Rating: 
Summary: How did Romero end up with so many loyal fans?
Review: George Romero was in my mind one of the most fantastic horror developers of all time. Night of the Living Dead was delightfully horrific, great plots, developments, not too many special effects, and a great ending. However, when I went to see Knightriders, I was so dissapointed, I could not believe it. It was as if Romero had tossed himself in the garbage, and let the actors try to direct the movie themselves. Ed Harris is absolutely horrible, as is his supporting cast. The plot is so incredibly ludicrous, and... wait for it.... it's almost 3 HOURS LONG! So I had to sit around and befoul myself with the stench of motorcycle knights jousting for what seemed like forever. Ultimately, after Romero fans followed him from Night to Knight, I'm surprised at the high acclaim this movie attained. Next to Dawn, this is one of the worst movies ever written. So I ask the question, how are you doing it Romero? Teach me your black hypnotic magic. I for one, will not joust in this arena.
Rating: 
Summary: Great B-Movie with a fine performance by a young Ed Harris
Review: I discovered this film during the early days of HBO, when the mix was blockbusters and movies the networks did not want. George A. Romero's 1981 film "Knightriders" falls into the latter category. This is about a group of free spirits who combine a Renaissance Faire with knights in armor jousting on motorcycles between the good knights and the bad knights. It quickly becomes apparent that the personas of the main characters follow those of the legend of Camelot: the King (Ed Harris), Lancelot (Gary Lahti), Merlin (Brother Blue), and Mordred (Tom Savini), along with a Genevieve, Galahad and even a Friar Tuck thrown in for good measure. After all, this is a symbolic retelling of the tale and if you want to take it literally you are going to be left behind in the dust.At the beginning there is a good-natured rivalry between the "good" knights and the "bad" knights. The rules of the kingdom say if Mordred and his black clad gang defeat the King or his champion, there will be a new king. However, there are cracks beginning to show in this idealized world. Crooked sheriffs want a cut of the take, the jousts are starting to get out of hand, crowds are becoming unruly, and then a group of promoters come in and want to take over the group. This exploitational commercialism breaks the group apart until they all see the error of their ways. The game has to be played out by the rules, no matter what the outcome. The heart and soul of this film is Ed Harris as Billy, who takes the fable too seriously. Ultimately this curses his character as much as it ennobles him. Billy's "defeat" is proof of his final victory, that the code he believes in is valid and the world he has created will work, even without him. Unfortunately, Billy can not survive for long in the real world, for he really does see himself as a knight on a white charger and reality does not look kindly on such flights of fancy. The final scene of the film, a series of shots of the characters in the rain, is quite moving. Everybody pretty much agrees the film runs long, which makes it something of a hard sell to newcomers, and if you do not find living out a medieval life while jousting on motorcycles for paying customers particularly romantic then you should probably pass on "Knightriders." Certainly it is a different type of film from the guy who brought you "Night of the Living Dead," but you have to admit both films deal with how people deal with a reality that do not like being forced upon them. "Knightriders" is a solid B-Movie, with more heart and soul than you usually find in such things. Even though this is one of his earliest films, Ed Harris provides the dignity that allows the story to be constructed on his character. Not many actors could have pulled this off. The action sequences are pretty creative given the situation, especially is you like choppers. The romantic elements are mere subplots, more echoes of Camelot than anything else. I have a fondness for this film. It is not great, but it is enjoyable and the point it makes is rather worthwhile. How many films today can you say that about?
Rating: 
Summary: SCA/RennFaire on Motorcycles
Review: I first saw this movie at a 2-week-long party in '88, among mostly SCA'ers and it made a lasting impression. Kudos to Billy (Ed Harris) and Merlin. I have owned the video now for over a year and it is one of those that I pull out frequently and every time I watch it I find more in it than I thought it had left. The funeral and the song that accompanies it never fails to bring me to tears, much as "Bring on the Starlight" does for anyone who has ever done a RennFaire. And, contrary to one of the previous reviewers, the moment when Puck agrees to be the jester's lover on the loudspeaker leaves strong echoes of Ellen DeGeneris's similar coming-out, and is just as funny.
