Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Chris Weitz
Writer: Harry Wright
Based on the video game series
Cast: Sean Bean, Russell Crowe, Bertie Carvel, Dennis Quaid, Michiel Huisman, Valter Skarsgard, Leslie Bibb, Tom Selleck
Plot: Ralof (Russell Crowe) is seen praying in his quarters, worshipping Talos, his one true God. He’s asking him for courage on his journey today and he prays that he will live to see the aftermath of the battle. He also asks for protection for his leader, Ulfric. Speaking of Ulfric (Sean Bean), he knocks on his door and he tells him it’s time to go. Ralof gets up and we see his heavy armor. Ulfric asks him if he’s ready to do this and he says he has never been more ready.
Ulfric comes out the quarters and addresses his army. He reminds them of their goal today. They will march to the city of the Markarth to reclaim it for his good friend Hrolfdir (Dennis Quaid former Jarl of Markarth who was ousted by Reachmen because they didn’t agree want to be a part of the great Skyrim empire. They also refuse to worship the one true God Talos. They need to show to take over the city, so Hrolfdir will allow the worship of Talos in his former city and to give the city back to the Empire, where it belongs and not with evil foreigners. His speech inspires his men who are more hyped up than ever. Ulfric comes off his pedestal and he’s approached by his aging father Hoag Stormcloak, also Jarl of Windhelm (Tom Selleck) and Jarl Hrolfdir. They congratulate him for his speech and they both say they prayed Talos for a victorious outcome. Hrolfdir reminds him he has his full support and he can’t wait for a successful collaboration between the two once his city is liberated.
On their way to Markarth, Ulfric is talking with Ralof about the Stormcloak movement. Ralof points out he likes Ulfric’s banners. Ralof jokes that they would look good next to the High Throne and Ulfric laughs it off, saying he doesn’t want to be High King of Skyrim, he’s just doing what is right for the Empire and for his God, Talos. Ralof doesn’t believe Ulfric would refuse the opportunity to sit on the High Throne and Ulfric laughs it off again. He changes the subject and discusses strategy with Ralof for when they’ll reach Markarth. Hoag couldn’t help but to eavesdrop and he disagrees with his son’s strategy. Ulfric reminds him he’s not fighting today, he’s way to old, but Hoag refuses to step aside when people are dying for his cause. Ulfric disagrees with him and he has a fall out with his father, who takes his distance with his father. Ralof says it’s better for him to drop it. Hoag is stubborn and you don’t want to upset him. He’s kind enough to lend him his army for his cause. They agree and focus on the task at hand. They’ve reached the walls of Markarth.
Ulfric announces to his men it’s time to strike. The Reachmen who took control of the city were waiting for them and engage in the battle as soon as one of Ulfric’s soldier touched the city’s walls. A brutal war begins between the two sides. The Stormcloaks are able to breach through the walls. The real melee starts. Ulfric charges alongside Ralof. He sees his father from a distance, who also charges into combat. Ulfric leaves Ralof and he says he needs to help his father. Ulfric runs through the battlefield and when he arrives next to Hoag, he sees a pile of dead bodies next to him. Hoag grabs him by the shoulder and he reassures him he can still fight despite what he thinks.
Tired for a previous war, the Reachmen are tired, underprepared and still healing injuries. They are also outnumbered by Hrolfdir and Ulfric’s men. Ralof is swinging his sword left and right, killing multiple Reachmen soldiers. Hoag and Ulfric make a father-and-son duo to kill multiple soldiers too. On the other end of the battlefield, far away from all the action is Hrolfdir and his most trusted soldier and his son, Igmund (Bertie Carvel), not engaging in battle in any shape or form. He contents himself by watching his army win. He doesn’t want to fight. Igmund asks his father if he’s proud of him for asking the Stormcloak help to recapture their city and Hrolfdir doesn’t answer, focusing on the battle, instead. After a lengthy battle, he marches through the battlefield, unscathed and he proclaims his victory alongside his son. The remaining enemy soldiers flee the battlefield and retreat outside of the city walls. The Stormcloak soldiers begin their walk back home alongside Hoag.
