Seven Kings Must Die Review: A Satisfying End to Uhtred's Journey

Netflix recently released a highly anticipated movie called Seven Kings Must Die, which continues the story from the popular TV series, The Last Kingdom. The movie was released on April 14 and provides an exciting and satisfying conclusion that fans have been eagerly waiting for since the end of the show's fifth season.

If you haven't seen any episodes of The Last Kingdom on Netflix, you might be a bit confused while watching the movie Seven Kings Must Die. The movie serves as a conclusion to the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, which was told over five seasons of the show. To ensure that Seven Kings Must Die provides a proper conclusion to the epic story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Netflix had announced earlier that it would serve as the wrap-up tale of the series.

The Last Kingdom and the movie both try to bring to life the story of Bernard Cornwell's "The Saxon Stories" book series, which is a vast and epic tale about Saxons and Danes. The movie features many grunting, bearded men wielding swords, whose names all seem to begin with 'Ae.' If you're not familiar with the characters and their storylines, you might struggle to follow the plot.

The Last Kingdom and its spinoff film both attempt to adapt the expansive storyline of Bernard Cornwell's "The Saxon Stories" book series, which includes historical events, political intrigue, battles, and personal relationships. The series and the movie have garnered critical acclaim for their historical accuracy, attention to detail, and compelling characters.

Seven Kings Must Die, picks up where the fifth season of the show left off, but with additional elements that weren't concluded in the series. The movie is inspired by the final novels of Bernard Cornwell's book series, including "War of the Wolf," "Sword of Kings," and "War Lord."

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Seven Kings Must Die, the plot centers on Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a warrior who played a pivotal role in the formation of England. After King Edward's death, Uhtred helps Prince Ælfweard take the throne but when Ælfweard's brother, Aethelstan, claims the crown and begins to implement his vision for a united England, Uhtred finds himself in a difficult position. As Aethelstan's actions become more extreme, Uhtred must navigate a dangerous political landscape while also fulfilling a prophecy that predicts the deaths of seven kings and the woman he loves. The novel culminates in a dramatic battle where Uhtred and his allies face off against the invading Danes and fight to secure the future of their country. The story is filled with betrayals, stabbings, and treacheries, making for an intense and captivating plot.

The movie's climax is the Battle of Brunanburh, and the director Ed Bazalgette has done an excellent job of presenting the set piece spectacularly. The big battle includes gushing injuries, fierce sword battles, dramatic charges, and tautly coordinated fight scenes, which are all happening on the screen at once.

While there are plenty of action and compelling storylines to keep us interested in the earlier part of the movie, it is in this big battle that both the cast and the effects and stunt teams really shine.

Overall, the highly anticipated Netflix movie, Seven Kings Must Die, provides a satisfying conclusion to the epic story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg from the popular TV series, The Last Kingdom. If you have watched all five seasons of The Last Kingdom and are waiting for the end of the grand finale of Uhtred's journey, then this movie is definitely worth a watch.

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