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Last Knights
Last Knights
Last Knights
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Last Knights
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKazuaki Kiriya
Written byMichael Konyves
Dove Sussman
Produced byLuci Kim
StarringClive Owen
Cliff Curtis
Aksel Hennie
Peyman Moaadi
Ayelet Zurer
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Ahn Sung-ki
Morgan Freeman
CinematographyAntonio Riestra
Edited byMark Sanger
Music byNicolas Neidhardt
Satnam Ramgotra
Martin Tillman
Production
companies
Grindstone Entertainment Group
Luka Productions
Czech Anglo Productions
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • 3 April 2015 (2015-04-03)
[1]
Running time
115 minutes[2][3]
CountriesUnited Kingdom
South Korea[4]
Czech Republic[5]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$19.2 million[6]
Box office$1.8 million[7]

Last Knights is a 2015 action drama film directed by Kazuaki Kiriya and written by Michael Konyves and Dove Sussman, based loosely on (and Westernizing, for the most part) the Japanese legend of the forty-seven rōnin.[8][9] The film, a joint production between the UK, Czech Republic and South Korea, stars Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman in the lead roles. It centres on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt minister.[10][11][12][13]

The film had its limited release on 3 April 2015, by Lionsgate and was released to video on demand on 30 June 2015.[14] The film was dedicated to the memory of actor Dave Legeno, who died in 2014.

Plot

[edit]

Commander Raiden is surprised when aging nobleman Bartok makes him heir to his kingdom, a vassal to a corrupt empire. When minister Geza Mott beats Bartok for failing to provide an adequate bribe, Bartok retaliates and is put to trial where he denounces the loss of honour in the empire. Raiden is ordered to execute his master Bartok, whose clan is disbanded and estate divided. Geza has his warrior Ito watch Raiden lest he seek revenge.

A year passes and Geza, still fearful of Raiden, demands half his father-in-law Auguste's troops to protect construction of his newly fortified estate, and is promoted to First Councillor to the Emperor. The Emperor chides Geza for his paranoid behavior over Raiden who is now a drunkard. Raiden has sold his sword for drink, his wife has left him, and he is hated by his men for killing Bartok. Geza relaxes his watch on Raiden.

Raiden and the Bartok clan soldiers have sacrificed everything for the illusion of complete defeat, while preparing to avenge Bartok's death. Auguste, an old friend of Bartok, has made a pact to help Raiden in return for freeing his daughter from her abusive marriage to Geza. Raiden and his men infiltrate Geza's estate and face Geza's soldiers.

Raiden kills Ito in a duel; Ito's men surrender to him. Raiden breaks into Geza's bedroom and decapitates him as his men rescue Bartok's daughter. The Emperor's council realises the public view Geza's death as righteous and widely support the Bartok clan. They caution him against the risk of turning the people against the crown. Raiden asks that only he be executed for Geza's death.

The crown publicly acknowledges the righteousness of the Bartok clan, but reminds the crowd that killing a high council member is the same as an attack on the emperor and Raiden will be executed. Raiden charges Lieutenant Cortez to take control of the Bartok clan. In flashback, he apologises to Naomi. Raiden lowers his head with his eyes closed, and as the executioner draws his sword back, Raiden's eyes suddenly open wide as the screen goes to black.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 16% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 3.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "As blandly unimaginative as its title, Last Knights revisits well-worn sword-and-sandal tropes without adding anything new—or interesting—to the genre."[15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 27 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[16]

Manohla Dargis of The New York Times said the film "proves as square and blandly manly as an old Prince Valiant comic strip."[17]

Justin Chang of Variety wrote: "Last Knights is a fairly ludicrous mystery and a so-so action movie, but it's nonetheless been constructed with an earnest attention to detail that shouldn't be taken for granted."[18]

Max Nicholson of IGN awarded it a score of 5.8 out of 10, saying "Last Knights doesn't quite rise to the challenge, despite good leads in Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman."[19]

Tim Grierson of Screen International described the film as a conventional medieval action drama that relies heavily on familiar genre tropes such as themes of honor and revenge. While Clive Owen’s performance as Raiden was praised for its gravity and believability, the film overall was criticized as generic and predictable.[20]

