Harockerce What a beautiful movie!

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

WakenPayne This is a movie my brother likes. I decided to sit down and watch this knowing full well of it's reputation here on IMDb. I have absolutely no idea of the Czech legend it was based on so I am not going to bring that up as a complaint.The plot is that a king dies and one of his three daughters ends up being queen. This one can also see the future (Why is this never explained?). She whores herself (There really is no better word for it) at a peasant who saved her life and gets him to become king once a war starts. Completely forgetting about the war (??????????????) the king starts ruling the country with an iron fist (Which when we see the only settings being caves, forests and peasant houses - yes even the castle looks exactly the same as a farm).So the plot is pretty disjointed (but it's not like Monster A-Go Go where you ask yourself if there was a plot to begin with) to the extent that I didn't really know what these people were doing or what they were aiming for. The King's goal (See! I don't even remember his name!) seems clear enough, grow as a country and crush his opposition. That was all I got for the movie in terms of goals.The next point. What were the character's names? I know Libuse but... That's all. I didn't know what any other person's name was. The 2 minute exposition at the beginning might have said them but of all the things we don't have to rely on THAT.Another thing the villain of this piece has to be one of the weakest villains in cinema. I mean, worse than Plan 9 From Outer Space. I know I can't take that back but it's true the villain in Plan 9 From Outer Space was stronger.Now onto the positives. The Acting was decent from some people, even if they are also forgettable. The Cinematography was not bad (even if they have about 4 locations). There was a small hint that they could have been trying something with the premise.So if you want to sit down and watch a historical drama with some kind of love relationship... watch the three hour cut of Arn instead. That had a plot, character development, DEVELOPMENT, good focus and when they changed it, they did it right. Go watch that instead.

Morbius Fitzgerald Okay, I did research on the legend this film was based on before I wrote this review up. Can I say, if you want an accurate story to the legend, you will be disappointed. If, however, you just want a fantasy/period piece, I heavily recommend it.I think its time to tell you why I like it. I absolutely adore the cinematography. The shot compositions were near reminiscent of Werner Herzog. I am in no way comparing because Herzog will come out on top of this argument but still, I can certainly think of worse shot composition.I also think that the two leads (Libuse and Premysl) did a great job with their parts. At first I genuinely thought this would be some sort of Arn ripoff via including a relationship early on in the piece. I have read the Wikipedia article on the Libuse legend (I know, inaccurate) and she didn't know him until she sent the horse out, I do think this was for the better because it kind of explains why he becomes a "harsh king".There are a few things that I would call "wrong with this film", the most important one is sound. I have chastised movies for f*cking this up but thankfully for this film, I'm willing to forgive. The sound at a couple of times is out of synch and often soundtrack pieces just end out of nowhere. This is a major reason why its not higher up in terms of a rating.The ending has had a lot of criticism but I do feel it suits because it is reminiscent of what really happened among those times. I also feel as though the ending in itself was a harsh one to give the audience...and I actually love that.Overall, this is low budget, the director has no idea how to direct an action sequence and make it interesting or even believable for that matter, however if you are willing to forgive a few minor errors and just enjoy this film, you will.

eygam I am writing this especially as the movie has mostly positive reviews in here and I'd like to put some counterpart to them. To make things clear, I hated the movie. Well, "hate" might be too a strong word. It is so ridiculous you can't really hate it. If I overlook the fact that it is based on Czech mythology, it is a really bad movie. The idea is OK - people should take care of nature and try to live in harmony with it. The whole thing with women being one with natural order and men being mean, arrogant machos is rather far- fetched...but OK, the director has his ideas and I'm not taking them from him. But so many other thing drag it down. Props are...mostly not there. The story barely makes sense. Actors are mostly Czech and their English sounds verrry bad. (By the way, the two actors from Libuse's entourage are known for having lived in English-speaking countries before the Velvet Revolution, so one would expect them to sound at least a little native. Well, one would be wrong.) The dialogues are ridiculous and acting beyond anything describable in human language. And I could go on. The problem is, I cannot overlook the fact that this piece of...art...is based upon Czech mythology. I don't know what people imagine when they read "based upon". Yes, the movie has some common points with the Czech stories. Like names of the characters. And some parts of plot-lines. I just don't understand why the creators did't take parts of the Czech myths they liked and didn't use them without ever mentioning the source. Well, I do. No one would care that way. This gives the movie mythological flavour and somewhat justifies how awfully bad it is. Why is Vlasta lesbian? Or transgender or whatever. Libuse never tricks her men like she does in the movie, when she purposefully sends them to Premysl (she's a seer so she doesn't need to...), it actually turns her into some sex-driven, crazy puppet-master. Libuse should be dead when the war between men and women starts (the point of this story is completely different). And nor she nor any of her sisters is supposed to be a FAIRY. I mean what the hell? I don't want to seem like I am writing this out of spite. But I really believe this movie is an insult of storytelling, the art of cinema and anyone acquainted with the original mythology...actually, maybe of the whole Czech nation.

iogeir I saw this film at the Estepona Fantastic Film Festival where it won an award. It is a pleasantly poetic and low key indie drama set in the dark ages which is very unusual for that kind of genre. It's like Jim Jarmusch or David Lynch directing a historic film. The film feels very real but is also stylized and has a lot of contemporary themes and elements. There is a lesbian love story in it as well as ideas about the destruction of nature and the end of the old Pagan religions who were one with nature. The camera work and the music is extremely beautiful. The acting is good, mostly from the female cast who clearly own the movie. Lea Mornar as the lesbian warrior girl steals the show but the lead, Winter Ave Zoli is very good as well. If you have an opportunity watch this film, it's edgy and very different than any film I know about the dark ages.