Knightriders

Rating:
Summary: King Bronco Billy?
Review: Has anyone noticed that this film is a near-clone of the Clint Eastwood movie BRONCO BILLY? Or maybe vice-versa? KNIGHTRIDERS has a listed release date of "81; BRONCO BILLY, of '80. I haven't checked the specific production dates, but unless there was something very odd going on in the zeitgeist around 1980, someone was heavily "influencing" someone else's movie. The films are, in basic plot and theme, virtually identical, with KNIGHTRIDERS substituting a "Renaissance Fair/Biker" setting for BRONCO BILLY's "Wild West" setup. The main characters (King/Bronco Billy) even have the same first name. They both focus on a group of out-of-step-with-their-time likable outcasts who live in self-made fantasy worlds in the form of traveling circuses, they both deconstruct major myths, they both even include a run-in with the standard corrupt, hippie-hating Sheriff. Of the two movies, I think Eastwood's is the better one, but that doesn't mean KNIGHTRIDERS isn't enjoyable; It's too long, and I find hippies innately hilarious, but the take on mythology is clever, the young Ed Harris is, as usual, excellent, and it's tragic-but-vaguely-hopeful ending (How else can an Arthurian story end?) contrasts interestingly with BRONCO BILLY's lighter-toned "happy ending".
Incidentally, a note to the earlier reviewer who claims that KNIGHTRIDERS' ending was so funny that he and his friends laughed about it for "hours"; Unless the behavior was chemically induced, sitting around and just laughing for hours is generally a sign of impending insanity. Seek professional help before it's too late.

Rating:
Summary: A Must for anyone into Arthurian or Celtic Mythology!
Review: "Knightriders" is the best attempt by any filmmaker to get the spirit and flavor of Arthurian chivalry on the screen! I have been reading books on Arthur and Celtic mythology for well over twenty years. It seems impossible for me to get enough. I will read it or watch it - whether it is history, criticism or fiction. In that time there have been more than a few disappointments and out-right stinkers. But Romero gets it right!

I began watching the film with strong misgivings. Knights on motorbikes??? Hippies in period costume in the '80's? PUHLEASE! I did not have a good feeling about it. But the story and the actors drew me in! I could not immediately draw the parallels to any of the story cycles, but the spirit was there! Was it ever! As the story progressed I knew where it had to go. But it was not boringly predictable. Everything was just RIGHT. I was so engrossed by the end that Billy's final scene sent me leaping from my chair and shouting at the top of my voice! How many movies have done that to you?

I have the VHS and now the DVD. I am unashamed to tell you that I have had the latter a week and have watched it twice!

Buy it NOW forsooth! Thou wilt never regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Camelot is a State of Mind
Review: A film that incorporates Arthurian legend within a modern day Renaissance Faire that has knights doing battle on motorcycles? Directed by famed horror director George A. Romero? It may seem like a silly concept, but you know what? It worked, for this viewer, at least.

Knightriders (1981) stars Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, and Amy Ingersoll. Harris is Billy, the king and inspiration behind the Faire, believing and living the noble ideals of a time long since past. Problem is, these ideals often conflict with the present, and especially when it comes to paying the bills. This epic tale (it runs almost 2 ½ hours) details the relationships within this seemingly tight knit group, the conflicts that develop as commercialism tries to creep in by means of a sleazy promoter wanting to take the 'act', as he calls it, to bigger, more theatrical venues, which threatens to spoil the noble ideals Harris tries to put forth and live on a daily basis. Things start to fall apart as the conflict between the members grows worse, and outside pressures force decisions to be made.

In a really gutsy move that I don't think paid off in terms of financial success at the time of the films' release, Romero breaks out of his the genre he's become known and respected for, delivering a lavish tale, one that I found interesting, although a tad drawn out, at times. The character Harris plays seems like a kook, but you may begin to understand his beliefs, what he's trying to put forth, creating a community of not just entertainers, but a family of different peoples who believe in themselves and what they do. The action is quite thrilling as the knights ride around on motorcycles instead of horses, doing battle using jousting poles, broadswords, battle-axes, and maces. There is plenty of action, and the stunt work is quite excellent, adding a realistic flavor throughout. Some of the drawn out plot threads seemed a bit odd to me, like the one involving a rather minor male character and questions that arose with regards to his sexual preferences. I didn't have a problem with the material, but just how the subject came out of nowhere and continued to linger on for quite awhile. It just seemed too much attention was focused on this minor plot point, and thereby causes it to stick out against the rest of the film. I think this tact was followed in a move to try an develop at least a passing interest in as many of the characters as possible, allowing for the viewer to take a real interest within the group, and thus feel the difficulties as the characters did at the fragmenting of the group, but it was just taken a bit too far at a couple of points, in my opinion. Harris is great as the ideal driven leader, fighting a seemingly losing battle of trying to hold the group together and keep the spirit alive. Tom Savini is also wonderful. Usually known more for his work on special effects, he shows he can really act playing the character of Morgan, the Black Knight, whose main reason for participating is for the thrills and excitement. Appearing as only a two dimensional character in the beginning, Savini really infuses much into Morgan throughout the film, providing a great deal of depth.

