User reviews

I watched the world premiere of William Tell at the Toronto International Film Festival (2024).

The presenter of the festival had said before the movie, "they don't make movies like this anymore". I assumed that was a positive thing.

Unfortunately, it really wasn't. The biggest issue of the movie was the language used.

This is a 14th-century period piece that involved the Swiss and Austrians. But for whatever reason the dialogue was written in something that sounded like a high-schooler's approximation of Victorian English.

According to the director, he wrote the dialogue to have language unique to the film. Maybe to assist in some sense of believability within this world. Instead the film was often hard to follow. Character motivations were lost in the flowery, disjointed language.

That being said - the cast did their absolute best with the film. Golshifteh Farahani, Connor Swindells, Rafe Spall, and Ellie Bamber were standouts.

Don't go to see the film for Ben Kingsley - he was barely in it and his performance felt completely phoned in.

If you're okay with 2-hours of mindlessness as you watch beautiful scenery and cool fight scenes - I think there is enough to enjoy.

The movie set up a sequel. I do hope it can be made, and some changes to how dialogue and character interactions are done will be made.

Hmmm. Never before have I heard anyone proudly declare "We are Swiss" in quite such an underwhelming manner before, and that rather sums up the lacklustre performance of Claes Bang as the title character in this verbose crossbow chronology. Traumatised by his experiences in the Crusade, he's now not a natural rebel but is instead content to live peaceably with his wife and son. When he comes to the rescue of a stranger whose wife had just been raped and murdered by the occupying troops of the King of Austria (Sir Ben Kingsley) his former valiance is rekindled and releases all manner of hell on his unprepared, unarmed and unsuspecting people. Pursued by the maniacal "Gessler" (Connor Swindell) and his blonde henchman "Stussi" (Jake Dunn), he has to rediscover his skill with the arrow, and yes - there's the legendary scene with the apple and the boy's head! There is some stunning Alpine photography mingled in with the pretty obvious CGI, and to be fair to it there are plenty of action scenes as Tell and his rapidly increasing circle of friends proves to be quite adept at reducing their foes to wriggling corpses. Sir Ben has managed to fish out his eye patch from "The Last Legion" (2007) but like Sir Jonathan Pryce, he doesn't really feature enough to make much more than a few cameo appearances to add a little bit of Thespian gravitas to this rather sterile and flat history. The characters are really lacking in charisma in this film and the long-winded dialogue and charm-free efforts from all but, perhaps, Dunn - think a weedier version of "Stamper" from "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997) just don't really resonate much at all. There's plenty of attention to the creative detail with the costumes and castles all fitting the bill nicely but it's probably half an hour longer than it needs to be and screams sequel at us at it's all rather rushed end.

This was fairly so so. I'd read that the violence was extreme but I wouldn't call it that especially by today's standards, or indeed by the standard of Sam Peckinpah, some fifty odd years ago. The story is fairly dumb. The baddies don't like their rapist murdering employee getting bumped off so they seek revenge. They're not seeking too keenly but when they can't ignore that they've found their quarry, instead of finishing him off, they do that stupid apple/crossbow thing.

The oddest thing here is the dialogue. It seems, some of the time, as if it's in plain verse. It also seems as if it could have been badly translated from some other language. I thought I heard one of the characters making a quote from Shakespeare (who I think postdates this). Anyway it seems to me that it often appears as if the acting is a bit substandard whereas I suspect that the problem was that the players found it difficult to deliver these really extraordinarily clunky lines. Anyway, it looks, from the closing scenes, as if The Return of William Tell, is more than pencilled in. Since, in the whole history of cinema, there's only been about two sequels that at least matched the originals, I think I'll be giving it a miss.

I knew nothing about this film going in but sometimes taking a gamble and going in blind can pay off when you find yourself watching a hidden gem. "William Tell" however is just an average watch.

I found the film quite hard to follow because (like in alot of historical dramas) most of the strapping, bearded, heavily armoured warriors look the same, and there's way too many off them to keep up with. This might just be me. But it did have quite a slow pace overall.

There is some decent bloody action (especially toward the end) and alot of breathtaking scenery in the movie. But there are some questionable decisions too. Especially when it comes to some of the cast. With a promising ending for one of the characters not happening. While the ending overall isn't even an ending really.

I saw the movie with my dad when it premiered at TIFF in September. I love how the story is told and there are amazing fight scenes. A little graphic in the beginning but otherwise amazing movie! If you are there to watch the movie for Ben Kingsley and him only i suggest you find a different movie as he is not in many of the scenes. The costume and scenery are beautifully accurate to the time period this was based in and. Emily Beechman did an amazing job as well as the other cast members, it was like getting transported to the fairy tale. This movie is set up to have a sequel, leaving you on the edge of your seat at the end. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and i highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves action/ history. Absolutely amazing film should be rated higher.

Saw this a few days ago at the Palm Springs Film Festival. Not my cup of gore. My husband, who likes action films, said it was the most violent film he'd seen in a long time, and a friend accompanying us said it was the most violent film she'd ever seen in her life. I had my eyes closed for a great deal of the film, so maybe I'm an unreliable narrator, but it was the low point of all the films we saw at the film festival. My husband and friend had some trouble catching the dialog; I think I caught it all, and it was pretty written, for the most part. Physically, we found it difficult to distinguish between some of the main characters, both male and female, and that made if even more difficult to follow.

'William Tell' by Nick Hamm, is an action-packed epic that delivers on every level. The film establishes itself with excellent sweeping shots of the Swiss countryside, balanced by gritty, up-close action scenes. The battle and action sequences were a real highlight, both are intense and well-choreographed.

Connor Swindell was a standout, playing the role of Gessler with a cold, ruthless energy that makes him a worthy antagonist, while Claes Bang brings a quiet intensity to William Tell, keeping the character mysterious but compelling.

