good back-story, and good acting

Disappointment for a huge fan!

Best movie ever!

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Gory, full blooded picture with full on action scenes( too many). This leads to the film being slightly overlong. An all star cast throws themselves into their roles, though the usually excellent Paul Giamatti as King John drifts occasionally into his natural American accent.

Spoilers ahead... Ironclad was like eating a massive bowl of porridge, boring. Formulaic action with no real character. The weirdest thing was the Princess (or whoever she was) endlessly fawning over the templar guy and sexually harassing him throughout the film while he pulls the "God is watching" face, especially funny when she slowly and creepily shows him her Bush...Who were all the people? Nobody knows or cares. King John was just generic douche bag bad guy and the hero of the film has literally no personality whatsoever. None. Can't even remember his name and I've only just finished watching it.

A king's birthright is met at the hands of the common people; clashes with the church are rampant, but eventually there can only be one victor – the church forces the king to sign a basic charter to grant human rights to all and limit his power. This same king walks into one of his castles (probably privy to what was going on) and demands all of the secrets out for all to hear – four knight templars and a priest are on a journey delivering articles of faith. The king knows better, but that is not why he is here – the local baron was forced into signing a character against his will, so the king has a proper punishment for him – hanging, but not before having the priest's tongue cut off. This one political event stirs the country men and many others into taking over Fort Rochester, which controls the land as far as can be seen. The rest of the movie is less plot, less interrogation and insults and more action and disembowling. Anyone that isn't wise to stay out of the bloodshed will probably lose a limb, or worse have their body split in two or some such fate. Regular removal of appendages is the norm here, and in a strange twist of fate, one guy uses another's severed arm as a weapon.Do I recommend the movie? If you like the Godfather, then yes. Slow paced misery, extreme violence, and a patient overlord that wants nothing more than to ruthlessly defend his turf, are about the only thing this movie has going for it.

Ironclad went largely unnoticed, but it's one of the most exhilarating sword and battle ax genre jaunts since Centurion or 300. (We won't speak of PG-13 balderdash like The Eagle of The Last Legion). It's actually bloodier and more intense than both 300/Centurion, leaving a ghastly trail of severed limbs, screaming combat and grisly carnage in its wake. Paul Giamatti, in full batshit crazy mode, plays the letcherous, sleazy, unendingly corrupt King John, a usurper of the throne, despised by other Lords and Barons, for his nasty ways. He mounts a mercenary army and attempts to take the stronghold of Rochester castle, gaining the power of Baron De Cornhill (Derek Jakobi) and his feisty young bride (Kate Mara makes a stunning medieval princess.) Standing in his way are a ragtag band of swords for hire who believe in an England free from this tyrant, led by strong jawed Thomas Marshal (the very underrated James Purefoy who needs to be in lead roles more often). Also taking up arms with him is Albany (Brian Cox, stellar as ever and quite limber in the stunt work), and Gil Becket (Jason Flemyng). They are all,that stands between King John and Rochester, and they fight tooth, nail and bone to end his brutal, I'll gotten reign. The fight scenes are a crimson blast of swords, knives, axes, a dazzling flurry of eye popping hand to hand carnage that doesn't censor anything, and shows the graphic nature of such a time. It's a vibrant adventure, with small,scale battles where you can keep track of whose who, giving it that personal quality, as well still having the spectacle thunder out of the screen at you in full force. Plus it has one doozy of a villain in Giamatti, this is a guy you love to loathe. Highly recommended.