Presented here is a really good looking wide screen print and special features include a commentary track by director Romero, stars Tom Savini, John Amplas, Christine Romero, and film historian Chris Stavrakis. Also included are behind he scenes home movies, a theatrical trailer, and television spots. Some notable appearances to look for are Stephen King and his wife Tabitha as spectators (actually, they're credited as Hoagie Man and Hoagie Man's Wife as King is seen chowing down while spouting off how fake the fighting is), and a young Patricia Tallman as Julie, a love interest to Gary Lahti's character. While not a starring role here, she later did star in Romero's 1990 remake of his classic Night of the Living Dead, as Barbara. Knightriders is a fun, drawn out tale with lots of action and a lot of heart. The ending seemed a bit hokey, but really, looking back on it, I wouldn't have expected different. Fate and destiny, at least in the movie world, just cannot be denied.

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: Camelot is a State of Mind
Review: A film that incorporates Arthurian legend within a modern day Renaissance Faire that has knights doing battle on motorcycles? Directed by famed horror director George A. Romero? It may seem like a silly concept, but you know what? It worked, for this viewer, at least.

Knightriders (1981) stars Ed Harris, Gary Lahti, Tom Savini, and Amy Ingersoll. Harris is Billy, the king and inspiration behind the Faire, believing and living the noble ideals of a time long since past. Problem is, these ideals often conflict with the present, and especially when it comes to paying the bills.

This epic tale (it runs almost 2 ½ hours) details the relationships within this seemingly tight knit group, the conflicts that develop as commercialism tries to creep in by means of a sleazy promoter wanting to take the 'act', as he calls it, to bigger, more theatrical venues, which threatens to spoil the noble ideals Harris tries to put forth and live on a daily basis. Things start to fall apart as the conflict between the members grows worse, and outside pressures force decisions to be made.

In a really gutsy move that I don't think paid off in terms of financial success at the time of the films' release, Romero breaks out of his the genre he's become known and respected for, delivering a lavish tale, one that I found interesting, although a tad drawn out, at times. The character Harris plays seems like a kook, but you may begin to understand his beliefs, what he's trying to put forth, creating a community of not just entertainers, but a family of different peoples who believe in themselves and what they do. The action is quite thrilling as the knights ride around on motorcycles instead of horses, doing battle using jousting poles, broadswords, battle-axes, and maces. There is plenty of action, and the stunt work is quite excellent, adding a realistic flavor throughout.

Some of the drawn out plot threads seemed a bit odd to me, like the one involving a rather minor male character and questions that arose with regards to his sexual preferences. I didn't have a problem with the material, but just how the subject came out of nowhere and continued to linger on for quite awhile. It just seemed too much attention was focused on this minor plot point, and thereby causes it to stick out against the rest of the film. I think this tact was followed in a move to try an develop at least a passing interest in as many of the characters as possible, allowing for the viewer to take a real interest within the group, and thus feel the difficulties as the characters did at the fragmenting of the group, but it was just taken a bit too far at a couple of points, in my opinion. Harris is great as the ideal driven leader, fighting a seemingly losing battle of trying to hold the group together and keep the spirit alive. Tom Savini is also wonderful. Usually known more for his work on special effects, he shows he can really act playing the character of Morgan, the Black Knight, whose main reason for participating is for the thrills and excitement. Appearing as only a two dimensional character in the beginning, Savini really infuses much into Morgan throughout the film, providing a great deal of depth.

Presented here is a really good looking wide screen print and special features include a commentary track by director Romero, stars Tom Savini, John Amplas, Christine Romero, and film historian Chris Stavrakis. Also included are behind he scenes home movies, a theatrical trailer, and television spots. Some notable appearances to look for are Stephen King and his wife Tabitha as spectators (actually, they're credited as Hoagie Man and Hoagie Man's Wife as King is seen chowing down while spouting off how fake the fighting is), and a young Patricia Tallman as Julie, a love interest to Gary Lahti's character. While not a starring role here, she later did star in Romero's 1990 remake of his classic Night of the Living Dead, as Barbara. Knightriders is a fun, drawn out tale with lots of action and a lot of heart. The ending seemed a bit hokey, but really, looking back on it, I wouldn't have expected different. Fate and destiny, at least in the movie world, just cannot be denied.

