Justin and the Knights of Valour Review
Reviewed by David Savage
Starring (Voices): Freddie Highmore, Antonio Banderas, Saoirse Ronan, David Walliams
Directed by: Manuel Sicilia
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 96 Minutes
Format: DVD, Blu-ray
Release Date: 3 February 2014
Justin and Knights of Valour is an animated adventure with an all-star cast on a boy’s journey from boyhood to manhood and wanting to choose his own path in life.
Justin (Freddie Highmore) lives in a Kingdom where Knights have been outlawed and replaced by Justice Officers. He lives with his father (Alfred Molina), the most important lawyer in the land, who wants him to follow in his footsteps and go to law school. Justin, however, wants to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, the great Sir Roland, and become one of the legendary Knights of Valour.
After speaking if over with his grandmother (Julie Walters) he makes his decision, while he doesn’t want to upset his father he has to do what he believes is the right thing for him to do and sets of to become a Knight. His first quest is to find his grandfather’s sword and find someone to train him.
On his quest he picks up two sidekicks – Talia (Saoirse Ronan), a feisty barmaid/waitress and Melquiades (David Walliams), a quirky wizard with a split personality. He is trained by Blucher (James Cosmo) and soon has to use his new found skills to rescue his sweetheart, Lara (Tamsin Egerton) who doesn’t feel the same about him, from Sir Clorex (Antonio Banderas) who has kidnapped her for ransom (after all her father did invent money!). He also comes face to face with the man who killed his grandfather, Heraclio (Mark Strong), who is trying to overthrow the Queen(Olivia Williams).
Overall, this is a great family adventure with excellent characters about a boy becoming a man, following his dreams and making some new friends along the way. While maybe not the funniest of films it is very enjoyable.
A very enjoyable family adventure and definitely worth watching.
Rating: 4.5/5
Available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray from Amazon here.
