sean a
Great performance by F Murray Abraham. Great historical drama.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
03/26/23
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Audience Member
This Polish-Italian production fits the recent trend of xenophobic nationalism that permeates mainstream Eastern European cinema and culture. This explains the many 5 star reviews given to this production, blind to the fact that this is a poor production with a poor screenplay and poor acting overlayed with sentimentalist music and unsophisticated storyline. Not to mention historical inaccuracies: 150 (not 300) thousand invaders, and 100 (not 60) thousand European troops. Horrible in all accounts.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
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Audience Member
Complete and absolute garbage. The only people glowing about this movie in these reviews probably spend time on 8Chan. This movie employs every ridiculous racist and prejudiced trope and stereotype in the book. “I will cut off your head with my scimitar!” Aside from how comically ridiculous that sounds, it’s likely that no one in the history of the world ever said something so stupid. This movie is great if you post pictures of 12th Century crusaders and AR-15’s on your social media accounts and reeeeeally hate Muslims. Otherwise, it’s one of the most painfully bad movies you’ll ever waste your time on. Acting: Terrible. Script: Hilariously stupid. Visual effects: A 12 year old on Adobe After Effects. Sum: Garbage.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
08/26/19
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Audience Member
The scenes contained decently accurate depictions of arms and armor. The cgi was clearly present but not terrible. The acting was off and on between different characters. Not amazing but certainly far from terrible.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Two ways to view the world that seem similar at times. Two ways to view the world brought Europe down in flames. The last Islamic invasion of Christian Europe had once again came so close, but yet so far thanks to the will of God. West Asia gave in to Islam as did North Africa, however, though outnumbered 6-1 the Man O' War stood fast and armed only with faith and sword did he repel the darkness. As was shown at the battle of Vienna by the Polish king in Renzo Martinelli's 2012 film Day of the Siege. Based on a true story of Europe's last stand against the Ottoman empire at Vienna, of Jan Sobieski who personally led 50,000 men of the Holy League against the Ottoman's 300,000. People of today should seriously watch this movie, not because it has good graphics or plot, but the context is critical in learning about what's really happening in Europe today and why it's happening. These two views have clashed for thousands of years and that feud didn't just go away overnight.
Beginning after the first siege of Vienna the century before, the film brings viewers through the various conflicts between European Christianity and Turkish Islam which led up to the events of September 11, 1683 and the Battle of Vienna. It follows an Italian Christian monk named Marco d'Aviano (F. Murray Abraham) who believes his mission from God is to unite Europe under the Lord's banner and push back the Ottoman empire. (SPOILER) However, he is conflicted throughout the film by moments like when he stopped a Christian mob that came to kill Abu'l (Yorgo Voyagis) because he was a muslim.
However, his biggest conflicts are with Kara Mustafa (Enrico Lo Verso) whom he knew back when they were young and the kings of the Holy League. With Marco and Kara the two represent throughout the movie the relationship between Christians and Muslims even off the battlefield. Kara believes Allah spared Marco, so that he will witness Europe burn and be conquered by Allah. While, on the other hand, Marco tells Kara that God had Kara spare Marco's life, so that he will save him from damnation. Now, with the kings they were just complaining about who would lead the 50,000 men against the sheer numbers the Ottomans had, and Marco suggested that King Jan III Sobieski (Jerzy Skolimowski) of Poland should. After much bickering among them Sobieski told them what he would do and they eventually gave him command.
The main plot of the movie is Marco d'Aviano travels across Europe attempting to unite them under God and push back the Islamic invasion. First to Vienna to see the duke, and then to France to get their support, and finally to Poland to get them into the fold as well. Meanwhile, Kara Mustafa was preparing to take Vienna (or as they called it the Golden Apple) from Constantinople with the intent to capture Rome and turn St. Peter's Basilica into a mosque. It shows the circumstances of the second siege of Vienna on September 11 and the assault of the Ottoman Turks led by Kara Mustafa against the Habsburg monarchy. Which the assault was eventually halted by King Jan III Sobieski, and curtailed Turkish expansion into European Christendom.
This movie wasn't good in terms of storytelling nor graphics, however, it's meaning heavily holds it up. The title's allusion to the September 11 attacks is intentional. Director Martinelli explained that while that date is associated with the attacks on the United States, few people know that the date also marks the historical events of 1683 when 300,000 soldiers moved from Constantinople to Vienna to end Europe. This is very interesting because another major terrorist attacks happened on September 11 which was Benghazi. This movie puts even more significance to that date.
The main point of this movie, I believe, was to show the significance of Marco d'Aviano and King Jan III Sobieski. To show the conflicts of Christians and Muslims on a social level with Marco and Kara. To show the conflict of Christians and Muslims on a territorial level with Jan and Kara. But, the biggest point of this movie to me was what Kara Mustafa said to his commanders. It was a really quick line, however, it held significant meaning to what's happening in Europe today. He said (paraphrasing here), "Even if we fail here it won't stop us from raising the flag of the prophet over Europe. If we fail more will rise in the coming times and one way or another the Christians of Europe will submit." Remember that was paraphrasing. However, what he said (at least in the movie) perfectly reflects the migrant crisis of Europe in which people believe it to be a "refugee" crisis-insert crazy Christian joke here. What a perfect opportunity for countries like, well Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other Islamic States to take advantage of the West ignorance of the past and carry on the Ottoman's final will. It scary.
All of this aside I highly recommend watching this movie for historical reasons and not entertainment reasons. If you go in watching this for a movie with good graphics and well told story, you're going to be disappointed. But, go in for a movie with a deeper meaning, then you will be enlightened by this film.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/28/23
Full Review
Audience Member
It's about religion. One sided story with terrible dialog and even worse scenes of combat.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
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