The Last King

The dynastic travails of 13th-century Norway provide the backdrop for this rollicking adventure story, evidently targeted at audiences weaned on Game of Thrones. The story of loyal retainers safeguarding the infant heir to the throne is largely a true one, however, and familiar to the film's native Norwegian viewers. Which leaves English-speaking audiences with a bit of catching up to do to sort out the various factional divisions. That said, it's easy enough to follow what's going on, since it involves big men in armour whacking lumps out of each other, much deadly crossbow action and a very real toddler in the thick of the mayhem. Veteran director Nils Gaup made his name with the 11th-century saga Ofelas (aka Pathfinder) and does a sterling job again here as the good guys zoom through the Nordic snowscapes on primitive but effective skis. The resolution is predictable enough, but the movie's solidly satisfying overall, and grizzled Nikolaj Lie Kaas makes a very hissable villain.