20
This bloody, messy action film devolves into a plain ol' bloody mess.
We hate to say it, but we can't find anywhere to view this film.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
Like all sieges, this offers moments of choppy terror and excitement followed by dull sit-it-out-and-starve spots. Straddled between uproarious schoolboy tosh and serious historical movie, this still offers enough dismemberments, royal tantrums and portcullis-rammings to make for a lively Saturday night out.
40
Ironclad might be the perfect actioner for gorehound fanboys gaga for medieval trappings, but all others may find this British-American-German co-production a bit of a drag.
50
The New York Times by Manohla Dargis
Ironclad alternately feels, plays and sounds like an abridged television mini-series and a feature-length video game.
50
Village Voice by Nick Pinkerton
While Ironclad captures the casual cruelty and flesh-and-bone violence of the 13th century, it fails to do the same in the more intimate material set in the downtime between assaults.
38
Slant Magazine by Nick Schager
By making John such an unrepentant freedom-opposing monster, Ironclad denies itself any moral thorniness.
30
The Hollywood Reporter by Ray Bennett
A gore fest aimed at indiscriminate action fans. Those interested in learning more about goings on in medieval history will probably find the splatter tedious and off-putting.
58
The movie's gathering of third-rank action heroes provides sufficient brawn but precious little onscreen charisma, although Brian Cox's reliable bluster lights up his handful of scenes as a bellicose baron.
38
As history it's bunk; as inappropriate historical fiction, it's awfully close to comedy.
70
Boxoffice Magazine by Wade Major
Casting is almost uniformly first rate with Cox, Purefoy and the always brilliant Giamatti providing noteworthy standouts.