Visceral consequences of battle

colour palette and shoots a couple of neat underwater brawls.

But did he really need to use a CGI lion for one particular scene? Yes, really.

His film is also too long. A repetitive middle-third and a few too many conversations about morals and the past hurt the pace and there’s no way Medieval needed to pass the two-hour mark.

Foster is decent as Zizka but lacks the fire and charisma you normally find in historical epics’ lead characters.

Sophie Lowe’s Katherine is passed around so much between the protagonists and antagonists you could make a drinking game out of it, although she does display a modicum of independence as the movie nears its climax.

It was a very easy few days at the office for Michael Caine (Lord Boresh) and all Matthew Goode (King Sigismund) gets to do is pout and pray.

With battles that, while very visceral, are more like small scuffles than Lord of the Rings-style wars and a strange collection of stars far from the peak of their powers, Medieval overstays its welcome long before the final sword is unsheathed.

●Are you a fan of historical epics? If so, what are some of your favourite flicks in the genre?

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Sofia Coppola’s finest flick since Lost in Translation sees her put a fresh spin on Don Siegel’s 1971 drama.

Colin Farrell’s wounded soldier is given refuge during the Civil War at Virginia’s Seminary For Young Ladies and his arrival results in several unsettling consequences.

Farrell does a decent job, but he’s outshone by an excellent female cast, including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning.

It’s hard to know who to root for – and trust – as seemingly innocent nods and glances and conversations develop into something more among a melting pot of sexual tension.