Cookieman108

Rating:
Summary: Romero's Take on the King Arthur Legend
Review: After huge success with "Dawn of the Dead," independent filmmaker George A. Romero signed a 3-picture deal with United Film Distribtuion Company, the studio that put "Dawn" in theatres. Instead of playing safe with another horror film, Romero jumped genres to the adventure/drama "Knightriders" concerning a traveling fair that live by the code of King Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. Basically think "Easy Rider" meets "Excalibur."

Life is great for this large family until the outside world steps in with promises of fame and fortune. King Billy (a fantastic Ed Harris!) wants to live a simple life free from money and greed. However, others led by the black knight Morgan (special effects artist Tom Savini in an equally good performance) simply want to survive. Soon, this family unit splits in half with those devoted to Billy and others to Morgan.

Writer/director Romero has said in the past that "Knightriders" is his favorite of his films. It shows when watching the film. This is Romero's epic filled with great scenery, scope and performances. The film's premise is a bit odd, but it's best strength is it's ability to come off as believeable. Also worth noting are the well-filmed scenes involving the knights jousting.

However, one can't help but complain towards the film's length. At 145 minutes, it's just too long. Sure it's an epic, but you can only have so much in one film. A good 20-25 minutes could have been dropped and would have made "Knightriders" a better film. Despite the argument for the length (and a few too many B-plots), "Knightriders" remains one of Romero's best films.

The DVD is a nice presentation with an anamorphic widescreen transfer showcasing the lush cinematography of D.P. Michael Gornick. It's hard to believe a film mostly seen on home-video and over 20 years old(!) looks this good. On the bonus matertials section, there's a great commentary track featuring writer/director Romero, actors Savini, Christine Romero (Romero's wife), John Amplas (of Romero's vampire film "Martin") and film historian Chris Stavrakis. Add 15 minutes of silent "home-movies," (minus any commentary track sadly), the theatrical trailer and two tv spots and you have a nice package for an under-appreciated film.

Rating:
Summary: Romero's Take on the King Arthur Legend
Review: After huge success with "Dawn of the Dead," independent filmmaker George A. Romero signed a 3-picture deal with United Film Distribtuion Company, the studio that put "Dawn" in theatres. Instead of playing safe with another horror film, Romero jumped genres to the adventure/drama "Knightriders" concerning a traveling fair that live by the code of King Arthur, Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. Basically think "Easy Rider" meets "Excalibur."

Life is great for this large family until the outside world steps in with promises of fame and fortune. King Billy (a fantastic Ed Harris!) wants to live a simple life free from money and greed. However, others led by the black knight Morgan (special effects artist Tom Savini in an equally good performance) simply want to survive. Soon, this family unit splits in half with those devoted to Billy and others to Morgan.

Writer/director Romero has said in the past that "Knightriders" is his favorite of his films. It shows when watching the film. This is Romero's epic filled with great scenery, scope and performances. The film's premise is a bit odd, but it's best strength is it's ability to come off as believeable. Also worth noting are the well-filmed scenes involving the knights jousting.

However, one can't help but complain towards the film's length. At 145 minutes, it's just too long. Sure it's an epic, but you can only have so much in one film. A good 20-25 minutes could have been dropped and would have made "Knightriders" a better film. Despite the argument for the length (and a few too many B-plots), "Knightriders" remains one of Romero's best films.

The DVD is a nice presentation with an anamorphic widescreen transfer showcasing the lush cinematography of D.P. Michael Gornick. It's hard to believe a film mostly seen on home-video and over 20 years old(!) looks this good. On the bonus matertials section, there's a great commentary track featuring writer/director Romero, actors Savini, Christine Romero (Romero's wife), John Amplas (of Romero's vampire film "Martin") and film historian Chris Stavrakis. Add 15 minutes of silent "home-movies," (minus any commentary track sadly), the theatrical trailer and two tv spots and you have a nice package for an under-appreciated film.

Rating:
Summary: REAL LIFE INSPIRES A REAL GOOD MOVIE
Review: Back in the 1970's, George A. Romero went to an event of the Society for Creative Anachronism This is a group of folks who study and recreate the middle ages, including the art of combat. At this particular event, something happened that caused a large faction to split off and form Medieval Studies and Restoration, a splinter group. According to legend, Romero said to himself "I gotta make a movie about this!" He went to the sudio heads, but they did not think such a film would have commercial viability. Then in a fit of pique he said "allright, supposing we have them joust on motorcycles?" and that's how the movie got made.