Rating:
Summary: Everything old is new again!!!
Review: I have been hooked on Arthurian and Celtic legend since I first began to read! I have boxes and shelves stuffed with fiction, criticism, history and art. I know the genre. So I was skeptical when a friend introduced me to this movie. But I was completely captivated! So many of the old story threads are woven into this movie that you could write a paper on the various contributions. But even though I knew the stories and their tendency towards tragedy and victory in defeat, the end still took me by surprise. I leaped to my feet and shouted as if stuck with a pin! My hat is off to YOU, George! You have definitely made the old new again!
Rating:
Summary: A well done break from horror
Review: I like stories of knights who fight for justice and principles. This is a story about such deeds in a very low-rent film about traveling carnival workers. The King, Ed Harris in an early lead role, is wholly in his element and intent on ruling through grace and valor. His perception is summed up early on when he tells his girlfriend that he is "not a hero, I'm fighting the dragon!". Slowly reality is taking it's grip on the band as they fight to scrape by. The Dark Knight, played exsquisitely by Tom Savini, opposes the King, and thinks they should sign with a national entertainment executive. Ed Harris beleives this would destroy the very essence of the "Kingdom" he has built. Savini is so electric here that I want to see more of him in films. He is seen also in From Dusk Till Dawn and Dawn of the Dead (lot's of "Dawn" movies). Although low on production values, with very chincey almost cardboard-looking armor, this films heart is in the right place and it tells a compelling story about faith versus self-promotion. Think medeival Bronco Billy and you'll have a pretty clear idea of the pulse of this film.
Rating:
Summary: Never heard of George Romero!
Review: I never heard of George Romero, and vaguely know of his day or dawn of dead series. I loved this movie because it was a great movie...the story, the characters, the music, especially the beautiful song during Ed Harris's (King Billy) funeral. I was just browsing in the Video Store and came across this gem. (am a fan of Ed Harris). Truly a great movie, it you love movies.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Contrary
Review: I represent the other end of the spectrum. I've watched this film over 20 times, and absolutely love it. I would agree, the whole gay thing is silly, but the rest of the movie is quite entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising brillant!
Review: I saw this movie on HBO in 1986 when I was 14 years old and I have never forgotten it. I have been wanting to see it again but haven't been able to find it anywhere. A young Ed Harris shows his acting at best. There is also a cameo appearence by Steven King if you look closely enough you will catch him. I love the whole jousting thing with the motercycles.
Rating:
Summary: I'm not exaggerating a word of this...
Review: I think something happened to George Romero at some unspecified point after he made the original Night of the Living Dead; that first film was a masterpiece, but pretty much everything else he ever made was either average or unbelievably awful. Knightriders falls into the latter category. It is pointless, unwatchable, and incredibly, unbearably long. I mean, with most bad movies you can at least sit there and make fun of them to ease your suffering, but Knightriders doesn't let you off that easily. It's not bad in a funny way, like an Ed Wood movie. It's bad in a completely serious and tragic way, like if your dog were to get run over in the street. That's how awful this film is. I love movies and I never thought I'd say this about a film, but this movie may actually be evil. It's like a diseased growth that people would pay a doctor a lot of money to remove. I seriously would rather watch a blank screen for the same length of time. Unless you've been hypnotized into liking George Romero's awful movies (which seems to have happened to a surprising number of people), do whatever you can to avoid this film. It is beyond anything you have ever imagined, and if I could give it less than zero stars, I wouldn't hesitate.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, somewhat disappointing extras
Review: I'll start with a simple admission: I have this movie on VHS and I love it. When I saw that it was coming on DVD along with some extras, I jumped at the chance to buy it.
I've since watched it all the way through twice (with different friends) and I still love it. The only downside is the extras aren't quite what I'd expected. The home movies are cool, but there's no explanation of what you're seeing - no narration and no sound at all. It's still fun to watch them, but it could have been so much better.
I'd still take the DVD over the VHS, but if you already have the VHS, I'm not sure I'd rush out to get the DVD.
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