6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Knights Templar were the most powerful, wealthy and mysterious military order of the Middle Ages, entrusted with protecting Christianity’s most prized relic—the Holy Grail—and harboring secrets capable of great destruction. KNIGHTFALL goes deep into the clandestine world of this legendary brotherhood of warrior monks. From their battles in the Holy Land, to their complex relationship with the King of France, to the betrayal that would ultimately lead to their tragic dissolution, the story of the Knights Templar has never been fully told until now.
Starring: Tom Cullen, Padraic Delaney, Simon Merrells, Olivia Ross, Julian OvendenHistory | 100% |
Period | Insignificant |
Epic | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Part of my misspent youth was wiled away dropping down various rabbit holes of research regarding several so-called occult societies through the centuries, many of which kind of curiously converged around the Knights Templar, repeatedly putting this long ago Catholic military order on my radar. That may be one reason why I was almost magnetically drawn to Dan Brown’s original novel of The Da Vinci Code, which of course famously featured Brown’s takes on not just the Knights Templar, but his own rather fanciful interpretation of the Holy Grail. (I got the book early enough that there was still a toll free number printed on the inside flap of the dust jacket that you got to call as “Robert Langdon” to start your investigation. If I recall correctly, you were given a Swiss bank account number that somehow played into the story at some point.) Other Templar related books have filled my shelves through the years, including the interesting if debatably accurate works of Christopher Knight, like The Second Messiah, which argues that the Shroud of Turin actually depicts the Templars’ martyred last Grand Master Jacques de Molay, not Jesus of Nazareth. Knightfall, which may or may not have been renewed for a second season (the all knowing internets are a bit vague, with only one site reporting a renewal that I could find), is both resolutely literal and hilariously melodramatic in its take on the Knights Templar and their most sacred relic, the Holy Grail, which is indeed a physical chalice in this version, not some mystical energy source or even a bloodline. I kind of liked Knightfall in the same may I might ironically appreciate some campy old historical epic, but as history Knightfall is at least occasionally laughable and as drama it’s overheated to an almost ridiculous degree.
Knightfall: Season One is presented on Blu-ray by a coalition including Lionsgate Films, History and A & E Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Shot overseas in Croatia, this presentation can look fairly soft quite a bit of the time courtesy of some decent if not overly convincing CGI, but when actual human performers are in the frame and close-ups are employed, fine detail levels are typically quite commendable. I'm assuming this was digitally captured, but it looks like the imagery has been tweaked with digital grain, giving a slightly pockmarked appearance at times. The palette often looks intentionally subdued, not exactly at desaturated levels, but kind of wan at times. There are some brief flirtations with banding, but no other serious compression issues to report.
I've taken several recent History releases to task for only offering lossy audio, but don't be dismayed by the back cover of this release, which advertises a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, since the discs in this set actually have a rather robust sounding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. There is nicely consistent surround activity throughout all the episodes this season, gained not just through the expected battle scenes, but also courtesy of a lot of outdoor material, where, for example, marketplaces can teem with sonic activity, or even some more rustic locations where things like galloping horse hooves offer nice panning activity. There's occasional forceful LFE on hand courtesy of explosive fireballs launched from trebuchets. Dialogue is rendered clearly and cleanly on this problem free track.
Don't be fooled by the Menu listing supposedly offering Extras on each disc in this two disc. The "supplements" turn out to be trailers for other Lionsgate releases and bookmarks.
If you're in the mood for something kind of campy, with a lot of heaving bosoms on the part of the women and well defined pecs on the part of the (frequently shirtless) men, Knightfall may well be your cup (and/or Grail) of tea. The history here only fitfully aligns with what actually happened, and so those with knowledge of the Templars may be prone to laughter at various junctures in this overheated tale, but as soap opera, Knightfall suffices fairly well. Technical merits (especially audio) are fine for those considering a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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2005
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2004
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1956
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