The Letter for the King Review
The Letter for the King Review
Netflix has been diligently attempting to fill the medieval fantasy void that has been left in the wake of the Game of Thrones finale and The Letter for the King is its newest iteration into this fantasy genre. The story follows an aspiring young knight named Tiuri who finds himself in over his head when he is tasked with delivering a secret letter to the King who lives across the Great Mountains. The series is comprised of 6 episodes.
Let’s get something out of the way. This is by no means a Game of Thrones killer. It seems more like a Game of Thrones geared toward tweens. The show is family friendly. While there are plenty of sword fights and action sequences, most of the violence occurs off screen with quick cutaways to character reactions. So, if you are watching the show as an adult you may gleam some entertainment value from it, but it seems as though this series would benefit more from a family viewing setting. This may be a way to get your kids interested in the medieval fantasy genre, but for hardcore enthusiasts, the show is quite tame.
However, there are some things to like in the show. The costume design is quite good, especially when compared to Netflix’s recent hit The Witcher. The armor that the knights wear seems practical and the outfits that characters wear fits into the world well. The locations that the show is filmed in are absolutely stunning. The production design for the show should be lauded, as everyone in their department is at the top of their game. The show looks great. It’s just a shame that the rest of the series meanders.
This show could have easily been condensed into a two-hour feature. While we all have plenty of time on our hands at the moment and are looking for that ultimate time killer, The Letter for the King unfortunately isn’t one of them. There are too many boring chase scenes, too much politicking between the adults of this universe, and too many bloodless battles in this bloated series. With a plot that is as bare bones as deliver this letter, there simply wasn’t enough going on outside of Tiuri’s journey to keep you invested in the overall plot.
If the series had simply followed Tiuri and his band of merry tweens, the show could have been something refreshing and fun, but instead we have to listen to a bunch of adults prattle on about the troubles that they face politically. These moments are dry and often lead to the mind wandering. It’s the curse that seems to afflict most Netflix shows. There simply isn’t a producer on the sideline saying, “Hey, maybe this should be cut out of the project.”
If you’re looking for a new fantasy series to sink your teeth into, then this one won’t satiate that hunger, but it may provide enough entertainment until the next fantasy epic comes out. It may be a fun bit of escapism for the younger crowd, but for adults, there simply isn’t enough here to recommend.
Hook: A Retrospective
In 1991, Steven Spielberg took a shot at reinventing the Peter Pan mythos with his film Hook. At the time of its release, the film was quite divisive and for the most part was critically panned, (pun intended). However, for those 80’s and 90’s babies that grew up with Hook, Steven Spielberg’s vision of Never Neverland is the quintessential Peter Pan experience. We thought it would be fun to take a look back at why so many of us love the movie.
First let’s begin with the casting. Robin Williams is the perfect adult Peter Pan. Williams made an entire career around his childlike exuberance and energy with the mind and body of an adult. His journey from a man that has buried himself in his work at the expense of his family to a man that rediscovers his childhood wonder is beautifully realized. The titular Captain Hook is also played wonderfully by Dustin Hoffman. Not only does he capture the menace behind the man, but he brings a level of bravado and class to the character that makes him even more nuanced then one might expect. The Lost Boys are also perfectly cast, and Spielberg’s penchant for directing child actors does wonders for the film.
Rufio, played by Dante Basco, has become an iconic character and his introduction in the film is so striking and fun that there is no question as to why he would be the leader of the Lost Boys. Maggie Smith as an old and wise Lady Wendy is also perfectly cast. Her work in the film, while limited leaves a lasting impression. Probably the only person in this film that was miscast would be Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell. It seems as though she was cast mainly for her star power as a way to draw in higher box office numbers. It’s not that she is particularly bad in this role, but simply that her performance does nothing to elevate the character and the film. That being said, everyone else in the film does an excellent job of rounding out their characters.
Next, lets talk about production design. The sets for Neverland are absolutely incredible and are filled with extraordinary detail. The port in which Captain Hook houses his ship is brimming with activity. Shops line every corner, smoke fills the air from fire pits, and Hook’s ship, The Jolly Roger, looms over every inch of the port menacingly. The costume design for all the pirates may not break the mold for pirates, but it faithfully recreates the iconic imagery from Disney’s Peter Pan from 1953. Hook looks nearly identical to his 1953 counterpart. But the pirate’s port isn’t the only marvel of production design in Hook. The Lost Boys jungle hideout is wonderfully crafted.
While it is certainly a product of its time, with a skating rink for roller blading and skateboarding, their hangout provides a stark contrast to the industrialized port that the pirates live out of. The movie also came out before we had reached a point where CGI had begun to take hold. Therefore, all the sets were practical and the small instances of special effects were married with practical effects, so the visuals have aged much better than many movies that came out after. The wardrobe of the Lost Boys also gives us some background on the characters themselves, as their outfits seems to suggest that each come from different time periods and different countries. All these elements add a subtle bit of world building that only add to the story through repeat viewings.
