Solomon Kane (2012)
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 43
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 15
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 6
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 17,851
My Rating
Movie Info
Captain Solomon Kane is a brutally efficient 16th Century killing machine. Armed with his signature pistols, cutlass and rapier, he and his men unleash their bloodlust as they fight for England in war after war on all continents. As the story opens, Kane and his band of pillagers are carving a bloody path through hordes of defenders in an exotic city in northern Africa. But, when Kane decides to attack a mysterious nearby castle to plunder its rumored riches, his mission takes a fateful turn.
Sep 28, 2012 Limited
Radius-TWC
- Official Site
Watch It Now
Cast
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James Purefoy
Solomon Kane -
Max von Sydow
Josiah Kane -
Pete Postlethwaite
William Crowthorn -
Rachel Hurd-Wood
Meredith, Meredith Crow... -
MacKenzie Crook
Michael -
Philip Winchester
Telford -
Jason Flemyng
Malachi -
Alice Krige
Katherine, Katherine Cr... -
Patrick Hurd-Wood
Samuel, Samuel Crowthor... -
Mark O'Neal
Kane's Soldier 1 -
Robert Orr
Kane's Soldier 2 -
Richard Ryan
Kane's Soldier 3 -
Frantisek Deak
Cowering Guard -
Christian Dunckley Clark
Lieutenant Malthus -
Ian Whyte
Devil's Reaper -
Thomas McEnchroe
Young Monk -
Andrew Whitlaw
Older Monk -
Robert Russell
Abbot -
James Babson
Skinhead -
Marek Vasut
Tattoo -
Geoff Bell
Beard -
Lucas Stone
Young Solomon -
Samuel Roukin
Marcus Kane/Overlord -
Errol Anthony Wilks
Edward Crowthorn -
Isabel Bassett
The Witch -
Jeff Smith
Raider Captain -
Matthew Stirling
Eye Patch -
Curtis Matthew
Old Man -
Laura Baranik
Prisoner -
Andrea Miltnerová
Old Woman Captive -
Ryan James
Raider -
Mark Franklin Henson
Landlord -
Stewart Moore
Garrick -
Madaleine Bassett
Young Sarah -
Klára Low
Onlooker -
Todd Kramer
Raider -
Todd Benson
Raider -
Mike McGuffie
Another Raider -
Philip Waley
Drunk -
Gordon Truefitt
Stable Master -
David Listvan
Gilligan -
Jiri Kraus
Smith -
Tomas Tobola
Hawkstone -
Beryll Nesbitt
Old Crone -
Ben Steel
Fletcher -
Matthew Blood-Smyth
Merton -
Rory McCann
McNess -
Amy Huck
Prisoner
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Solomon Kane Trailer & Photos
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (15)
Few characters have much to do but grunt and scream and bleed.
Been there, done that.
"Solomon Kane" succeeds by embracing its identity as a straightforward genre exercise, complete with bone-crunching and blood-spurting action. By not aiming for more, it hits its target.
Who knew there were skinhead and zombie equivalents in late-Elizabethan England?
It's hardly original (and Max von Sydow is wasted in brief scenes as Kane's father), but "Solomon Kane" is worthy of big-screen appreciation.
Mr. Basset is too enamored of the usual action film clichés ... But he has a graphic visual style that suits the simplistic material and he keeps you watching even as the wet, sucking sounds of skewered flesh grows tedious.
It's not everyone's cup of bloody tea, but an unapologetic genre treat for those willing to dive in.
Formulaic, but it settles down into a fine if square-jawed groove, delivering rousing adventure of a sort which should generally please fans of throwback, morally black-and-white entertainment.
Director Michael J. Bassett seems to know how to correctly handle the material, giving it a lightness of touch but also enough bloody and shocking spectacle to stir up viewers.
Writer/director Michael J. Bassett stages the carnage under so much rain-soaked filth, you can almost smell the stench. It's a good stench.
Uneven and far less deep that it believes itself to be, Solomon Kane is nevertheless a solid B-movie diversion that excels when sticking to its pulpy, action-fantasy roots.
The script by director Michael J. Bassett wallows in formula and takes itself too seriously.
If some of the special effects aren't so special and the theology is bit foggy, director Bassett knows that there is almost nothing more inherently scary than a dark forest and leading man Purefoy brings conviction to Kane.
Bassett gives us plenty of reasons to respect his tale, then refuses to break that contract with cheap tricks or shoddy delivery.
The fight choreography has a gracefulness bordering on elegance, and so it's a shame that these standalone thrills aren't better integrated into the film as a fully formed narrative whole.
Lacking a charismatic lead or villain, struggling with its big themes, it's not surprising this 2009 picture sat on the shelf for so long.
The results suggest a compelling movie could be made from the material, even if it isn't this one.
Audience Reviews for Solomon Kane
Super Reviewer
Director Michael J. Bassett has only two other movies in his filmography (the modest but excellent war horror film Deathwatch; and Wilderness, which I have not seen), and the idea of putting him in front of an ambitious multi-national co-production may sounded risky, but the truth is that he made a very solid work in Solomon Kane.As for the screenplay (which was written also by Bassett), I appreciated the fact that it did not try to "modernize" the story; it would have been easier (and more economic) to move the story to modern times, but if the film had done that, it would have lost the heroic "taste" from the main character, as well as the historical content from Howard's tales, and his almost academic examination of the social contrasts during the puritan period in England.However, I cannot deny that the classic conflict between God and Satan, along with the many Christian references, could be interpreted as simple religious propaganda nowadays.
James Purefoy was excellent in the titular role. Frankly speaking, I had little faith in a lesser-known actor playing a titular role, but James proved everybody wrong. He was like the shining armor for the movie. Others, even though little-known, played their part decently enough to leave any bad impression.
"Solomon Kane" strength is clearly its stylish direction, taut storyline, fine character development, ample sword play, and adequate running time. Kudos to the Director Michael Bassett, who gives the movie a very stylish look. The camera-work, slow-motion sequence, action choreography added great depth to the movie. Giving scope for character development is very important and it was properly showcased.
The movie derides itself a bit in the ending. Like most action movies, the ending is reduced to One-Versus-All fight, giving a little unrealistic feel. Also, the ending came a little too fast. Meaning, the So-Called-Very-Bad-Guys were overpowered quite quickly and easily by the protagonist. Having said that, this movie is far better than most movies in the similar category.
Overall, "Solomon Kane" is a very good movie that will hopefully find a U.S. release date one day.
Super Reviewer
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- Solomon Kane: If I kill you, I am bound for hell. It is a price I shall gladly pay.
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- Solomon Kane: There are many paths to redemption, not all of them peaceful.
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- Solomon Kane: I was never more at home than I was at battle.
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| The mutant love child of Lord of the Rings and Evil Dead | 36 days ago | 0 |
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