Claudia Puig of USA Today criticized Last Knights as a sluggish and overlong drama that squandered the talents of its strong ensemble cast. She faulted the film for its stilted dialogue, weak pacing, and unconvincing special effects, concluding that it lacked energy or originality.[21]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Last Knights

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Last Knights is a 2015 action drama film directed by , loosely based on the Japanese of the 47 Ronin, centering on a disgraced warrior who leads his band of knights in a quest for vengeance against a tyrannical lord who has executed their honorable master. The film stars as the protagonist Raiden, as the wise lord Bartok, and features supporting roles by , , and . Set in a fictional medieval empire blending Eastern and Western influences, it explores themes of loyalty, honor, and rebellion through intense sword fights and political intrigue. Production on Last Knights began in 2012, with a screenplay by Michael Konyves and Dove Sussman, drawing inspiration from Japanese films and Western epics like The Seven Samurai. Filming took place primarily in the , utilizing practical sets and effects to create its stylized world, and the project faced delays before its completion. Lionsgate distributed the film, which had a in the United States on April 3, 2015, followed by a video-on-demand debut on June 30, 2015, and runs for 115 minutes with an R rating for violence. Critically, Last Knights received mixed reviews, praised for its strong performances—particularly Freeman's gravitas and Owen's stoic intensity—and visually striking action sequences, but criticized for a predictable plot and uneven pacing. It holds a 16% approval rating from critics on based on 31 reviews, contrasted by a more favorable score of 47% as of November 2025, reflecting appreciation for its entertainment value despite narrative familiarity. The film grossed modestly in limited release and found a larger through and streaming platforms like .

Development

Screenplay

The screenplay for Last Knights draws loose inspiration from the Japanese legend of the 47 Ronin, known as Chūshingura, but reimagines the story in a fictional medieval world blending European and Asian cultural elements, avoiding direct replication of historical names, events, or settings. This adaptation shifts the narrative to a hybrid feudal society where themes of honor, loyalty, and revenge take center stage, exploring corruption within a hierarchical power structure. The script emphasizes moral dilemmas faced by warriors bound by duty, including the unjust framing of a noble lord on charges of assault as a pretext for political elimination, and culminates in ritual acts of self-sacrifice akin to seppuku, underscoring the cost of upholding personal and collective honor. Written by Michael Konyves and Dove Sussman, the screenplay entered development around 2012, with commencing that year under director . Konyves, known for his work on films like Barney's Version, and Sussman crafted a focused on the tension between individual vengeance and societal corruption, portraying a lord's downfall through fabricated accusations and the ensuing quest for justice by his retainers. Kiriya, who also served as a , played a key role in refining the screenplay to align with his distinctive visual storytelling style, influenced by his earlier directorial works such as Casshern (2004) and Goemon (2009), which similarly blended historical and fantastical elements with stylized action sequences. His input emphasized thematic depth in scenes of ritualistic honor and , ensuring the script supported elaborate, choreographed visuals that highlight the warriors' disciplined response to betrayal and tyranny.

Pre-production

The project for was publicly announced on November 1, 2012, entering with plans targeting an early start in the . commenced shortly thereafter on November 5, 2012, primarily in European locations including Krivoklát Castle to facilitate the film's expansive action sequences. The production was led by Luka Productions International in association with Union Investment Partners and , marking an international collaboration between the , , and . No official budget confirmation was provided by the producers. Director was chosen for his prior work on visually stylized action films like Casshern (2004) and Goemon (2009), which aligned with the project's emphasis on choreographed combat and aesthetic innovation. Pre-production logistics focused on designing sets for a fictional medieval world that fused European architectural elements, such as Gothic castles, with Asian influences like samurai-inspired motifs and weaponry, creating a distinctive hybrid aesthetic. The overall shoot was planned across Europe to capture this blended environment efficiently. The completed film includes a dedication to the memory of actor Dave Legeno, who portrayed a supporting role and died in July 2014 from heat-related causes during a hiking trip in Death Valley.