The story of this movie is about a travelling renaissance faire that jousts on motorcuycles. There are two factions, one that is doing it for the Arthurian dream of honor and chivalry, and one that is doing it for the action and the money. The group fractures, but the splinter group winds up realizing that they were missing something, and there is a reconcilliation at the end. People who know the real people from the SCA and MSR and the original events can see similarities in some of the characters and situations on screen to the real people and events.

I had known this movie from this perspective for years. Reading the other reviews here, its good to know it can be taken on more levels, even if you don't know the original story. I find that it can be enjoyed both by people who take it seriously and for camp appeal. There are several story elements that were typical for '70's road movies, such as the troubles with the law, the local girl who joins the group to escape her family, and so forth. The action is not the greatest of all swordfighting movies, but is passable. For flat-out motorcycle/automobile thrills, nothing beats "The Road Warrior" but the stunts here are at least well done and convincing. The meaning and spirit behind this film elevate it above an ordinary action film.

Rating:
Summary: This movie is so bad, it's terrific!
Review: Bad acting, horrible plot, cheesy dialogue, one-dimensional characters--this film has it all. Don't miss the incredibly cliched "gay" and "police brutality" subplots. And the ending--we laughed for hours. Great for a fun-filled evening of MST3K-style film-bashing. A good party film. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: AN ORIGINAL
Review: George Romero has done it again folks. Another classic.

This movie is about a modern day Camalot. They have the king and queen. The knights who fight for the title. Every thing.

It does seem to boggle down in the middle but then it picks right back up again.

There's one thing that I did not mention...instead of useing horses, the knights use motorcycles. It may sound cheesey, but take my word on it. It is not.

This is a must for any Romero fan.

Rating:
Summary: Feudal nostalgia is no dreamscape
Review: George Romero in this film is quite surprising. He describes a world of feudal knights with a King and his court, that tries to live and survive in our modern world. There is a fair amount of nostalgia among those bikers to be willing to recreate in an artificial non-social space a world of dependance that does not exist any more. It reveals that this artificial world is exploited and victimized by the surrounding society, among others by cops who would like to blackmail them into paying under-the-table money in exchange of peace. But it also reveals the desire to create relations between people that are totally direct, without any modern sophistication : direct commercial relations based on a simple buy-and-pay connection, direct social relations based on the domination of the king who is the source of all authority and decisions, direct social relations too based on the acceptation by everyone of his or her position in a hierarchy founded on physical force and prowess. It reveals also the desire to go back to a culture that does not permit an egotistic closure onto one's inner physical pleasure : this is clear with music, modern pop music being such a tool to get lost in one's own physical and even organic pleasure, whereas Middle-Ages, Renaissance or creative folk music go back to a music that regulates social life and personal emotions within this social life. This goes along with the great personal pleasure of riding a motorbike, but also with the fact that riding a motorbike has to be performed in a group, in a collective and closely-knit group of people. The most amazing aspect is that this society goes back to the old tradition of the tournament, where knights fought real fights just for the pleasure of demonstrating their prowess and for the pleasure of carrying the colors of someone else, be he or she the King or the Queen, or some other person. Bur Romero reveals this world does not go without dissension. Some barons are tempted into making money by being recuperated by showbizz and television. Some advisors are tempted by some easy money to be made by performing these tournaments in state fairs or other events of that type as plain performers, as a show, whereas for the reigning King this cannot be a show for the outside world, and certainly not a show for money. A final confrontation between the reigning King's supporters and the discontented barons and their supporters will lead to the defeat of the King and his friends. So the crown will move. The last act of the deposed King is typical of his rejection of society, of his frustration in society : he will commit an act of justice by punishing a corrupt cop who had victimized them earlier and then will go on his last ride and get run over by a truck. When deposed a King can only die, like in King Lear, a play by Shakespeare where a King gives his Kingdom and his power to his daughters and he will end up dead, killed by the new Queens and their husbands. It shows how vicious and violent this feudal society is or was, and it does not have anything to envy from modern society. This violence is maybe less founded on corruption but it is just the same kind of alienation : you have power and you defend it, or you have no power and you can only submit or die. A very drastic and poignant film. A rewriting of the famous Easy Rider, that also ends in death, but with none of the sentimental and humane feelings among the participants, only a direct clash between ambitions and desires to dominate. It reveals the beast in man's body more than the angel in his soul. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.