Lastly, lets talk about the plot of Hook. We’re introduced to Peter as a workaholic father that cares more about his clients than his family. He works in mergers and acquisitions and as Lady Wendy points out early on it is ironic that Peter has now become a “pirate.” When Captain Hook steals Peter’s children in the middle of the night, Peter is reluctant to embrace his true identity of Peter Pan, as years of being an adult have left him unable to remember his childhood. Captain Hook simply wants the great war that he was always promised, but has been missing ever since Peter has left. After Tinkerbell whisks him away to Neverland to rescue his children, it’s up to the Lost Boys to help him rediscover his past and his happy thought to become the warrior he was always destined to be. Peter finally finds his happy thought after he realizes that the happiest moment of his life was the birth of his children.
Upon reclaiming the title of Pan, Peter gives Captain Hook his war and ultimately defeats his greatest adversary in an epic sword fight that spans the entirety of the pirate’s port. Peter then takes his children home and we’re left with a family reunited and seemingly one that will no longer be neglected. There’s quite a bit to unpack in Peter’s transformation. The fact that he has grown up to be a “pirate” is a commentary that as we grow up, we tend to become the things that we thought we never would. His growth over the course of the film shows that we can always reconnect with that child inside of us and in essence break down the walls we have built around ourselves over the course of our life.
Most of the negative criticism of the film seems to be centered around the sentimentalism featured in the film. While the film is quite sentimental, what is the Peter Pan story without sentimentalism? The story is all about kids who never want to grow up. Children that want nothing but to laugh and play and let their imaginations run wild. The pirates are the antithesis of this as they simply cannot abide by the Lost Boys and Peter Pan’s shenanigans. So, to call Hook overly sentimental is absurd when its source material is nothing but sentimentalism.
Hook may not have been Spielberg’s most beloved film, but for those of us that grew up with it, it will always have a place in our hearts and our memories. For a lot of us, Hook is the best live action adaptation of the Peter Pan franchise and will likely remain that way. If you haven’t seen Hook in a while, it’s available on Netflix at the moment and is worth the watch if you’re a first timer, or you simply haven’t seen it in a while.
The Sword Experience is Coming to Patreon!
As many of you know, we’re living in very strange times. The situation we find ourselves in is making it difficult for us to bring the best fitness event in the world to your desired destinations. So, we have brought the Sword Experience to your home with our new Patreon, chock full with content that we know you’ll love. Firstly, we want to thank you for being part of our community. So, we are giving away our Hollywood Experience podcast, where twice a month, Adrian talks with Industry professionals from show runners to stuntmen about their experiences in bringing some of the world’s most iconic action sequences to the screen. In our first episode, Adrian talks with Chris Claremont who created many of your favorite X-men characters from Wolverine to Mystique. So, if you haven’t heard it yet, you can find it here. So, what exactly will you receive by becoming a member of our Patreon you might ask?
For just $3 a month, you will receive a Patreon Membership Card that will allow you discounts on merchandise when presented at live events. You will also be able to participate in Patreon Exclusive Polls, plus early access to Sword Experience videos on YouTube.
For $10 a month, you will first gain access to Adrian’s “Film Fight Insights”. Adrian will record commentary from some of your favorite films or tv shows, chosen from a poll you can vote on one a month. Plus, you will also receive early access to the Sword Experience podcast, and everything from the previous tier.
If you’re interested in a more personalized experience and to further your fitness and health goals for the year, our $15 tier will feature our Lifestyle Essential Bulletin sent to you once a week. This bulletin is written by fitness and health professionals with the goal of focusing on various aspects of your health. From diet, to mobility, and even injury prevention. We’ll also share your inspirational success stories on our social media accounts and your name will be in the credits of all of our future Sword Experience videos and, of course, you still receive everything from the lower tiers.
Next comes the $20 a month level. As well as everything on the previous tiers, you’ll receive access to the archives, a one to three-minute-long snippet from the vault. What’s the vault you ask? It could be anything from behind the scenes footage from Highlander and other productions or never before seen videos of Adrian training. In addition, you will get a private link to a Live stream hangout with Adrian in a group video chat once per month.
Our $38 a month tier is our highest level. You will receive everything mentioned above, plus something we know you have all been yearning for, Adrian’s online training videos. Twice per week, we will send you a private YouTube link where you can train with Adrian. Afterwards, Adrian will answer your training related questions on our social media platform, and will even go into further detail with some of the answers in the next video you receive. This platform will explain the Sword Experience numbering system. The movements, the angulations and techniques, along with fitness training movements focusing on arm speed, special awareness, and footwork. Not only will the Sword Experience be available at home, but you’ll get to train with Adrian twice per week! So, when we are finally able to bring the Sword Experience to your town, you’ll be one step ahead of your peers. These training sessions will also prepare you for your next level.
A one-hour workout session test, set for release in the upcoming months. These sessions will push you to improve your endurance, flexibility, strength, and speed in a series of exercises that will not only give any non-impact workout a run for their money but allow you a skill not many others can brag about.
We thank you for being with us, whether as a long-time member, or if you’re just hearing about the Sword Experience for the first time. We are excited to connect with you in a brand-new way to bring the Sword Experience into your home, where you can train on your own time and at your own pace. Until the next time, remember, “If you can’t achieve great things today, do small things greatly, and tomorrow, great things will surely come.” – Adrian Paul