Production

Casting

Clive Owen was cast as Raiden, the protagonist warrior, in late 2012 during the early stages of development. joined as Bartok, the honorable lord. The supporting cast featured an international ensemble to reflect the film's multicultural setting, including as Lt. Cortez, as the antagonist Geza Mott, as Naomi, as Maria, as Olaf, Peyman Moaadi as the Emperor, , and Si Yeon Park. No major controversies or recasts were reported.

Filming

Principal photography for Last Knights commenced on November 5, 2012, in the , with the production spanning 50 days primarily in and surrounding areas, including Krivoklát Castle, selected for their medieval-era architecture that aligned with the film's setting. Directed by , the shoot emphasized a stylized visual aesthetic, blending dynamic with practical stunts for the film's sword fights and large-scale battle sequences to enhance authenticity and intensity. Kiriya also served as , focusing on atmospheric lighting and fluid action to capture the epic scope within the constraints of the schedule. The production faced several challenges, including coordinating a multinational crew from the , , the , and the , as well as harsh winter weather conditions in that complicated outdoor shoots. These factors contributed to a demanding on-set environment, with post-shoot editing handled globally to finalize the film. wrapped by early 2013, marking the transition to .

Content

Plot

Last Knights is set in a fictional medieval world that blends Eastern and Western cultural elements, where feudal loyalties and honor codes govern society. The story centers on Raiden, a skilled but disgraced who serves as the loyal to the noble Bartok, a wise and just leader who prioritizes the welfare of his people over personal gain. The inciting incident unfolds when the corrupt minister Geza Mott, driven by and ambition, demands an exorbitant from Bartok as a form of . Bartok's principled refusal leads Geza to frame him for an assault on the , resulting in Bartok's forced ritual suicide to shield his family from further harm. In the aftermath, Raiden is demoted and descends into apparent drunken , while secretly orchestrating a plan for revenge alongside a band of loyal knights who remain bound by their oath of . The narrative builds toward a climactic coordinated on Geza's heavily fortified forces, highlighting the warriors' unyielding commitment to and in the face of overwhelming odds. The resolution achieves the sought-after vengeance, prompting reflections on the enduring values of honor and in a corrupt world.

Cast

The principal cast of Last Knights includes as Raiden, the skilled and disgraced who leads a band of knights in a quest for vengeance and redemption following his lord's execution. Morgan Freeman stars as Bartok, the honorable and wise lord whose refusal to submit to corruption results in his sacrificial death, igniting the central conflict. plays Lieutenant Cortez, a steadfast and close ally to Raiden who supports the against the empire's tyranny. Aksel Hennie portrays Geza Mott, the ruthless and ambitious minister whose sadistic schemes drive the empire's oppression and provoke the knights' uprising. appears as Naomi, Bartok's devoted daughter whose personal stakes add emotional layers to the story of loyalty and loss. Shohreh Aghdashloo is cast as Maria, Bartok's wife, who embodies the familial resilience amid the unfolding political intrigue. Among the supporting roles, Peyman Moaadi plays the Emperor, the distant ruler whose court enables Mott's abuses; as Olaf, a fierce warrior in Raiden's ranks; and notable appearances by as Ito and Si Yeon Park in minor capacities.

Release

Distribution

Last Knights had a limited theatrical release in the United States on April 3, 2015, distributed by Lionsgate. The film was simultaneously made available on starting the same day, followed by its home media release on DVD and Blu-ray on June 30, 2015. Internationally, the film saw staggered releases beginning in early April 2015, including wide distribution in on April 2, limited runs in and various countries such as the on April 17, and , , and on April 9–10. It premiered at the on October 28, 2015, before a theatrical release in on November 14, 2015, with additional rollouts in territories like on July 30, 2015. While specific premieres in were limited, the film had select theatrical engagements in markets including around mid-April 2015. Marketing efforts by Lionsgate focused on highlighting the film's action sequences and star power, with official trailers released in February 2015 that showcased intense sword fights and the performances of and . Posters emphasized the medieval revenge theme, depicting armored warriors in dramatic poses against a dark, epic backdrop, positioning the film as a samurai-inspired tale of honor and vengeance. The distribution faced challenges from a crowded release slate, coinciding with major blockbusters like on the same weekend, contributing to its limited theatrical rollout amid genre saturation in action epics. There was no significant push for awards consideration, with promotion centered on platforms rather than festival circuits.

Box office

earned a worldwide gross of $1,797,955, primarily from international markets. The film had no reported domestic theatrical earnings in the United States, where it received a limited release simultaneous with availability on April 3, 2015, followed by DVD and Blu-ray release on June 30, 2015. Key international contributors included the with $305,184, with $230,073, and with $120,882. With an estimated of $20–40 million, the film incurred a substantial financial loss. Its modest theatrical openings, such as $179,061 in the and $230,073 in , underscored the limited commercial appeal. The underperformance was influenced by poor critical reception, scoring only 16% on , along with a constrained theatrical rollout and simultaneous VOD availability in regions like the , which curtailed potential revenue. In comparison to similar action period films like 47 Ronin (2013), which grossed $151 million worldwide despite its $175 million budget and own disappointing results, Last Knights significantly underperformed.

Reception

Critical response

Last Knights received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, who praised certain technical aspects while lambasting its narrative execution. On , the film holds a 16% approval rating based on 31 reviews, with an average score of 4/10. The site's consensus describes it as "as blandly unimaginative as its title," faulting it for revisiting "well-worn tropes without adding anything new -- or interesting -- to the genre." On , it scores 27 out of 100 from 13 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reception, with no positive reviews, 38% mixed, and 62% negative. Critics highlighted strengths in the film's visual style and action sequences, crediting director Kazuaki Kiriya's production design and . RogerEbert.com's noted "some handsome staging and solid production values," particularly in the fight scenes where and deliver committed performances. IGN's Max Nicholson praised the "scope" of the visuals during action set pieces, describing them as a rare highlight in an otherwise lackluster . Variety's commended the "earnest attention to detail" in its construction, suggesting that despite flaws, the film's craftsmanship warrants some appreciation. However, the predominant criticisms focused on the film's sluggish pacing, derivative storyline, stilted dialogue, and inability to refresh familiar revenge motifs. Lemire called it "thoroughly mediocre" and "dully empty," emphasizing its generic title and execution as symptomatic of broader uninspiredness. Chang labeled it a "fairly ludicrous mystery and a so-so action movie," critiquing its clichéd plotting and lack of innovation. The Hollywood Reporter's Deborah Young described the dramatic and action elements as "remotely compelling," with the nearly two-hour runtime feeling "interminable." Overall, reviewers viewed Last Knights as a missed opportunity in the genre, squandering its talented cast and stylistic ambitions on rote storytelling.

Audience response

Last Knights received a mixed response, reflected in its user ratings across major platforms. On , the film holds a 6.2 out of 10 rating based on 47,256 user votes. reports an audience score of 47% derived from over 2,500 verified ratings. aggregates user scores at 7.1 out of 10 from 94 reviews, with 68% positive feedback. Audiences frequently praised the film's entertaining action sequences, which deliver intense sword fights and battles, alongside its atmospheric world-building that blends medieval European and Eastern influences for an immersive low-fantasy setting. The central theme of loyalty and vengeance has particularly resonated with fans of , as the narrative echoes classic tales like 47 Ronin in a Western adaptation. Owen's performance as the stoic warrior also drew commendations for its intensity and depth. Criticisms from viewers centered on the predictable storyline, which follows familiar tropes without much innovation, and uneven pacing that slows during dialogue-heavy sections. Many noted the underutilization of the cast, especially Morgan Freeman's brief and underdeveloped role as the noble lord. However, the film's availability on video-on-demand platforms was appreciated by some for enabling convenient home viewing. Despite its flaws, has cultivated a minor cult following among genre enthusiasts, who describe it in online discussions as a solid low-fantasy epic with strong visual design. The movie garnered no major awards or nominations. Long-term, it remains accessible on streaming services such as Prime Video and , though it holds limited cultural legacy as an underseen action entry from the .

References

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