Knightriders Movie Streaming
31 يناير 2010 |
Knightriders Movie Streaming.
Movie Title: Knightriders Knightriders is available for streaming or downloading. |
Back in the 1970’s, George A. Romero went to an event of the Society for Creative Anachronism This is a group of folks who study and recreate the middle ages, including the art of combat. At this particular event, something happened that caused a large faction to split off and form Medieval Studies and Restoration, a splinter group. According to legend, Romero said to himself “I gotta make a movie about this!” He went to the sudio heads, but they did not think such a film would have commercial viability. Then in a fit of pique he said “allright, supposing we have them joust on motorcycles?” and that’s how the movie got made.
The story of this movie is about a travelling renaissance faire that jousts on motorcuycles. There are two factions, one that is doing it for the Arthurian dream of honor and chivalry, and one that is doing it for the action and the money. The group fractures, but the splinter group winds up realizing that they were missing something, and there is a reconcilliation at the end. People who know the real people from the SCA and MSR and the original events can see similarities in some of the characters and situations on screen to the real people and events.
I had known this movie from this perspective for years. Reading the other reviews here, its good to know it can be taken on more levels, even if you don’t know the original story. I find that it can be enjoyed both by people who take it seriously and for camp appeal. There are several story elements that were typical for ’70’s road movies, such as the troubles with the law, the local girl who joins the group to escape her family, and so forth. The action is not the greatest of all swordfighting movies, but is passable. For flat-out motorcycle/automobile thrills, nothing beats “The Road Warrior” but the stunts here are at least well done and convincing. The meaning and spirit behind this film elevate it above an ordinary action film.
I discovered this film during the early days of HBO, when the mix was blockbusters and movies the networks did not want. George A. Romero’s 1981 film “Knightriders” falls into the latter category. This is about a group of free spirits who combine a Renaissance Faire with knights in armor jousting on motorcycles between the good knights and the bad knights. It quickly becomes apparent that the personas of the main characters follow those of the legend of Camelot: the King (Ed Harris), Lancelot (Gary Lahti), Merlin (Brother Blue), and Mordred (Tom Savini), along with a Genevieve, Galahad and even a Friar Tuck thrown in for good measure. After all, this is a symbolic retelling of the tale and if you want to take it literally you are going to be left behind in the dust.
At the beginning there is a good-natured rivalry between the “good” knights and the “bad” knights. The rules of the kingdom say if Mordred and his black clad gang defeat the King or his champion, there will be a new king. However, there are cracks beginning to show in this idealized world. Crooked sheriffs want a cut of the take, the jousts are starting to get out of hand, crowds are becoming unruly, and then a group of promoters come in and want to take over the group. This exploitational commercialism breaks the group apart until they all see the error of their ways. The game has to be played out by the rules, no matter what the outcome.
The heart and soul of this film is Ed Harris as Billy, who takes the fable too seriously. Ultimately this curses his character as much as it ennobles him. Billy’s “defeat” is proof of his final victory, that the code he believes in is valid and the world he has created will work, even without him. Unfortunately, Billy can not survive for long in the real world, for he really does see himself as a knight on a white charger and reality does not look kindly on such flights of fancy. The final scene of the film, a series of shots of the characters in the rain, is quite moving.
Everybody pretty much agrees the film runs long, which makes it something of a hard sell to newcomers, and if you do not find living out a medieval life while jousting on motorcycles for paying customers particularly romantic then you should probably pass on “Knightriders.” Certainly it is a different type of film from the guy who brought you “Night of the Living Dead,” but you have to admit both films deal with how people deal with a reality that do not like being forced upon them.
“Knightriders” is a solid B-Movie, with more heart and soul than you usually find in such things. Even though this is one of his earliest films, Ed Harris provides the dignity that allows the story to be constructed on his character. Not many actors could have pulled this off. The action sequences are pretty creative given the situation, especially is you like choppers. The romantic elements are mere subplots, more echoes of Camelot than anything else. I have a fondness for this film. It is not great, but it is enjoyable and the point it makes is rather worthwhile. How many films today can you say that about?
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