Watch Knightriders [with Commentary]

Knightriders is an American film directed by George A. Romero, released in 1981. The movie follows the lives of a travelling group of motorcycle enthusiasts who play knights in jousting events across the country. The main character is Billy (played by Ed Harris), who is the leader of the group and the embodiment of King Arthur. His knights, including Merlin (played by Brother Blue), Sir Alan (Tom Savini), Morgan (Amanda Davies), and many others, follow him in their quest of following a code of honor and chivalry that reflects that of medieval knights’.

The film begins with a classic re-enactment of the medieval times. The camera then picks up amidst the modern day setting of the “knights” (Billy and his riders) taking a break from their tour, enjoying a campfire, and drinking. Despite the modern setting, Billy insists on continuing with the Arthurian values, which they call “The Code of the Road”. The Code of the Road is an oath that the Knights take and assures that they will provide food, shelter, and protection to one another.

One of the interesting factors of the film is how the riders support themselves, which is through their performances where they re-enact jousting tournaments of medieval times. These jousts are conducted without horses and are performed on motorcycles, which are dressed up with custom-made armor.

During one of their tournaments, a struggling young woman named Julie (Patricia Tallman) asks Billy to join the troupe. Billy, being the knight he is, accepts her request, and she quickly becomes an important and well-respected member of the group. Along with her, other characters come into the group throughout the film, which all brings about even more tension to an already long journey.

Throughout the movie, the characters are faced with their internal conflicts, including the struggle between popularity and the desire to stick to what they believe. Nevertheless, the bonds of their brotherhood and their sense of chivalry keep them intact while they continue their performances.

The film isn’t just restricted to the jousting events, and there is much more to the story. The characters interact with one another, and there’s drama and suspense throughout the whole film. The story also explores romance between the characters, which adds another layer of complexity to their characters. There’s action, humor, and even tragedy, which keeps the audience's connection to the characters tight.

One of the main themes of Knightriders is the cost of following one’s code of ethics. Despite being a relatively modern film, the movie had some real-world lessons. The social and economic challenges of committing to a code of honor are shown, and the hard truth is revealed to the riders when the outside world judges them harshly.

The soundtrack of the film was composed by Donald Rubenstein and is one of the movie’s highlights, with the music used strategically to create tension and emotion throughout the film. The motorcycle chases, the jousting matches, and the fight scenes are all intensified by the music that reflects the mood of the scene.

It’s a film that encapsulates many different layers of storytelling. It's about the romance between characters, the quest of following a code of honor, and the struggle for identity. Also, Knightriders takes the highly underrated medieval genre and turns it on its head, making it the story even more relevant for the modern-day audience.

Overall, Knightriders is a remarkable film filled with adventure, drama, and a multitude of complex, relatable characters. In its essence, the film is pitch-perfect and hums along at a steady pace with excellent performances and stunning visuals. The storyline connects to various themes and issues, depicted smartly by the film's direction and editing. It’s a testament to the filmmaking skills of George A Romero, who successfully made a film that remains one of his most unique and beloved works. Knightriders is a movie that stayed with its audiences and has continued influencing the masses.

Knightriders [with Commentary] is a 1981 adventure movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 26 minutes.