This motion picture

© LEGENDARY PICTURES PRODUCTIONS, LLC

Story and Screenplay

© LEGENDARY PICTURES PRODUCTIONS, LLC

Original Score

© 2015 LEGENDARY NOTES (ASCAP)

SEVENTH  SON

www.seventhsonmovie.com 

Review by dalia di giacomo + production notes

Directed by SERGEI BODROV

Screenplay by CHARLES LEAVITT AND STEVEN KNIGHT

Screen Story by MATT GREENBERG

Based on the Book Titled

"The Spook’s Apprentice" by JOSEPH DELANEY

Produced by BASIL IWANYK, THOMAS TULL, LIONEL WIGRAM

Executive Producers JON JASHNI, BRENT O’CONNOR

CAST
Master Gregory                JEFF BRIDGES
Tom Ward                          BEN BARNES
Mother Malkin                  JULIANNE MOORE
Alice                                    ALICIA VIKANDER
Bony Lizzie                        ANTJE TRAUE
Mam Ward                        OLIVIA WILLIAMS
Tusk                                   JOHN DESANTIS
Mr. Bradley                       KIT HARINGTON
Radu                                   DJIMON HOUNSOU
Inquisitor                          GERARD PLUNKETT
Urag                                   JASON SCOTT LEE
Sarikin                               KANDYSE MCCLURE
Strix                                   LUC RODERIQUE
Virahadra                          ZAHF PAROO
Malcolm Ward                  TIMOTHY WEBBER
Cate Ward                         LILAH FITZGERALD
Jack Ward                         MARCEL BRIDGES
Ellie Ward                         LIBBY OSLER
Simon Ward                      PRIMO ALLON
Little Girl                          TAYA CLYNE
Priest’s Wife                     ISABELLE LANDRY

When you find the dark...

I enjoyed this movie a lot.  We could say it's no masterpiece like Van Helsing, it's not even "Hansel and Gretel" but it is that classic kind of movies you will watch often in DVD when you want to spend some lazy and chilling  nights (or days) with atmosphere. The same I would say for "Dracula Untold". It is that kind of movie whose DVD you will surely buy, if you are a fan of the genre. A genre which is very difficult to deal with. It's no arrogant movie, it just offers what it can, and already this approach makes of this movie a nice one. The many special effects are very ok and very involving and Jeff Bridges`performance is cool.     The plot, even if predictable,  is  more solide than the one of  "Season of the Witch" and  elements for all fans of fantasy-films and adventure sagas are profusely submitted. So go for it!

In a forgotten time of enchantments and magic, dwelled by witches, monsters and demon slayers, the last  warrior of the mystical order "Falcon Knights" , Master Gregory (Oscar® winner Jeff Bridges),  looks for and finds an young hero, the last Seventh Son. And this young hero, Tom Ward (Ben Barnes) will find in  Master Gregory his teacher, trainer and mentor. Together they will become a dynamic duo of warriors against the supernatural evilness of the dark queen and powerful witch Malkin (Julianne Moore). Once Master Gregor himself was seduced by Melkin and showed her mercy. Now he must pay the price:  this dark secret is set free, strengthened by the rising Blood Moon. The screenplay by Charles Leavitt and Steve Knight and the screen story by Matt Greenberg are based on the book series "The Last Apprentice" by Joseph Delaney. The possibility of a sequel remains open and honestly i really would appreciate a sequel. Legendary Pictures loved the project of this movie, so I hope they will consider the idea of a second part. To film this adventure the  production utilized  locations around Alberta and British Columbia. Finally let's not forget that Russian Sergei Bodrov has directed "Mongol", that i found  visually really stunning.

Bridges says: "Sergei is now one of my favorites. His type of direction, which is very inclusive, encourages you to give all you’ve got. He’s not afraid to change things at the last minute. He’s assembled these artists, these magicians, together and he trusts them. He creates the space for all of this to happen. It’s almost just as important what you don’t say as what you do say. Sergei has a very light touch with his direction, and he was wonderful to work with."

Producer Basil Iwanyk says "Knights do not use magic; they use science. Master Gregory has a big library of books, filled with knowledge from the past, and each knight writes his own books to pass on to the next generation of knights. They
use natural weapons: rowan wood, silver, salts and iron…fighting dark magic with knowledge. That idea dovetailed into the movie because we realized that we wanted it to feel as real as possible.” Iwanyk  shares: "Historically, there was a lot of mistrust of witches and thousands of people were killed or tortured because they were suspected of witchcraft. But witches initially weren’t evil. It’s just that mankind usually destroys anything or anyone they don’t understand. Now the witches are fighting back. Their leader and strongest witch, Mother Malkin, has escaped prison, there’s only one Falcon Knight left, Gregory, and soon there will be a blood-red moon, the most powerful time for witchcraft. Malkin realizes this is the perfect opportunity to reclaim their world. Witches have never been stronger."

Ah just a curiosity that can explain better the title of the movie: Falcon Knights  were all seventh sons of seventh sons... (just wait ...Iron Maiden mybe too???)

8/10

Review by dalia di giacomo

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