Recap: Arn is still stuck in the Holy Land, and his new grand master is not about to release him. At home Cecilia is starting to doubt that Arn will ever return, as news about him is rare. And when news reaches Cecilia that the Templars has been defeated she gives up hope. But Arn has been rescued and sent home by Saladin. But home the situation is deteriorating. Birger Brosa is growing old, and the king Knut is fatally ill. And rival Sverker Karlsson has gained the support of the Danes. Amidst all this Arn dreams only of peace and at last being able to marry Cecilia.
Comments: The sequel, and similar, to Arn – Tempelriddaren (2007). To enjoy and understand this fully, you need to see that one first. Otherwise it is very similar, Arn – Riket vid vägens slut (2008) does show the same ambition, the same epic scenes and battles, and the same style of telling.
What should be noted is that this is not a pure medieval action, nor is the battles in main focus. Instead the love story between Arn and Cecilia is at the center of the story. That means that it changes pace and slows down considerably at times. You can't expect a complete high paced action, you will only get disappointed. Still I think that this sequel is better balanced than the first movie, it does change pace but doesn't get too slow anytime. That is an improvement and I did enjoy the sequel more.
It is no masterpiece though. The scale and ambition is impressive for Scandinavian standards and comparable to fairly big sized budgets on the international scene. But the story is pretty average. It uses the standard turns and developments, and it gets pretty predictable and without much surprises. Actually some scenes are too obviously made up to be dramatic and suspenseful, but are much too predictable to succeed, it almost falls flat.
It does entertain though, but it sure helps to like the genre as I do. Well worth watching after the first.
7/10
Comments: The sequel, and similar, to Arn – Tempelriddaren (2007). To enjoy and understand this fully, you need to see that one first. Otherwise it is very similar, Arn – Riket vid vägens slut (2008) does show the same ambition, the same epic scenes and battles, and the same style of telling.
What should be noted is that this is not a pure medieval action, nor is the battles in main focus. Instead the love story between Arn and Cecilia is at the center of the story. That means that it changes pace and slows down considerably at times. You can't expect a complete high paced action, you will only get disappointed. Still I think that this sequel is better balanced than the first movie, it does change pace but doesn't get too slow anytime. That is an improvement and I did enjoy the sequel more.
It is no masterpiece though. The scale and ambition is impressive for Scandinavian standards and comparable to fairly big sized budgets on the international scene. But the story is pretty average. It uses the standard turns and developments, and it gets pretty predictable and without much surprises. Actually some scenes are too obviously made up to be dramatic and suspenseful, but are much too predictable to succeed, it almost falls flat.
It does entertain though, but it sure helps to like the genre as I do. Well worth watching after the first.
7/10