The Last Kingdom: sette re devono morire

Films that have grown out of a television series face a number of issues, one of the most challenging of which is finding a story that justifies their existence. It's too easy for these films to be cursed with wafer-thin, overstretched plots. This film faces the opposite problem, presumably because it's adapted from multiple books that would under other circumstances have provided the basis of more than one season of television. There's certainly enough to suggest that possibility here. The show was underrated and deserved a more coherent conclusion; it's perhaps because most of the film's viewers have spent five seasons with these characters and this world that we're willing to forgive a plot-heavy, character-light conclusion. For those of those of us so invested, it's enjoyable and immersive, but we do wish it had been more; like the show, the film's climactic battle is thrillingly intense and coherently staged where it could easily have been bafflingly chaotic. The final pay off works; you just can't help wishing it had been more.

Words cannot express how disappointed I am with this movie that should have been a full season. Everyone involved tried their best, but it is clear that Netflix left them with two hours instead of the necessary 12 to finish the story properly. The relationship between two step brothers eying the throne. How Aethalstan just becomes a tyrant. How his father even died? And the gay advisor? WHY?

It amazes me how deft these corporations are. You have a beloved series and you just let it fall to pieces. I mean look at GOT. They should have fired D&D and gotten new showrunners. In this case it is obvious Netflix just decided on a movie rather than pay the talented creators, actors, writers, and everyoneone else involved, probably to make another horrible anime live action, or the crap witcher prequel.

Should take a note from Vince Gilliam and let it go till he see's it fit to end.

I thank everyone involved for 5 seasons of the best historically based fantasy I've seen.

Destiny is all, and hopefully Netflix will feel that fire one day.

I absolutely enjoyed all 5 seasons therefore for the sake of this story I give it a 7 BUT they made soooo many bad choices. Why first of all must every show these days include lgbtq relationships? This Aethelstan is such a stark contrast to season 5. It's like they go out of the way to include whether it makes sense or not. Is it a rule or something? Second no spoilers but I hate the ending. Be decisive already. 3rd like they need to do a better job tying last episode to this. Also Uhtred made some very stupid choices that are just irritating. I love Uhtred partly because he was smart but the choices he made in this made no sense. Nice twist and turns but still so much less than the series. It didn't flow. All in all it was a disappointment but not a major disappointment. With that said I'd like to see one more for them to just get it right. Maybe with Uhtreds son or something. Look to the series for inspiration. Stay true to that.

A nicely done extention of the series but it did nothing to move the Uhtred story forward.

I realize the final battle historically actually occurred and the participants shown were there (except the fictional ones of course) but was the entire movie necessary.

I feel it was not.

I liked the ending of the series and was happy to imagine what may have happened after it ended.

The Last Kingdom was a fantastic series from Bernard Cornwell's exhaustively researched books and I was happy to rewatch the entire series from start every time a new season was released.

Could you miss seeing this film and still feel the series ended well?

Yes, absolutely.

The Last Kingdom had been a fantastic series - however this film has not been of the same standard.

The story is sketchy, jumping from scene to scene without a constant flow. It seems to me they have tried to fit too much into the time allowed.

Whereas the series had time to build up tension and develop characters, this feels rushed, the direction clumsy and sometimes disjointed.

It's further spoiled by continuous very loud background music which detracts from the story and is actually annoying.

It does have its moments, the last half being better than the first half, but is not as enjoyable as it was, feeling somewhat repetitious.

I had been looking forward to this film but was sadly disappointed.