In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2008)

In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2008)

2008 PG-13 127 Minutes

Adventure | Fantasy | Action | Drama

A man named Farmer sets out to rescue his kidnapped wife and avenge the death of his son -- two acts committed by the Krugs, a race of animal-warriors who are controlled by the evil Gallian.

Overall Rating

5 / 10
Verdict: So-So

User Review

  • In The Name Of The King is as "epic" as watching a blind amateur role-playing battle. Sixty million dollars!? You give a sizeable budget like that to Uwe Boll? A director infamous worldwide for producing some of the worst films ever made? Unsurprisingly, this film is awful. Although, considering it is my first Boll experience, I was expecting much worse. A nearby village is attacked by Krugs where a farmer mounts a rescue mission to save the captured villagers and gain vengeance for the death of his son. Swords, magic, large scale battles, sorcerers, woodland women, ninjas, a CGI boomerang and a myriad of famous actors destroying their careers. Yes, you guessed it. It is a discounted version of 'Lord of the Rings' except it's an adaptation of a video game that hardly anyone played. Aside from Statham's standard stuntwork and Lillard's enjoyably campy performance, there is nothing to enjoy here. Everything about this production looks cheap. Authenticity ventured across the land, into another kingdom called "Middle Earth". All that remains is laziness. The houses look like plastic. The Krugs clearly resemble extras wearing 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' costumes. Perlman is using hair gel in a middle aged kingdom. The protagonist is a farmer called Farmer. "He's taken two legions out of twelve!", "how many are left?", "...two thirds!". Boll loves filming a one-dimensional make out session. Liotta and Reynolds are unfathomably terrible, as two kings fighting for...something...I guess power? Look, the story was so basic that I simply switched my brain off and admired the passion that Boll attempted to inject. I mean, he tried bless him. But this isn't an eating competition where you get a pat on the back for giving it a good go. This. Is. Film critiquing! You don't get points for trying. He failed, miserably. After the final showdown, which has more swirling books than a library in a storm, the film ends. Done. Finished. No more. Two hours blurred into one gigantic mess. This is easily one of the worst video game adaptations and fantasy epics ever conceived by an individual who believes he makes good films.