Arn: The Knight Templar

[Banshee16]

I just saw this movie tonight, after reading the first of the books by Jan Gouillou, and was pretty impressed. Seemed like a fairly strong foreign film, and I happen to love the period of the Crusades with respect to imagery etc.

I'm a little confused though. I've read that there are actually two movies, but it almost looks from trailers like they overlap, so it doesn't look like a straight sequel.

Anyone have an idea what the deal is?

Banshee

 

[jonesy]

There are three books. The first movie is the first two books. The second is the third. Loosely.

The second movie happens around the end parts of the first, so it kind of is a straight sequel. But it's better than the first, so it's worth seeing if you liked the first.

Edit: I think they did it like that so that if there hadn't been a sequel the story would still have been finished.

 

[Banshee16]

The movie lacked the gravitas of a Ridley Scott production, but I think they did a pretty good job with it. And I liked how the Templar were depicted less as villains or guardians of the grail, but more as I've read about them in history books.

Unfortunately, I guess I've kind of spoiled the final two books of the series, but I'll still read them. The first was an enjoyable read. Unfortunately, I'm not like my old linguistics prof....I can't speak and read 12 languages.....so I have to wait for Book #3 in English, as I think only the first two have been translated so far.

Banshee

 

[jonesy]

...so I have to wait for Book #3 in English, as I think only the first two have been translated so far.

I think that's true, yes.

I just noticed there's a fourth one:
The Heritage of Arn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Blackrat]

Might be hard to find out there in the wide world (even harder to find translation ) but there was a documentary by Jan Gouillou himself about the crusades and the historical basis of Arn. It was better than the movies imo Really good and informative to watch.

 

[Banshee16]

You don't happen to have a link for it, do you?

Banshee

 

[Blackrat]

Nope. The name of the documentary series in swedish was "Arns rike". Made in 2004 and it was 5 episodes. I have no idea if anyone even translated it to english but if you have time and bothering to look it up, that info should help.

Well, there's imdb link. Can't hurt at least http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399951/