Foreign films can be hit or miss, more often than not depending on how they translate to the viewing sensibilities of the group watching the film. For example there have been movies that were well made by the French and Italians that were great films but didn't quite transfer to the viewing styles of American audiences. It didn't lessen their qualities it just didn't translate into box office gold.Then there are others that translate well but still don't achieve that pinnacle of success, box office dynamite. The good news is that these films often make their way stateside on disc format. That allows those who enjoy films from other countries the opportunity to see some great movie making going on other than what's made here. THE LAST KING is a solid offering that tells a story, does it well and holds your interest from start to finish.Based on a true story it tells the tale of early Norway, 1206 to be exact, when the king was overthrown. His son, Håkon Håkonsson, is an infant and those who still support their king send away the young child to be raised with the intent of him taking back the crown one day. Two members of the Birkebeiner, an elite skiing soldiers still loyal to the king, take the child away while the Church attempts to find him, kill him and take control of the country.Eventually word leaks out that the child has survived and it becomes the goal of these two men to protect the child at all costs. As various foes are sent to retrieve that child they face off against each threat, making their way to a safe haven. If they fail they not only lose their lives but the future of Norway as well.The film is filled with enough action sequences to hold the interest of the most jaded viewer. These work well since the odds of that "losing something in translation" problem doesn't apply to them. Expert skiing is on view that displays a fantastic set of skills for all of the stuntmen used to make this picture. The cinematography that captures these exciting sequences as well as the gorgeous views of snow covered Norway only add to the pleasure this film brings.While the names of those involved will not be recognizable to US audiences all involved do a great job offering emotions that pour forth from body movement and visual cues that aren't fully brought to life by the dialogue which is subtitled. These characters are true heroes of the highest regard and the actors bring them to life.Certainly not everyone will enjoy the film, especially those who tend to hate anything with sub titles. But for those willing to take a chance you'll find a movie that provides enough court intrigue combined with plenty of action sequences that will keep you watching from start to finish.

(Flash Review)The year is 1206 A. D. in the snowy lands of Norway and there is a hunt for a dead king's infant son. Whether the baby lives or dies determines who will gain the throne of Norway. One group must find the baby and keep it safe while the other group is attempting to hunt him down to spill his blood. There is good character development and gives clear reasons and decisions for the main characters actions. Much of the film is a chase on skis and bobsled which is rather novel and exciting. High quality production value, believable acting and nice cinematography makes for pleasant viewing. Aside from the skiing scenes, the core of the story is fairly typical as well as how the plot points play out yet it was enjoyable nonetheless. Quality entry from Norway.

THE LAST KING is a serviceable action adventure film from Norway with a medieval setting. The feel of it is similar to GAME OF THRONES and VIKINGS, featuring a mix of action scenes and court intrigue, and it's fair to say that the former scenes work much better than the latter. The court intrigue stuff is a bit boring and predictable if I'm honest, but the action on the snowy mountain slopes is good fun.This film has strong production values and excellent cinematography which brings the icy locales to life. The costumes are all fine, and the performances are as authentic as you'd expect from a Norwegian production. I thought that Kristofer Hivju was particularly good but that may just be because I'm a fan of him in GAMES OF THRONES. Thorbjorn Harr, from VIKINGS, also appears. There's also a bad guy who looks like Klaus Kinski and is just as imposing.THE LAST KING makes novel use of skiing as part of the action which makes this feel like a medieval Bond film at times. The action scenes are generally quick and authentic, with only the odd bit of slow motion threatening to spoil things. The best parts of the film are those with the 'two men and a baby' theme. While it's never quite as gripping or as involving as I hoped, this is still a perfectly watchable story.

I just recently watched an adaptation of a Jussi Adler-Olsen novel and some of the actors involved in that are in this one too. Funny to see them in such different roles in short amount of time. But it works and goes to show you that there are good actors all over the world (something that cannot be stressed enough, which is why I personally do watch as many and different movies as possible).But I'm probably preaching to the choir here. It's obvious that you're at least showing some interest already. And if you like movies with Vikings and stories where good and bad collide and all that juicy stuff, with some nice fighting choreography as well, than look no further. You've found what you're looking for. It may seem a bit confused at times, but it does have a clear goal in the end ... and it's really well made