One of the more obscure corners of English history gets a cheerfully over-the-top treatment in this likeable-yetflawed siege picture.
In the aftermath of Magna Carta, tyrannical King John sneaks to reclaim his lost powers with the aid of some very nasty Danes: only valiant Knight Templar James Purefoy and a motley crew of Brit thesps stand in his way.
Paul Giamatti, of all people, overdoes it as John, but director Jonathan English deserves credit for stretching a clearly limited budget, and for the gusto he gives the spectacularly bloody – if repetitive – fight scenes.
