Reviews

This film is great. All the losers slamming it are just low-key right-wing supporters who are disappointed it didn't end up like they were thinking it would. It was heading the way they wanted and then when it took a turn they got pissed. They can't fathom the situation, so they have to cry foul. It doesn't fit with their perception of how things "really are" so they have to bash it. It's a fictitious story, but they would have you believe that it's too far removed from reality, which is not the case.

The "critics" trying to rip on technicalities like cinematography or camera work or whatever are just reaching here. I'm a video editor. This film is incredibly shot. Almost every scene is a one-shot continuous camera shot and done perfectly. And these people are complaining about it?! They're just reaching for something that isn't there because the actual subject matter makes them uncomfortable. The lighting in every scene is superb, and the backdrop is unwaveringly urban to the point you can taste the concrete. It's near perfect. It is so well done.

Just watch this film and enjoy it for what it is. Don't let these fake and butt-hurt "reviewers" deprive you of an excellent watch. They always feel the need to come on here and try to dissuade you right away because it's not up their alley, but don't miss out on an overall top-notch flick.

OK first off, this movie is awful.

Secondly, I'm a video editor. It's beautifully shot, and the editing is exceptional. Incredible cinematography. Great lighting, shot selection, costume design, etc. The score is also top notch.

But this film's content is atrocious. It's overtly pretentious, trying to play off the audience's ignorance of the source material with great acting and wondrous visuals. I'm an English major with a classical studies minor. I spent an entire semester just learning middle English half-decent enough to be able to read this tale (among others from the time period. Think Canterbury Tales, etc) in it's original language. And then spent half a semester studying it. This movie is so far removed from the original source material it can hardly be called "The Green Knight." Those who argue "it's an adaptation" or some kind of interpretation have no clue what they are talking about.

Even based off the original works, this film has so much egregiously wrong with it. It includes random made-up garbage that doesn't even appear in the original text. It omits keys themes and events that are integral to the overall tale. It's tried to cherry pick a few key ideas and plot elements, added what the screenwriter thinks would be cool to suit their storyline, dressed it up with excellent visuals, and tried to pass it off as some profound work of art. Epic fail in all honesty.

For the previous glowing reviewer who wrote "What the Green Knight lacks in terms of being a commercially appealing film, it makes up for by being cinema. And as cinema, it is profound." That is ONE OF THE STUPIDEST SENTENCES I HAVE EVER READ. Get the hell outta here.

The other previous glowing reviewer who said, "The payoff after all the nuances are pieced together; it's exceptionally grim, it's oddly soothing and it's all around brilliant. I never read the 14th century poem - I'm curious how many of us have - therefore I can't vouch if this interpretation is faithful but I believe director David Lowery hit on something amazing here" what in the blue hell are you talking about?! You've never read it, so you have nothing to base your opinion on. It's not grim (maybe soothing for you in some strange way), and definitely not all around brilliant. What exactly did director David Lowery hit on that was so amazing?!

"General audiences typically don't like to be challenged.." This isn't a challenging plot! Anyone can follow this story and it's attempted thematic ideas. It's just executed so poorly and without conviction!

"Just because you don't understand the narrative doesn't mean the film's objectively bad." Very true. But this film is not difficult to understand. And it is objectively bad!

The overarching themes of "chivalry," and "honour," and "evil temptation," are present and obvious. The original theme of "morality" is there but very ambiguous. The characters are haphazardly thrown into the story with little regard for their significance or any attempt to explain their purposes. They are just randomly inserted into the story and we're left trying to wonder about their true identity/reason for being. Emphasis on Christianity and many Christian values is weak (unlike the original prose) but still a main aspect. But overall this film does nothing to emphasize one or the other, to tie them to any great meaning, and in the end the "journey" is really just a long slog with no redeeming qualities and no satisfactory revelation. Random "moral" ideas, and hey, you figure out what it all means to you because our picture looks visually stunning!

To sum up; awful story, awful execution, boring characters, boring plot line, terrible "interpretation,", terrible film. But hey, it looks really great!

It had moments where it looked like it was going somewhere, but it ultimately went nowhere. What a waste of time. Just absolutely atrocious. Total nonsense! I like horror films if the creepiness factor is there, even if the payoff is minimal, but the end game to this was such a disappointment and an utter waste of time. It barely made sense! Can't believe this film actually got made. Just awful.