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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 69219
Released: July 11, 2000 |
| Our Price: $19.99 |
| Used Price: $7.43 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
After years of dominating the midnight circuit with the likes of Night of the Living Dead, Martin, and Dawn of the Dead, George A. Romero took a departure from bona fide horror films to make this naturalistic tale of a traveling troupe of motorcycle-riding jousters. (Think Hell's Angels on Wheels goes to the Renaissance Faire.) While this may sound ludicrous on the surface, the film emerges as a powerful character study. When the success of their jousting tournaments--in which armor-clad bikers go at each other with real lances for the entertainment of county fair crowds--attracts the attention of bigtime promoters, creeping commercialism threatens to spoil their delicately constructed Camelot. The troupe is a mirror of King Arthur's court, complete with its King (Ed Harris), Merlin (Brother Blue), and Morgan le Fay (Tom Savini). Only they ride motorcycles, and try to knock each other off with maces. Ed Harris turns in a topnotch performance as Billy, the focus of the film, who goes progressively nuts as it becomes apparent he's losing his grip on the troupe (unconsciously playing out the final days of Camelot). Knightriders is thoroughly engrossing during the jousting tournaments and whenever Ed Harris is onscreen, but is less successful in-between, when toeing the line of the Arthurian Legend makes the film too mannered. And at 145 minutes, the film could have been trimmed a bit. But why cavil when presented with the spectacle of Ed Harris spinning slowly out of control? Watch for a cameo by Stephen King himself, playing a spectator debunking the jousting tournaments as "all fake," through ample mouthfuls of his hoagie. --Jim Gay
Knightriders Reviews:
Medieval, Motorcycles, and Hippies 
2008-01-22 - Ever wonder if George Romero could make anything but zombie films? This film answers that with a big ol yep.
This is about a Ren Fair type group (before Ren Fairs were a big thing) living a hippie communal style life and jousting on motorcycles. If you like bikes or things medieval, this film is right up your alley.
Typical of Romero, there is also some commentary on commercialization and big business ethos in the entertainment field. I feel it is rather well done and not heavyhanded, but others have disagreed with me. On the other hand, conflict has to come from something or it would be a fake documentary.
Although it looks like a low budget late 70's film (because it is), this film is very entertaining, rather pretty at times, and Ed Harris is absolutely on top of his game (when is he not?).
I highly recommend this film and at this price, you can't go wrong. Very re-watchable.
Knight Riders Review
2008-01-13 - Nothing compares to Romero's "Knight Riders" with Ed Harris. It is very Arthurian in a culturally displaced kind-of-way. It has elements of Renaissance Fairs and the neo-medieval group the "SCA" (Society for Creative Anachronism Inc.) - but amplified for effect with the inclusion of motorcycles. The rumor goes that Romero actually visited an SCA event in the 1970s, about the time of the SCA/MSR split and some of that conflict made it into the film. It maps the epic struggle between a Quixotic idealistic vision pitted against a decadent modern world. It recreates Camelot's "brief shining moment." It describes perfectly the power of "shared dream." It shows how honorable defeat can win the greatest victory.
It has some stereotyped bad guys. It also has some social commentary that made sense in 1981, but makes little impact today (no one is impressed or surprised today by a successful female combatant nor a gay man finding himself). Patricia Tallman perfectly portrays the superficial "mundane" person immersed in a world she cannot possibly understand. She yells, "Far out!" so often you will want to slap the screen. Her character works better now than ever because it IS so dated. She has no place in a world of timeless ideals.
I saw it at a very impressionable age - it came out the year I got my AoA. My wife hid my VHS copy so I wouldn't watch it all the time... I think my favorite part of the movie is the passing of the Crown. I won't say why or how, but it is perfect.
And, while watching the move, seek out the black bird. There is a lot of stuff hidden in this film and you will find more every time.
Highlights 
2005-05-20 - Thinking back on KnightRiders after not having watched it for a few years is rather like trying to recall a particularly vivid, epic dream. This picture is certainly not to everyone's taste, but it is an original, heartfelt story.
I won't re-hash the entire plot, but these are some highlights:
Ed Harris' acting - bravo!
Brother Blue's take on Merlin as a scat-talking medicine man, especially his mesmerising beat rendition of one of the Arthurian myths
An amazingly moving, wordless scene late in the picture, between King Billy and Morgan - I won't give away the details but it's one of the purest "moments" I've ever seen on film
The thrilling bike combat stunts, almost equalling those of the Road Warrior
The sad and beautiful funeral scene
The soundtrack, which has apparently just been released for the first time by an indie label.
One for the B Movie Hall of Fame
2005-05-04 - Occasionally, I discover a B movie that is so off the wall, so cleverly quirky, and so perfectly original that it earns a place in my imagination and in the ranks of my favorite films. `Knightriders' is such a film. After the briefest of runs on the drive-in theater circuit, it moved directly to late night airings on Cinimax in the early `80s, and there earned a small cult following. Now, with this fine DVD presentation, this odd B movie masterpiece should continue to garner new fans.
`Knightriders' tells the tale of a troupe of odd ball outsiders and their low budget traveling Renaissance fair. The main event in this fair is a genuine jousting tournament between armor clad knights mounted on motorcycles. The troupe is composed of a mismatch of hippie types who dig the romance of the medieval mythos, and adrenalin junkies who are only in it for the bikes and the action. The figure who holds them all together is King Billy (Ed Harris), the group's founder and star, who is driven by an obsessive, nearly messianic vision of the importance of their endeavor. The group's idyllic existence starts to fall apart as financial difficulties and trouble with red neck police play havoc with their ability to continue, and they start to split between those who are committed to the purity of King Billy's vision, and those who want to pursue a more practical and commercial direction for their show. A final showdown between those knights loyal to King Billy and the rogues led by Morgan the Black Knight (Tom Savini) who want to go commercial with their act, is decided by a winner take all grand martial competition between the cycle mounted knights.
Ed Harris plays King Billy convincingly as a driven dreamer swiftly descending into obsession approaching the edge of madness in his desire to preserve his vision. Tom Savini takes a turn in front of the camera and proves that he is not only a master of FX gore, but a pretty fair actor as well in his role as Morgan, leader of the rogue knights. Brother Blue plays Merlin as a jive/blues medicine man dispensing wisdom and first aid. Fans of director George Romero, who are familiar with his Living Dead franchise will recognize many of the players here as well who have had roles in numerous Romero zombie flicks.
The cinematography in `Knightriders' is surprisingly well done, as B movies are not usually known for their great camera work. It is filmed beautifully, taking full advantage of the scenic landscapes of Western Pennsylvania, where director Romero does most of his work.
The commentary track that comes with this DVD is great fun as well. Director Romero, Tom Savini, and others simply chat over the film, having a good time as they informally tell stories and remember the fun they had as they were making it. Listening to them, you get the feeling that you are sitting in a den sharing their beer as they laugh over old times.
`Knightriders' runs a tad long, but that is the only gripe I have with it, and not enough to dock it a star. It belongs in the B movie hall of fame and in your collection as well.
Theo Logos
Love the Romero
2005-04-17 - In this film Romero manages to bring together his friends and coworkers to make a flick that refreshingly deviates from his usaul horror theme but still puts his wit and inteligence towards the social commentaries he is known for. A well done movie with a good performance from Harris, happy to see Savini and co too.
