Solomon Kane

Director:
Michael J. Bassett
Writer:
Michael J. Bassett
Based on the character created by Robert E. Howard

Starring:
James Purefoy ... Solomon Kane
Pete Postlethwaite ... William Crowthorn
Max von Sydow ... Josiah Kane
Rachel Hurd-Wood ... Meredith Crowthorn
Alice Krige ... Katherine Crowthorn


Solomon Kane, born of wealth and power, is disappointed when his father declares his uncaring bully of an older brother, Marcus, the heir to the family land and fortune. During a fight with his brother Marcus falls from a cliff to his apparent death. Distraught and with no one to turn to Solomon leaves to go out on his own.
He grows up to become a ruthless, murderous pirate. During one of his raids he is confronted by the Devil's reaper and learns that his soul is damned and he literally cheats death.

We meet up with him a year later. Turning his back on his violent ways he has turned to God and has committed himself to a life of peace.
During his travels he is attacked by highwaymen and nearly killed. He is found and befriended by a kind Puritan family who nurse him back to health and take him in.
Trouble finds them all when they are set upon by a hoard of soldiers led by a masked warrior who can force men to obey him simply by touch. These warriors kill the families young boy and his father before Solomon's eyes and kidnaps the daughter. He is forced to take sword in hand again and sets of on a mission of vengeance, and he hopes redemption, to find the girl and return her to her mother.

This mission takes him back to his homeland and reveals a darker truth then he could have ever imagined.



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Why this film has taken 3 years to make to the theaters here in the States is beyond me. Maybe it's too smart for it's own good. It is at the core an action film but it is action that does not come without a reason which makes the pace a little slow in some spots but the pay-off for these lulls is well worth the wait. Maybe it is the subject matter. Maybe sword and sorcery just doesn't sell the tickets. (I personally love the genre so any chance that comes along to see a sword swinging at the head of a sorcerer, I'm all in!) Maybe it is the emphasis on the whole "God" thing. Too much religion against evil or one religion against pagan arts. While I kept waiting for this film to make some statement in this regards it never happened. In the end it doesn't really matter one way or the other who believes in what.

Purefoy plays the tortured, reluctant fighter really well. What has to be done does not come easy to the character, at least not mentally or emotionally, but physically comes with an almost frightening natural smoothness and he portrays this with ease.
It was great to see the late Pete Postlethwaite back on the screen. (He passed away in 2011) A phenomenal actor who can add weight to any role he finds himself in. This one is no different.

The visual effects are stunning! As fast as CGI ages you'd thing that a 3 year old film would already look a little dated in that regard. This one does not. They must have been ahead of their time when producing this one. There are some really impressive monster through mirrors moments that I thought were really awesome!

The movie is finally coming to select US cinemas Sept. 28th. Check your local listing and see if you are one of the lucky ones. (I know Denver is one city and I know we have plenty of readers from that area...)

The effects are incredible, the stunts and fight choreography is top notch... This was a GREAT film!

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"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars"