Sergiu Nicolaesu is among the best directors in the history of Romanian cinema. "Coroana de foc" ("Crown of Fire") is fairy tale, sword and sorcery fantasy film placed in an imagined epoch of the Middle Ages somewhere in Romania. Crusaders, swords, castle, tournaments, battles, intrigues, brothers who are hating each other, stunning Carpathian landscapes... Nicolaescu took elements for his story from the legends of King Arthur, from myths of Oedipus, from Romanian history. This is obviously fairy tale film for kids and teenagers. You would enjoy it if you are fan of Sergiu Nicolaescu or if you are lover of Sword & Sorcery genre. There is little use of visual effects here - so it would remind you of the films from the 1960s-70s. Not the best film by Sergiu Nicolaescu, but not the worst.
5 Reviews
General view of the movie quality
coman_andrei7 August 2000
Ok, this is my first ever review. The movie in cause, the "Coroana de foc" have the best title that could be ever found because it is representing the great responsability that is on the shoulders of one nation's ruler. As all the other movies of Sergiu Nicolaescu, the costumes are excelent created, the action is very good directed and the fighting scenes are extremely realistic and dramatic. This movie must be seen.
Kitsch
rusalinalina29 January 2006
A few great elements combined with some completely uninspired choices. The result? A kitsch.
Let me start with the strengths of this movie, to show consideration for its fans. First of all, Sergiu Nicolaescu of course. Great! He conveys value to everything he takes part in (even to his grandchildren's birthdays I suppose :) ).Exquisite scenery and costumes. And that's all.
Concerning the weaknesses... Perfunctory script. And the soundtrack, oh my God, worthy of a soap-opera. Melodramatic scenes backed by an uncanny childish happy music. To cut the story short, don't watch it unless you have a bad tooth ache. Really, go rent any other movie instead!
Let me start with the strengths of this movie, to show consideration for its fans. First of all, Sergiu Nicolaescu of course. Great! He conveys value to everything he takes part in (even to his grandchildren's birthdays I suppose :) ).Exquisite scenery and costumes. And that's all.
Concerning the weaknesses... Perfunctory script. And the soundtrack, oh my God, worthy of a soap-opera. Melodramatic scenes backed by an uncanny childish happy music. To cut the story short, don't watch it unless you have a bad tooth ache. Really, go rent any other movie instead!
Interesting movie!
chiyuguang23 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Even thought the movie doesn't excel in cinematography, it is nevertheless an important movie for it shows a great deal of the Romanian mythology (the secret passages found under the Romanian sphynx), and history, since rumors have it that it shows the true life of Vlad Draculea, who had a twin brother.
Directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu, an excellent director who also had access to the hidden records of the army archives, this movie shows an unknown side of Vlad Tepes, the great Romanian hero who later would be known as Dracula.
The story begins with the birth of the twins and the sacrifice the king makes for the country-in order that it won't be divided between the brothers, he decides to drop one of the infants in the wilderness and gives this task to his closest friend. What will happen is that, like in Snow white, the ferocious fighter can't resist the baby so he will raise him as a hero. Meantime, his twin, who knows one day he will inherit the kingdom, becomes a spoiled sadistic brat.
Directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu, an excellent director who also had access to the hidden records of the army archives, this movie shows an unknown side of Vlad Tepes, the great Romanian hero who later would be known as Dracula.
The story begins with the birth of the twins and the sacrifice the king makes for the country-in order that it won't be divided between the brothers, he decides to drop one of the infants in the wilderness and gives this task to his closest friend. What will happen is that, like in Snow white, the ferocious fighter can't resist the baby so he will raise him as a hero. Meantime, his twin, who knows one day he will inherit the kingdom, becomes a spoiled sadistic brat.
good intentions
Kirpianuscus4 July 2017
like many films of Sergiu Nicolaescu, "Coroana de foc" has a precise target - his fans. and this does not it a bad film but only expression of good intentions. because , it is a mix of fairy tale and fake history. the emotion is imposed. the moral lesson becomes obligatory. all - the music, the costumes, the script, the performances are walls of a cell. and, after its end, respecting the noble intentions, you suppose than, under the Comunist, for the director was better than in the frame of freedom , who support romantic dreams but ignores the chances to be the dreams of a large public.
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