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MPAA (R) CNS/USCCB () RogerEbert.com (1 1/2 stars), AVClub (D+), Fr Dennis (2 1/2 stars)
IMDb list
CNS/USCCB review
LA Times (K. Walsh) Review
Review of RogerEbert.com (S. Abrams).
AVClub.com (L. Monson) Review
Medieval (orig. Jan Zizka) [2022] [IMDb][CSFD]*(Directed by Peter Jackl [IMDb][CSFD]*, screenplay by Petr Jackl [IMDb][CSFD]* and Petr Jakl, Sr [IMDb][CSFD]*, adapted from the original screenplay by Marek Dobes [IMDb][CSFD]* and Michael Petrus [IMDb][CSFD]* This is a Czech-directed but English-language and largely Hollywood-financed film that attempts to tell the story of Jan Žižka’s “early/formative years”. [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* (Ben Foster acted in the film [IMDb][CSFD]*)
John Zizka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Remarkable (scrappy and highly innovative), probably “Braveheartish,” Czech military commander of the Hussites [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Proto-Protestant sect that came to dominate Bohemia [en-wikip] In the early 1400s, a hundred years before Martin Luther [en-wikip] from neighboring Germany.
Being of Czech origin and knowing a good part of his story, I agree with Zizka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Worthy of a Hollywood film.
The problem with this film is twofold:
First, it’s clear that director/writer/producer Petr Jákl is scrappy [IMDb][CSFD]* Hollywood money and Hollywood actors (Ben Foster and Michael Caine) were also involved in making this film, who really had nowhere near the money to tell Zizka. [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* The story.
The second problem is a consequence of the first: All Petr Jackl [IMDb][CSFD]* Zizka was able to introduce the character [en-wikip][cs-wikip]*(Ben Foster acted in the film [IMDb][CSFD]*) As well as some other historical figures of the time:
Wenceslaus (Václav) IV [en.wikip] [cs.wikip]* (Carel Roden acted in the film [IMDb][CSFD]*) the notoriously weak, morally problematic (drinking but mostly melancholic, ladies) king of Bohemia,
Sigismund [en.wikip] (Matthew Goode starred in the film [IMDb][CSFD]*) of Wenceslaus (Václav) IV [en.wikip] [cs.wikip]* Younger half-brother and at that time King of Hungary and _really_ aspired to the crown of Holy Roman Emperor. [en.wikip] That of Wenceslas (Václav) IV [en.wikip] [cs.wikip]* For receiving, if he could go to Rome, which he never did, and finally
Henry III of Rosenberg [en.wikip][cs.wikip]*(Til Schweiger acted in the film [IMDb][CSFD]*), was a powerful, scheming second-tier (“Cromwellish”) nobleman who, although not a king, had as much power as the weak, often drinking Wenceslaus (Vaclaw) IV. [en.wikip] [cs.wikip]*.
Yes, this cast of characters, their advisors and the leaders of their military guards (one of whom is played by Michael Caine), makes excellent fodder for a truly _historical_ “Game of Thrones” like story of intrigue.
And it is this crucible of intrigue that is the historical Jan Zizka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Emerged.
Yet why Czechs remember Žižka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* To this day a “braveheartish” military leader has not been portrayed in this film.
Instead he is remembered for his leadership of the peasant army, rather than the Hussites [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Warriors rose up after the burning alive of the proto-Protestant reformer John Huss. [en-wikip] [cs-wikip]* At the Council of Constance [en.wikip][cs.wikip]* By Sigismund [en.wikip] About 10-20 years after this film (by then he was the Holy Roman Emperor he always wanted to be).
That army led by Žižka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Repeatedly defeated and humiliated Sigismund’s “crusading armies”. [en.wikip] Bohemia attacked from all sides.
Note that the closing credits of this film are Zizka [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* It is remembered even today that “a battle was never lost” during that remarkable time.
Writer, director and producer Peter Jackl is completely predictable [IMDb][CSFD]* Hopes the current film will generate enough appetite to secure the required funding (perhaps 10-20x what they were able to secure for this). [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* The story is good. (Honestly, the story needs a movie with LOTR sized battle scenes to do it justice…).
I wish him all the best.
Unfortunately the _present_ movie still doesn’t tell _that_ more grandiose story … just “the story of a man who came later to do great (and sometimes terrible) things. (Repeatedly defeating and humiliating the Emperor Sigismund [en.wikip] Armies, Zizkas [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* Peasant army burned churches and monasteries throughout Bohemia, including the “Na Slupy” monastery. [cs.wikip]* (belonging to my religious order, the Servites) under the castle of Vyzehrad [en.wikip] [cs.wikip]* On the southern outskirts of Prague
Žižka’s chapters [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* The story, actually, wait for another film.
So 2 1/2 stars for now.
Addition:
Or if you want to get a weird understanding of who Zizka is [en-wikip][cs-wikip] and the Hussites [en-wikip][cs-wikip]* If so, try this _adorable_ “Hussites vs. Crusaders” game [Android Ver] [Apple Ver].
* Use the translate option in your browser to read these (Czech) web pages.
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