Hrolfdir walks alongside Igmund, Ulfric and Ralof through the streets. Hrolfdir is happy to have his city back, but he doesn’t answer to the few citizen who are out there to acclaim him. He enters his castle and sits on the throne before asking everyone to leave him alone for the time being. Igmund asks Ralof and Ulfric to follow him and they sit down in the banquet hall. Igmund thanks them for their immense help today. It looks like the previous leaders were enjoying a meal before they got attacked. Hungry, they decide to finish their meal. Ralof asks if it’s immoral to eat a dead man’s meal, but the others don’t seem to mind. Ulfric asks Igmund if they intend to respect their promises now that they have their city back and Igmund says he will talk with his father about it, he seems… different since they won the battle.
Ulfric and Ralof talk to Hrolfdir about allowing the free worship of Talos in the city. He claims he never heard about anything of the sort despite them talking about it earlier. Hrolfdir claims it won’t sit well with the Empire if they come to learn about it. Ulfric says it’s the only reason he helped him in his quest to take back his city. A soldier runs in, out of breath and he tells Hrolfdir two representants of the Empire are here to speak to him.
Hrolfdir is dressed in his best attire and he opens the city’s door to honorable guests, General Tullius (Valter Skarsgard) and Chief Legate Rikke (Leslie Bibb) of the Empire. He welcomes them and is taken aback by how young they are to have such important functions in the Empire. Tullius says he is here to investigate what happened here after reports of a extraordinary event. Hrolfdir offers all the help necessary to help them in their mission and they thank him for his hospitality. Hrolfdir welcomes them in his quarters and Tullius asks him what happened while Rikke takes notes. Hrolfdir says his son Igmund seeked help from Hoag and Ulfric Stormcloak to help them take back their city after they lost it to the hands of the Reachmen after the Great War. He disapproved of the strategy and now, Ulfric tries to force him to allow the worship of Talos in Markarth. Tullius and Rikke both say it would go against the Empire’s rules and Hrolfdir agrees with them. Tullius and Rikke are clear that they cannot accept worship of Talos inside the walls of Markarth. They say it’s late and they will come back tomorrow to talk to Ulfric Stormcloak.
Ulfric, Ralof and Igmund and are eating, once again, as they remember their triumphant win earlier today. They are interrupted by screams of terror coming from the city. Ulfric looks through a window and he sees the citizen massacred by Hrolfdir’s soldiers. Ulfric asks Igmund what is going on and Igmund says he doesn’t know. They get downstairs to talk to Hrolfdir, but he isn’t there. Igmund asks a soldier what they are doing and he looks at him with a look of terror, saying they are simply following orders. Ulfric and Ralof run outside and split, trying to find Hrolfdir to get an explanation. Ralof and Ulfric run in the devastated city as the soldiers are executing their leader’s orders. Ulfric comes face to face with Hrolfdir. He orders his soldiers to capture Ulfric and he throws him in jail. Ralof joins him soon after.
Hrolfdir opens the doors to Tullius and Rikke who were alerted of what was going on in the city. They ask him what happened and he says once Ulfric learned that they refused to allow Talos’ worship, he started to massacre the townspeople out of anger and to force their hands. He claims to have a witness from the attack, but Tullius says they have heard enough. He asks if they were able to capture Ulfric and they say they did capture him and they were able to get his right hand, Ralof, too. Hrolfdir says he sent his army to Windhelm to capture Hoag Stormcloak, whom he thinks is the mastermind behind the whole plan. Tullius says they did a great job and Rikke says they’ll go back to their headquarters to discuss their punishment with higher authorities and the High King.
Ulfric and Ralof are being held separately but next to each other and try to figure out what happened. Ulfric keeps asking to speak to Igmund about all of this, but the guards don’t speak to them. They are tired of hearing their complaints, but so they throw them in solitary.
The following day, Hrolfdir has his son Igmund under house arrest so he can’t reveal to anyone that he, in fact, ordered the citizen to be killed. He takes the remaining portion of his army and leaves the city to negotiate a peace with the remaining Reachmen, fearing a retaliation while they are at their lowest. He meets with their leaders, but it ends in a battle that Hrolfdir is able to escape. He comes back to his castle and vows never to meet them again, they are too aggressive.
A couple of soldiers arrive in Markarth with Hoag and throw him in a cell, he doesn’t look too good. They ask Hrolfdir how they should treat the prisoners and he asks them to do their worst, because they are the worst scum in Skyrim.
