Customer Reviews

Young Ivanhoe

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"YOUNG IVANHOE" is a pleasantly suprising film. It was never released theatrically, had a low budget, and certainly turned out to be nothing special. However, what makes it such a good movie are the characters, action, romance, and music, which are all surprisingly well-done. But out of all these advantages, none stand out so much as the story. It is extremely complimentary to the original "IVANHOE" in both story and character. This story is very true to historical fact and leads up very nicely to the original novel.
"YOUNG IVANHOE" has a grand cast, but also serves as a delightful origin story. Ivanhoe (Kris Holdenreid) is a young man, somewhat mischevious and impetous, who lives with his father, Cedric (James Bradford). His best friend is the boy that will become Friar Tuck (Matthew Daniels). He falls in love with the beautiful Rowena (Rachel Blanchard), and learns the knightly graces from Pembrooke (Stacy Keach). Rowena has come to England to avenge her father's death at the hands of Count du Bourget (Nick Mancuso). The Count's mistress, Lady Margarite, (Margot Kidder) convinces him to wed Rowena, and then murder her afterwards. Since Rowena is a direct descendant of King Alfred, the Count would gain possession to many Saxon lands. If anybody tries to attack the Count's castle or save Rowena from a most unhappy marriage, the Count would kill Sir Cedric.
Not only are the movie's elements surprisingly well-crafted and not only is the story complimentary to the original novel, but also the acting is very expansive and very good. "YOUNG IVANHOE" features a huge cast. While only Keach and Mancuso give standout performances, they are all obviously very dedicated to the material. However, even with the cast, the most success is found in the story. Even though the screenplay is roughly written, the film itself is sparsely edited, and has a few moments that don't quite ring true, the story stands up effectively to the original novel. Not to mention it is very sentimental, especially with the performances of Blanchard and Holdenreid. King Richard is away fighting the Crusades, Prince John is trying to take over the throne, there is civil unrest between Saxons and Normans, and Ivanhoe doesn't always agree with his father. All these things and more are present in both Ivanhoe stories. Despite the fact that it is a little too similar to the original novel, that does not matter in terms of the cast and crew. At the very least, it shows they respect the original novel.


NO SPECIAL FEATURES



Also Recommended: "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD" (1938), "IVANHOE" (1952), "THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD" (1952), "ROBIN HOOD" (1973), "IVANHOE" (1982)




THIS REVIEW IS DEDICATED TO ANYONE, LIVING OR DEAD, INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF "YOUNG IVANHOE".

This film has many weaknesses, most of them are generally excusable. These include the typically poor and unrealistic 'English' accents displayed by most of the characters, alongside the Saxon Noblemen who sounds exactly like an Irishman, and the other 12th Century Canadian 'English'. The former can at least be commended for trying, the latter apparently feel to need to do so. At least one character, that of Cedric, has a plausuble accent.

The acting, and portrayal of interactions within characters is also poor. There is nothing remotely likeable about Rowena, who is arrogant, bossy, inconstant, and at times times even shrewish. The attempts to make her appear fiesty, independant and spirited fail miserably, and they usually involve her throwing daggers and sharp objects with unnatural accuracy, telling people that have to do as she says (naturally just because she says it), and reckless inveterate stubborn obstinacy, which normally brings danger to herself and others.
Most of her meetings with Ivanhoe begin with insults, critisism or belittling, and end in snogging. Mancuso's villian is implausible, and has to constantly remind the audience of his badness by publicly stating his evil intentions, reminiscing on his part deeds, or displaying unoriginal and predictable 'nasty' behaviour such as pushing people, locking them dungeons or exacting high taxes. His partner is crime is only a little more belivable, perhaps because she mastermind of many nefarious schemes, or simply puts more effort in.

The truly henious crime is not the Murderous intentions of the baddies, but he hopeless ineptitude of thier Thuggish Norman soldier Cronies. The animosity between Norman and Saxon is an Imprtant part of story in the Original Ivanhoe, and is supposed to be just as prominent here. The Normans are supposed to be the Arcgtypal wicked tyrants who oppress the innocent and virtous Saxons by taking thier land alongside an assortment of other stereotypically wicked deeds, like locking them in castles, or suspending them in cages from walls.
It is hard to believe that the Normans in this movie are capable of such deeds however, when most of them are incapable of holding a sword or other weapon, let alone using one. Thier soldiers and gaurds are easily bested and beaten up by unarmed peasants, they cannot keep intruders out thier castles, are more laughable then threatning or menacing. The Mighty Price John, chief of the Tyrants is scared of one Knight, pitted against highly trained, elite Norman warriors.

If the fact of such staggering incompotence, it is difficult to believe that the Normans could win a raffle let alone the Battle of Hastings, and violently subdue the entire population of the Land ther had Conquered, then maintain thier Rule for 100 years. Hence the entire basis of the Plotline, that of a weakened Native Populace struggling to throw of the Yoke of thier Stronger oppressors falls flat. The Saxon 'underdogs are more a Wolf to Chiwawa.

I mainly purchased this film because I had seen Kris Holdenreid in the first series of "The Tudors" and was impressed with his acting. I also saw him in a minor role in "Rowing Trough". This film is a low budget production with a few "names" in it to give it credibility. I was disappointed with the performances of Stacey Keach and Margot Kidder, but Kris Holdenreid was delightful in the role of the young Ivanhoe, bearing in mind it was very early in his career. I would like to see more of his acting now that he has matured. The film could have been much better with a bigger budget. I enjoyed it because of Kris.