Knightriders [Blu-ray]

Released in 1981, "Knight Riders" is a unique and unconventional movie directed by legendary horror filmmaker George A. Romero. While it is not a horror movie, it shares many of the same themes and motifs that made Romero's horror films so successful.At its core, "Knight Riders" is a modern-day retelling of the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. However, instead of knights on horseback, the knights in this story ride motorcycles and participate in jousting tournaments and other competitions to earn money and prestige.The movie follows the story of Billy (played by Ed Harris), the charismatic leader of the knight riders and the closest thing they have to a king. Billy is a complex and conflicted character, torn between his desire to maintain the purity of the knightly ideals he believes in and his need to make money and keep his followers happy.As the knight riders travel from town to town, they face a variety of challenges and obstacles. They must contend with rival motorcycle gangs, corrupt promoters, and their own personal demons. Along the way, they also encounter a variety of interesting and memorable characters, including a disillusioned former knight who has lost his faith in the ideals of chivalry.While "Knight Riders" is not a horror movie in the traditional sense, it still manages to capture the same sense of social commentary and biting satire that made Romero's horror films so successful. It is a movie about the conflict between the idealistic vision of the world we wish we lived in and the harsh realities of the world we actually inhabit. It is a movie about the struggle to stay true to our principles in the face of adversity and the compromises we make along the way.

I discovered this film during the early days of HBO, when the mix was blockbusters and movies the networks did not want. George A. Romero's 1981 film "Knightriders" falls into the latter category. This is about a group of free spirits who combine a Renaissance Faire with knights in armor jousting on motorcycles between the good knights and the bad knights. It quickly becomes apparent that the personas of the main characters follow those of the legend of Camelot: the King (Ed Harris), Lancelot (Gary Lahti), Merlin (Brother Blue), and Mordred (Tom Savini), along with a Genevieve, Galahad and even a Friar Tuck thrown in for good measure. After all, this is a symbolic retelling of the tale and if you want to take it literally you are going to be left behind in the dust.At the beginning there is a good-natured rivalry between the "good" knights and the "bad" knights. The rules of the kingdom say if Mordred and his black clad gang defeat the King or his champion, there will be a new king. However, there are cracks beginning to show in this idealized world. Crooked sheriffs want a cut of the take, the jousts are starting to get out of hand, crowds are becoming unruly, and then a group of promoters come in and want to take over the group. This exploitational commercialism breaks the group apart until they all see the error of their ways. The game has to be played out by the rules, no matter what the outcome.The heart and soul of this film is Ed Harris as Billy, who takes the fable too seriously. Ultimately this curses his character as much as it ennobles him. Billy's "defeat" is proof of his final victory, that the code he believes in is valid and the world he has created will work, even without him. Unfortunately, Billy can not survive for long in the real world, for he really does see himself as a knight on a white charger and reality does not look kindly on such flights of fancy. The final scene of the film, a series of shots of the characters in the rain, is quite moving.Everybody pretty much agrees the film runs long, which makes it something of a hard sell to newcomers, and if you do not find living out a medieval life while jousting on motorcycles for paying customers particularly romantic then you should probably pass on "Knightriders." Certainly it is a different type of film from the guy who brought you "Night of the Living Dead," but you have to admit both films deal with how people deal with a reality that do not like being forced upon them."Knightriders" is a solid B-Movie, with more heart and soul than you usually find in such things. Even though this is one of his earliest films, Ed Harris provides the dignity that allows the story to be constructed on his character. Not many actors could have pulled this off. The action sequences are pretty creative given the situation, especially is you like choppers. The romantic elements are mere subplots, more echoes of Camelot than anything else. I have a fondness for this film. It is not great, but it is enjoyable and the point it makes is rather worthwhile. How many films today can you say that about?

This is for the SHOUT Blu-ray. Knightriders is George Romero's most personal film, and perhaps his best. A traveling troupe who stage medieval jousts on motorcycles starts to get too much attention and fractures appear between those who are in it as a show and see a bigger opportunity, and those who want to preserve their independence and lifestyle.Those who want a chance at fame are led by Romero make-up wizard Tom Savini (very good as Morgan the Black Knight) and the leader of those who don't want to lose what they've got is Ed Harris (amazing in his first lead role). The tension between the material world and the fight against its corrupting influence is a recurring theme in Romero movies, and at the fore here. Never boring, it is a fascinating look at a small society trying not to lose its soul.The music in Knightriders is one of its best features and fits beautifully. Unfortunately the movie came out the same time as the similarly themed Excalibur, and was buried at the theatres. This is a chance to discover - or rediscover - a gem of a movie.The transfer is good, and much better than the previous DVD release (which was good), but the Blu-ray does highlight some flaws and scratches in the source material at spots. Still a great movie and transfer. Being an older movie the audio is in Mono. Well worth a look if you are unfamiliar with it or with any of Romero's non-zombie works!