Two months later
Hrolfdir receives a letter from the High Council, announcing to every Jarl in Skyrim that the High King has died, so they should dedicate their prayers to him. They will also be invited soon to decide a new High King amongst themselves. Hrolfdir smiles and he says he proved his allegiance to the Empire by capturing Ulfric and Hoag Stormcloak. He improved his chances to be named High King dramatically. A man intrerrupts him and he says Hoag Stormcloak has died in his cell. To prove he does have a heart, he agrees to send his corpse back to Windhelm so they honor him properly, once again, improving his chances to be named High King. He wishes Tullius and Rikke would come back soon though.
That night, Igmund, tired of being under house arrest and suffering from his father’s tyranny, decides that it’s time to take the high road and get himself out of this situation. He had a long time to plan it and tonight is the night he executes his plan. He gets out of bed in the middle of the night and grabs the guard’s sword and slits his throat. He puts on the guard’s armor so he can roam freely around the castle and walks all the way across to his father’s quarters. He stops, dead in his tracks, in front of the door and he takes a moment to think about it. Is he really about to do this ? He bursts in the room and grabs his father by the throat while he’s sleeping. Hrolfdir is surprised to see him and Igmund says he has waited a long time to do this. Despite his father’s pleas, he slits his throat before putting him back to bed. He goes back to his room and he gets rid of the body by throwing him out of the window. He goes back to sleep, satisfied with himself.
The following morning, Igmund is taken out of his sleep by a guard and he smiles. He fakes being sad after they announce him Hrolfdir was killed in his sleep and therefore he is by blood, the new Jarl of Markarth. He thanks them for his visit and he puts on his crown. His first act as Jarl of Markarth is to pardon Ulfric and Ralof for their alleged crimes. He visits them in solitary and they are in bad shape. He tells Ulfric all that happened and that Hoag died, so he is now, officially Jarl of Windhelm and he will be eligible, like him, to be named High King, since he also died. Ulfric thanks him for everything he has done and he doesn’t think he’ll try to be named High King, the Empire can go fuck themselves for all he cares. Ulfric and Ralof gathers their belongings and put on their armor, now way too large for them, and leave for Windhelm with horses.
Ulfric and Ralof are welcomed as heroes when they arrive in Windhelm, but they find the city in mourning. They are so happy to see him that they have a crowning ceremony for their new Jarl as soon as he arrived. Ulfric is crowned Jarl of Windhelm at the same time as Igmund is crowned Jarl of Windhelm. At the hand of the ceremony, they receive a letter convoking them to the Moot, the council of Jarls designed to elect a new High King. Their population stand behind their new Jarls, and acclaim them to be the new High King. Ulfric retreats in his castle where he takes a moment to realise everything that’s happening to him. He asks Ralof for advice. He despises the Empire and everything they stand for, even more so since they captured him and held him responsible for a massacre he didn’t commit. Ralof convinces him that it’s better for him to go there to show that he’s strong and he can hold his own. Besides, he can show his support to Igmund who was kind to them and behind their cause all along. Ulfric says he’s right and that night, he leaves for the Moot.
On his way to the Moot, Ulfric meets with Igmund who’s surprised to see him on his way to the Moot, because of his views of the Empire and he says he’s only there to show that he’s still strong and because he wants to back the best king he can think of and Igmund thinks Ulfric will vote for himself, but Ulfric says he wants to vote for Igmund. He thanks him for his consideration and eventual vote, but he has no interest to become High King himself. Ulfric, however, doesn’t understand why they convened a moot since the previous king had an heir, but Igmund says he heard that he doesn’t want the throne, but people can vote for him regardless. Ulfric says it would be the worse possible scenario, to elect a King who doesn’t want to be in charge.