I enjoyed the performances from Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Pryce and Rafe Spall. Though Kingsley's role is smaller, he adds a lot to the film, bringing a certain weight and aura as the King.

If you're in the mood for a well-executed action film with strong performances and a solid storyline, William Tell is a must watch.

This movie is full of action and history. Set in 1300's the scenery and costumes are fabulous in their authenticity. Nail biting fights (especially on the ship) - some violent. Really felt that Connor Swindells and Ellie Bamber were standout. Great to see strong female characters portayed. I wasn't aware of the fable surrounding William Tell but the interpretation seems to have been well thought out and written. Amazing cast that really brings the story to life. Maybe would have loved to see a bit of humour added in, but then maybe would have made it too similar to Robin Hood. Would definitely recommend seeing on the big screen.

William Tell is a new action adventure film directed and written by Nick Hamm, director of Driven and The Journey.

In the 14th century, the world is in a mess after the fall of the Roman Empire. Tyrannical rulers try to take as much land as possible and keep it under their control. The Austrian ruler also tries to keep Switzerland under his leadership.

The Swiss farmer William Tell (Claes Bang) helps a fleeing man from the corrupt Austrian power and thus starts a rebellious resistance against this tyranny. In the hope of getting enough support from others, they try to end this situation, in order to start a more fair rule.

Nick Hamm has experience as a director, but for this film adaptation of the Swiss legend of William Tell, he chose to write the story of the film independently for the first time. Unfortunately, he misses the mark, because he ended up with a messy film. Where he does not always seem to have been very clear about where exactly he wanted to go with the story. As a result, the story can sometimes be difficult to follow.

This is also because the film starts at a hurried pace, but then later slows down to a long-winded pace. In the smooth introduction, too many different problems and characters are introduced, most of which have their own storylines. Most of these storylines are more separate from each other and sometimes only overlap briefly, but these overlaps do not always have the same amount of use or real meaning.

You also do not get to know the many characters well enough to really care about most of them during the final battle. When people die during this battle, you do not always know exactly who has died and you also care little about most of the lost fighters.

Most of the fights are also a bit on the hurried, simple side, because William Tell quickly manages to eliminate most of his opponents. This sometimes happens with just an arrow, despite the armor that his opponents wear.

Due to the many, smooth introductions of characters, most actors do not really get a chance to make the characters their own. Some then deliver somewhat weak or exaggerated acting.

By Vincent Hooper

Hollywood has always loved a good underdog rebellion story, and with William Tell (2024), director Nick Hamm delivers a visually stunning historical epic centered on one of Switzerland's most enduring legends. With Claes Bang as the brooding revolutionary and Connor Swindells as the sadistic Viceroy Gessler, the film packs plenty of spectacle-but does it truly breathe new life into the tale, or is it just another arrow fired into the crowded battlefield of historical dramas?

The Good: A Feast for the Eyes (and the Ears?) One undeniable strength of William Tell is its breathtaking cinematography. The Swiss Alps are practically a character in themselves, with vast, sweeping shots that bring out the grandeur of the setting. If nothing else, the film makes a strong case for Switzerland's tourism board.

The action sequences are equally impressive-well-choreographed, brutal, and kinetic, striking a balance between realism and cinematic flair. The titular hero's legendary marksmanship is given thrilling moments, with bows twanging and arrows slicing through the air in slow motion.

The score, though not quite in the league of Gladiator or Braveheart, does its job in amplifying tension and emotional weight. At times, it leans heavily on orchestral swells to force grandeur where the script falls short, but it's effective nonetheless.

And speaking of effectiveness-Connor Swindells' performance as Gessler is a highlight. He delivers his lines with a blend of arrogance and cruelty that makes you root for his downfall. Claes Bang's William Tell is more understated but still compelling; his arc from reluctant warrior to fiery revolutionary is well-paced, even if it feels like it follows a well-worn template.

The Bad: When Dialogue Misses the Mark While William Tell aims for a grand, Shakespearean tone, the dialogue often falls flat. Some lines feel like they were pulled from a first-year theater student's attempt at medieval prose. The result? Exchanges that occasionally sound forced, unnatural, and distractingly artificial.

Additionally, while the main actors do their best, the supporting cast doesn't always get enough room to shine. Golshifteh Farahani, Rafe Spall, and Ellie Bamber are talented performers, but their roles feel underwritten-especially Farahani, who is relegated to the kind of "strong but sidelined" female character that historical epics often mishandle.

The Questionable: History vs. Hollywood While no one expects a Hollywood epic to be a history lesson, William Tell plays fast and loose with historical accuracy. The real story is steeped in Swiss national pride, but the film injects some familiar Hollywood-style rebellion beats, making it feel at times like Braveheart Lite.

The film's pacing is also hit-or-miss. The opening act sets up the conflict well, but the middle stretches drag in places, weighed down by repetitive rallying speeches and drawn-out political maneuvering. At times, it feels like the film is straining for importance rather than letting the story flow naturally.

The Apple Scene: A Moment of Redemption?

At the heart of William Tell's legend is the iconic apple shot, where he is forced to shoot an arrow off his son's head. This moment had to deliver-and, to the film's credit, it does. The tension is palpable, the cinematography sharp, and Bang's performance in this scene alone is arguably his best in the entire movie. If only the rest of the film had carried the same weight and urgency.

Final Verdict: A Strong Aim, but Not a Perfect Shot If you love historical epics with sweeping landscapes, intense action, and a good old-fashioned tale of rebellion, William Tell is worth the watch. But if you're looking for something that reinvents the genre or delivers a deeply nuanced character study, you may find yourself longing for a sharper script and a fresher take on the legend.