kingdom of Heaven, but far better handled by the both writer and director.
I've never been one to be put off by sub-titles and there are quite a few in this film, although to the director's credit I did like the way in which we get a multitude of different languages spoken throughout, and it certainly made the whole film seem much more authentic.
I won't go into any detail of the story anymore as other reviewers have already done that, but the comparison with 'Kingdom of Heaven' is always there, although I believe this film stands head and shoulders above it, both in the quality of the acting and the script.... Read more ›
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
2.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great original film.
An engrossing film. With the cast and director list it is expected, at the top of my watch again list.
Published 1 month ago by S. J. Stones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good film
This might not be everyones cup of tea but I enjoyed it a lot. It's slightly unusual being not an action film or a drama particularly but a very powerful combination and it tells... Read more
Published 1 month ago by JonRev
4.0 out of 5 stars
Arn: Knight Templar - One for the Ladies as well
Our story begins with Arn being sent to a monastery as a boy where he grows up and is taught to read and write. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Lady A
5.0 out of 5 stars
Knight Templar, a Mediaevalist`s view.
As a retired Mediaeval HistorianI found this an extremely good film on an area, ie the Baltic region, that is often overlooked. Sets and costume etc were spot on. Excellent. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Roger Willcox
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth watching
Not as good as Ironclad. but still very worth while watching, great action movie. good good good good good good
Published 2 months ago by Carl
3.0 out of 5 stars
Moderately entrertaining.
I've always taken an interest in the Crusades and for that reason I bought this DVD. Unfortunately it was severely truncated in the process of combining two or three books/films... Read more
Published 2 months ago by H. Galloway
1.0 out of 5 stars
boring
l was hoping this would be a good film but was disappointed and bored by it. gave it away fast
Published 3 months ago by robert cuthbert
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bloody!
Am I allowed to say not one for the ladies? If I am I will - a good blokey type film but not Jane Austen!
Published 3 months ago by P Doff
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Loved this film as it has lots of action and a good story to it well directed and acted will watch again and again
Published 3 months ago by Colin Vaughan
4.0 out of 5 stars
good viewing
good quality dvd nice story and not just blood and gore.not all in english as was expecting but enjoyed it never the less.
Published 3 months ago by NIGEL DICKSON
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
