JUSTIN AND THE KNIGHTS OF VALOUR
Spain, 2013, 90 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: Freddie Highmore, Antonio Banderas, Alfred Molina, Charles Dance, Saoirse Ronan, James Cosmo, Tamsin Egerton, Rupert Everett, Barry Humphries, Mark Strong, David Walliams, Julie Walters, Olivia Williams.
Directed by Manuel Sicilia.
Justin and the Knights of Valour is a Spanish animation film, produced by Antonio Banderas. It has an excellent English voice cast.
Freddie Highmore voices young Justin, who lives in a society where the Knights have been excluded and the police are rigidly law- bound. His father (Alfred Molina) wants him to be a lawyer, but his grandmother (Julie Waters) supports his quest. He is also infatuated by very self-centred young lady.
As he goes on his travels, he stays at an inn when he meets a feisty waitress, Talia (Saoirse Ronan) who helps him in his adventures. He seeks the advice of three wise characters, voiced by Charles Dance, James Cosmo and Barry Humphries. In the background is the rebel who wants to take over the kingdom (Mark Strong) with his exceedingly campy offsider (Rupert Everett). There is also a dim knight who taunts Justin (Banderas himself). The Queen who puts everything right in the kingdom, reintroducing the Knights, is voiced by Olivia Williams.
Very colourful, action and adventure, patches of romance.
1. A family film? The response of children? Boys, girls? Ages? Entertainment for adults?
2. The computerised animation, the artificiality of the characters and their expressions, layouts, costumes and decor?
3. The quality of the voice cast, the British cast?
4. The Spanish production, director, finance, yet more British than Spanish in perspective?
5. Justin, his voice-over, the story of the kingdom, the expelling of the Knights, his grandfather and his fight with Sir Heraclio, his father as the legislator, the queen signing the law, Justin and his admiration for his grandfather, his father wanting him to be a lawyer, his not wanting this?
6. The illustration of the administration of the law, strictness, the interview with the fireman while the house was burning, the taking of the cat, yesterday’s bread for sale – and Justin using the bread to break the lock to free the cat and hitting the official and knocking him out?
7. Justin at home, the strictness of his father, upholding the law, telling his son he wanted him to be a lawyer? The boy and his resistance? Going to his grandmother, his grandfather’s sword? Her urging him to a mission? His decision to go, writing the note for his father? Going to see Lara, her trying on clothes and talking to the dressmaker while Justin thought she was talking to him? His taking her sock as a pledge?
8. The journey, the inn, the innkeeper, his strong men, the fights, Talia and her Irish accent, tough, working in the inn, the response to Justin, urging him to go?
9. The search for a magician, Melquiades, his comic voices, his split personality, the two personalities arguing with each other? His accompanying them, his later spells, for healing, for finding the castle like a water diviner, how humorous?
10. Justin, finding the castle, Legantir, tall and serious, taking just into the castle, meeting Blucher, meeting Braulio, his request, knowing his grandfather’s story, the decision to do training, the exercises, unleashing the dragon on him, the crocodile with the fire, Braulio and his controls, Justin not succeeding? Yet
the three and their liking for Justin?
11. Justin’s return, going to the inn, Talia and the vain knight, his unwanted attentions?
12. Justin returning for Lara’s reception, her entry, vanity, with the vain knight, Justin and Lara and Talia? The conversation, the dancing, the arrival of spirit and his gang, the comedy, the abduction? The stupid knight and his deciding to abduct Lara?
13. The fickle night who killed Justin’s grandfather, Soto as his assistant, going to the prison, freeing the prisoners, getting an army, the threats to the kingdom, his wanting the throne, the eventual confrontation with Justin? The sword fight, his grandfather sword, on the treadmill, the knight falling, Justin surviving?
14. The quest to find Lara, Melquiades and his help? The cowardly vain knight?
15. Justin, his achievement, with Talia, the sword, the Queen and the audience, the restoration of the Knights, the knighting of Justin, his father’s hesitation, signing the legal document?
16. And happy ending for all?
