by Maju Marfori, Reviewer
I wonder how it would feel to be a warrior with the ability to live a long time? To fight all types of evil, such as witches, ogre, and leviathans to name a few. Imagining the possibilities brings out the kid in me, just like being a samurai in ancient times serving under the emperor, or being a white wizard fighting goblins and demons inside underground caverns. If you did or even just enjoy that kind of excitement, then you need to watch The Last Witch Hunter, a modern day action/fantasy movie with swords and magic.
The Last Witch Hunter follows the story of Kaulder played by Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious and Riddick franchise) who is a warrior from the ancient days when magic and monsters truly exist. He was part of the group of priest called Axe and Cross, and their duty is to battle against the Witch Queen played by Julie Englebrecht (The Strain) that was plaguing the world with her evil powers. As the moment came that he was about to vanquish the witch, She cursed him with immortality. As centuries pass, he continues his battle to maintain balance between good and evil.
In present day, the Dolan 36th, played by Michael Caine (Now You See Me and The Dark Knight), is Kaulder’s Handler with the Axe and Cross and also his friend. He tells Kaulder that he is retiring from the service and that he will be helped by his successor the Dolan 37th played by Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings and Cooties). Kaulder try to convince him to stay, because “I finally got used to you”, but they laugh and parted ways. Later that day as he endorses his duties to Dolan 37, as soon as the new Dolan leaves, he is attacked and killed.
As Kaulder investigates the death of his friend, The Last Witch Hunter discovers there is a dark secret that Dolan 36th wanted him to know but has been hidden from him for the past 800 years. The only clue given to him is a message to remember his past. He searches for a witch to help him. He goes to a bar and asks for help from Chloe (played by Rose Leslie of Luther and Downton Abbey fame). She gives Kaulder an elixir to help him remember the past. With all these mysteries and discovering the secrets of the Axe and Cross, he goes into battle once again with what he thought has been finished centuries ago.
The Last Witch Hunter is a magical film, full of action and suspense with a touch of comedic bonding between the hunter and his handler. If that’s not enough for you then this Blu-ray/DVD combo pack also includes some great special features, like behind the scenes featurettes, deleted scenes and an animated short featuring the history of the Axe and Cross. The Last Witch Hunter is a great heart pumping film to watch with your love ones with a bowl of popcorn or in my case a big pizza.
Overall, I truly enjoyed The Last Witch Hunter, especially on how Vin Diesel portrayed a warrior with the heart of gold that still can kick some serious butt. My daughter and I watched it together and now she can’t stop saying “I lived for 800 years” with a straight face, low voice and moving her arms (in a downward motion). So it’s safe to say that she loved it as much as I did. You can’t go wrong with a movie with monsters, magic, action and Vin Diesel.
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