A fantastic modern take on medieval knights. A group of men and women bikers live the life of medieval knights to entertain the public, with the twist that it is all done on the back of motorbikes. Yes motorbikes, a nice twist and therfore ust as good for bikers or medieval fans. I first saw this film on VHS years ago, and have looked for it since on DVD without much hope. The film had hbeen withdrawn from the UK at least. Then to my supprise here it is on DVD as originally released and also Blue Ray at the same time. My prayers were answered and I did not have to try and have mine copied to preserve it from degradation on tape. Go on buy it and be amused and entertained.

The BluRay is great. A little blurry at the very beginning, which gave me a moment of worry, but it clears up and is nice and crisp throughout the rest of the movie.Every year on or about my birthday I watch Knightriders. The gag is this: they're a wandering troupe of performers who put on jousts ... atop motorcycle. Except that what's an obvious put-on to the outside world, is (to varying degrees) real to the people living the life ... late in the movie, watching the knights fight, a girl says: "They're crazy." And a scummy agent, watching them fight, grins and says, "Yeah ... but that's what makes them sellable."There's a brilliant bit midway through where King William (played by the best actor of his generation, Ed Harris), sitting by the fire at the side of the road along with his lawyer, with Merlin, and a roustabout named Bagman, talks about his Code: "It's tough to live by the Code. I mean it's real hard to live for something you believe in. People try it and they get tired of it, like they get tired of their diets, or exercise, or their marriage or their kids or their job or themselves, or they get tired of their God ... you can keep the money you make off this sick world, lawyer, I don't want any part of it. Anybody wants to live more for themselves doesn't belong with us. Let 'em go out and buy some pimpy psychiatrist paperback says it's OK, don't ask me to say it's OK, it's not OK!"And Bagman responds. He's just spent the night in jail having his ass whipped by a Bad Cop ... he tells a story about waking up in a jail in Alabama after having his ass kicked years back, and just wanting to die, trying to cut his wrists with a bed spring ... but now: "Well, last night, I got my ass kicked, and I came up laughing. Because now I'm in Camelot. See, the way I see it is this: you got two separate fights: the one for truth and justice and the American way of life and all that, it's gotta take a back seat to the one for staying alive, you gotta stay alive, man, you can have the most beautiful ideals in the whole world, but if you die, your ideals are gonna die with you. The important thing is we gotta stay together, we gotta keep this troup together, and if keeping this troup together means we gotta take some of this promoter's money, I say we take it and get some sleep."And everyone does to go sleep, and King Billy stares into the fire ... and then wakes up Bagman and rants at him: "Listen, I been thinking about what you said, all that stuff you said earlier, I been thinking about it, I been thinking about it real hard ... there's not two different fights. There can't be two different fights. You've got to fight for your ideals and if you die, your ideals don't die. The Code that we're living by is the truth, the truth is our Code. I can't let people walk on that idea, I can't."... and King Billy borrows his lawyer's motorcycle and rides off to go do battle with the Dragon.Knightriders isn't a great movie. In places it isn't even a good movie. It's too long and embarrassingly sincere when Ed Harris and Tom Savini (Mordred, essentially) aren't on screen. But Savini is good and Harris gives one of the great performances in any movie ever -- something comparable to Peter O'Toole's Lawrence. Imperfect it may be, but it's my favorite movie.

This isn't a biker movie - the bikes are horses with engines, guys, so if you're looking for a biker movie, like the last reviewer, you'll be sorely disappointed. The cover looks like they're trying to sell a flick to an audience which won't enjoy it.This is a film which takes dissatisfaction with modern life, pits it against authority, beats it bloody, wrings the tears out of it, makes it stand up again and ultimately turns it into something tragically beautiful. I can't think of a better way to spend my time.

This is a great theme.If you want a high tech special effects film, with actors who look good but can't act, and no real philosophy to it, go for something more up to date.If you want something that really speaks to the heart and to the spirit in man, with one of the single greatest actors of all time (Ed Harris, of "The Abyss" fame), without any fancy trimmings at all in the special effects department, go for this.I loved it.Like Harris's other classic, The Abyss, there is a powerful, positive message, about what is most important in life, shown clearly in this film. If you think that chivalry and knights in shining armour are dead and gone, but wish that they weren't, you'll love this.

Loved this film when i saw it early morning with alex cox hosting.. night of the comet played a week later..may be slow for some, but i lapped up the idea...