Ivanhoe (1982)

Very best movie i ever watch

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I really love this film! It is a very satisfying rendering of the novel. I do enjoy every time to see all these great actors at the peak of their careers. Sam Neill and Olivia Hussey are very good. The acting is sometimes a bit over the top and some details appear to be incorrect or anachronistic. For instance, King Richard returned to England for a very short time and then left for France where he died. No matter. This film is an excellent piece of work and worth seeing if you enjoy period film.

It is hard not to compare modern films with their predecessors . On occasion the modern version is superior , but with this remake , the original is still the one to watch. Which is a pity because the cast of this 1982 effort is stuffed full of wonderful actors, from the main characters down to the smallest part. James Mason, Anthony Andrews, Michael Horden and Sam Neil, John Rhys Davies , Ronald Pickup , Julien Glover and Olivier Hussy are but a few of the accomplished actors who can carry a poor film on their own shoulders, but even together they fail to bring this movie above ' made for TV ' quality. All of the dialogue is spoken in the correct sequence, but there is no coming together of the cast as in Errol Flynns 'Robin Hood ' To be fair , the story line is varied, but the pace of the film is too slow, camera angles straight out of 1950s TV and poor production values . I read that this film is shown in one Nordic country every Christmas Day. The nights must be really long. So much talent produced a watchable but lifeless adventure yarn.

Remake of the 1953 classic movie directed by Richard Thorpe with Robert Taylor , George Sanders , Joan Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor . Good family fare with romance and great action scenes . TV film which proved to be notable success in this lively rendition about chivalry and knighthood in 1194 England. Knights battle each other and woo maidens on this chivalrous epic romance .This splendid version of Sir Walter Scott's classic epic tale starts in 12th century, when Saxon Knight Wilfrid of Ivanhoe (Anthony Andrews , in the classic version Robert Taylor), a suitable noble wielding a shield titled Desdichado, having fought for Richard the Lionhearted( Julian Glover) during the Crusades, goes back to England . Meanwhile the King Richard has been taken prisoner and asks help : 'To the people of England . I am here held captive by Leopold of Austria. My brother, prince John has knowledge of it, yet he has denied my ransom. One hundred and fifty thousand marks of silver. I fear he does conspire with certain Norman knights to seize my throne. People of England, speed my deliverance. Your kingdom is at stake'. In order to regain his freedom , Ivanhoe confronts Prince John (Ronald Pickup in the role of Guy Rolfe) and his lieutenants (in this case Sam Neill , John Rhys-Davies , Stuart Wilson) and he's also drawn to Jewish healer Rebecca (Olivia Hussey in the Elizabeth Taylor's character ), daughter of Isaac of York (James Mason in the role Felix Aylmer). Meantime , Ivanhoe woo maidens, as his childhood sweetheart , Saxon heiress Rowena (Lysette Anthony in the Joan Fontaine's role). Prince John, now John Lackland will stop at nothing to assume the throne , while waiting for King Richard to return from the Cruisades . Ivanhoe join forces with Robin Hood and his Merry man who attack the stronghold.Sir Walter Scott's story of romance and chivalry in Medieval England is faithfully brought to life in this superb Telefilm in which Anthony Edwards stars as Ivanhoe who fights the evil Prince John and his hoodlums in an attempt to restore Richard Lion Heart -the Black Night- to the throne. This enjoyable film displays romance, chivalry, knighthood, daring jousting and lots of action with spectacular castle attack . The jousting , tournaments and other action sequences with a plethora of sword-fights involving maces, axes and chains are magnificently handled . The authentic battle images are among the most spectacular ever shot for television , as the siege of Torquillstone castle is a truly exciting sequence and the ending duel between the dastardly Bois-Guilbert excellently played by Sam Neill and Ivanhoe is impressive . This one proved notable hit as well as the original version . But this is more than just the habitual British TV spectacle , as the novel's issue of anti-semitism is deal with honestly in the person of Rebecca and Isaac Of Yok , very well played by Olivia Hussey and James Mason respectively, who are discriminated against , while unfortunate Rebecca is put on trial and condemned as witch to burning pole ; being suddenly saved by Ivanhoe . The film packs a glamorous and luminous cinematography by John Coquillon and evocative musical score by Ferguson. The picture is excellently handled by Douglas Camfield.The film is partially based on true events. Although Ivanhoe didn't exist, John Lackland was king of England from 1199 to 1216. Few monarchs have been subject to such appalling publicity as John, Although by no means lovable, he was an able administrator and spent more time in England than his predecessor and elder brother Richard I but he was jailed by Leopold of Austria, returning from Crusades. Besides appears Robin Hood, also known Robin O'Locksley and the Earl of Huntingdom, is probably and sadly a creation of romantic imaginations. If Robin Hood did exist, it's almost certain that he was not a Saxon , though his enemies may well have been the Norman sheriff of Nottinghan and Prince and later king John Lackland.

As a classic storytale it has it all. A great plot, characters you fall in love with, evil bad guys etc But the film has aged well as a drama also, I reckon now way later... The cast is excellent. Top quality actors all over the place. And Olivia Hussey in this role, breaks my heart every time. I'd say this is one of those classic films that you can watch as a kid, with your parents and their parents and you will all enjoy it (for the same or different reasons) It is a crying shame if it's not available on DVD. My VHS copy is falling apart, but I'm lucky since Swedish National Television airs Ivanhoe every Christmas....