In this sequel to the Evil Dead films, a discount-store employee (”Name’s Ash. Housewares.”) is time-warped to a medieval castle beset by monstrous forces. Initially mistaken for an enemy, he is soon revealed as the prophecised savior who can quest for the Necronomicon, a book which can dispel the evil. Unfortunately, he screws up the magic words while collecting the tome, and releases an army of skeletons, led by his own Deadite counterpart. What follows is a thrilling, yet tongue-in-cheek battle between Ash’s 20th Century tactics and the minions of darkness. Written by David Thiel {d-thiel@uiuc.edu}

(more…)

The first crusade to free the Holy Land has ended. A mass of weary knights, squires, soldiers of fortune and priests are making their way home across a Europe that has changed forever. George, a handsome English knight, unsettled by the horrendous bloodletting he witnessed in Palestine, desires to hang up his sword and settle down to a quiet, peaceful life. On returning to England, George heads north where he’s heard the land is good and the population sparse and of a kindly King named Edgaar. He finds King Edgaar in a terrible state. His beautiful daughter, Lunna has recently disappeared. In return for a small plot of land, George agrees to search for Princess Lunna. With Edgaar’s faithful servant, Elmendorf, George sets out. George discovers both the princess and the truth behind her strange disappearance. The quest now set before them ends in a love, a lie and a legend that has lasted a thousand years. Written by Schleppy

Set in the 10th Century, a man (Bowen) teams up with the last dragon to remind the people of a long lost code of honor, and inspire them to fight for their freedom from a tyrannical king. Written by Rob Meyer {rob.meyer@csus.edu}

(more…)

The best thing I can say about “Timeline” is that it’s filled with some of the finest male eye candy on screen (only adding Colin Farrell or Ewan McGregor would have topped the team of Gerard Butler and Paul Walker). Now that’s not to put down the acting ability of Butler or even Walker, it just speaks to the truth of the matter: without something pleasant to look at, I would have lost interest in “Timeline” before the end of the first hour. As it was, Butler and Walker provided enough testosterone to at least keep me from completely tuning out of this sadly unfulfilling screen adaptation of Michael Crichton’s bestseller.

(more…)

Arthur (aka Wart) is a young boy who aspires to be a knight’s squire. On a hunting trip he falls in on Merlin, a powerful but amnesiac wizard who has plans for Wart beyond mere squiredom. He starts by trying to give Wart an education (whatever that is), believing that once one has an education, one can go anywhere. Needless to say, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Written by Tim Pickett {quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au}

(more…)

Based somewhat more authentically on the Grimm Brothers’ story of a young woman who is unliked by her stepmother, the film includes the talking mirror, a poisoned apple, and some ruffian gold (not diamond) miners (and they aren’t dwarfs or cute). It takes place at the time of the Crusades, and depicts the attitudes of the wealthy and the peasant classes toward one another. Written by BOB STEBBINS {stebinsbob@aol.com}

Tirante the knight is as committed to fighting the Turks in Constantinople as he is to relieving Carmesina, the heiress to the Byzantine Empire, of her virginity.

Retelling of the Robin Hood legend with animals for the characters. Robin Hood is an outlaw who starts to form a gang in Sherwood Forest to fight the injustices of the Sheriff of Nottingham, who levies unpayable taxes upon the people. Written by Tim Pickett {quetzal@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au}

“Two Knights…Two Horses…Two Pieces of Sharp Lumber…
But, Only One Chick…Do the Math”

Backed by the throbbing sound of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” “A Knight’s Tale” opens by immediately letting you know, in no uncertain terms, that this is no ordinary tale of jousting and medieval times. Mixing classic rock with medieval stylings, “A Knight’s Tale” is a wild ride that never takes itself seriously. From the booming beat of “The Boys are Back in Town” to the mixture of modern-day and medieval dialogue, “A Knight’s Tale” is pure entertainment.

(more…)

An affair between the second in line to Britain’s throne (Franco) and the princess of the feuding Irish (Myles) spells doom for the young lovers. Written by Brian@filmschoolrejects.com

(more…)