A couple of days later, they both arrive in Solitude, where the moot is held. They are immediately convened to the council, as they are the last to arrive. Jarl Balgruuf (Jeff Bridges) says they better make this quick because he has better things to do than this, even more so since there’s a legitimate heir to the crown. That heir, Torygg (Michiel Huisman), claims he doesn’t think he would be the most competent king for Skyrim. They do the first round of voting and everyone agrees on Torygg, except two votes, one for Igmund and one for Ulfric. They need a unanimous vote to elect a king. Ulfric can’t believe they are going to elect a man who doesn’t want to reign. This whole reign by dynasty comes from the Empire and he’s tired of the Skyrim county to be always following the Empire. To hell the traditions, they should elect the most competent Jarl. Balgruff tells him to calm down because he could be accused of treason for what he just said and given his record, he’s already on everyone’s bad side. Igmund reminds him Ulfric was pardoned for his crimes because he didn’t commit them. They proceed to vote for a second time and only one vote remains against Torygg, Ulfric’s one. Ulfric says he’ll change his mind and he votes for Torygg, electing him the new High King. Balgruuf is already on his way out and he says it’s nice they made it quick, while Igmund tells Ulfric it wasn’t hard to make him change his mind. Ulfric says he has another plan in mind and Igmund begs his farewell, he will not be participating this time.
The following day, Ulfric is the only Jarl who stuck around for Torygg’s crowning and after the ceremony is over, he asks to meet with the newly appointed King. They grant him his request and he challenges Torygg to a duel, to prove his point that Skyrim has become weak under Imperial ruling. He challenges him the “Old Nord Way” meaning that anything goes. Torygg consults his advisors and to prove that he’s strong and a capable leader, he accepts and besides, Ulfric has seen better days before his imprisonment. They will fight tonight. A sword and a shield, that's all they need. Torygg will see him there and he's ready for a fight.
Ulfric arrives, ready for battle. An important crowd has gathered around the improvised battle area and amongst them is General Tullius and Rikke, watching with an interested eye. Torygg arrives, escorted by his personal guard, wearing a heavy armor. His sword is impressive, but it’s just for show, it’s a pretty standard sword, but elaborated in its design. Ulfric has a standard sword and a wooden shield. You can see the stark contrast. Tullius knows Ulfric is the better fighter, but he has certain doubts on his ability to win the duel following his prolonged incarceration. The duel starts are both fighters keep their distance. Torygg is the first one to launch an assault, easily sent back by Ulfric. They continue this charade for a while until Ulfric senses Torygg is getting tired of carrying his heavy armor on his shoulders. The crowd is getting impatient too and you can hear their frustration. The crowd reacts to every failed or landing strikes and are behind their kings. Ulfric feels like he’s going to win the duel and he gets closer to Torygg. A deafening noise is heard as Ulfric slits Torygg’s throat, thus, killing the High King and winning the duel, proving his point. In the commotion, Tullius runs to the King’s aid as Rikke chases Ulfric, but he’s nowhere to be seen. He fled through the crowd. She runs back to him and he confirms the king’s death while she says she hasn’t been able to locate Ulfric. Tullius says he’ll take care of Ulfric, the traitor who killed the king. She asks him what was that deafening sound and Tullius claims Ulfric used a shout word to kill the king and it is illegal according to the Old Nord Way rules. He’s leaving for Windhelm now.
A couple of days later, Ulfric reunites with Ralof who took care of Windhelm while he was gone. Ralof asks him what happened and he tells him what happened. Ralof says he’s crazy, but Ufric is convinced he proved his point. The crowd was behind it at the end and he thinks he could start a civil war against the Empire, people are sick of them. Skyrim used to be independent and it should be. They are interrupted by a soldier claiming the Empire’s army is here for Ulfric. Ralof takes Ulfric with him and they sneak out of the city’s walls as the Empire is looking for them. They go down a mountain and hide in a miner’s camp. They stay there for a while, and meanwhile, Tullius is killing some of Ulfric’s soldiers who stand in his way. Ralof hears movement outside and he sees the miners brought down by a myriad of arrows. Ulfric says he has seen enough and he heads out, followed by Ralof. They stand in front of Tullius who found them. They fight him, two against one. Tullius has the advantage to wear an armor and to be prepared. He may look young , but he’s an experienced fighter. He easily takes care of Ulfric, who’s tired of running away and fighting but Ralof, who had the time recuperate following his incarceration. Ralof is about to make Tullius kneel down, but he’s hit from behind by Rikke and they capture the two rebels. They sentence them to die for treason and for killing the king.
Ulfric regains consciousness and he finds himself on a wagon. He looks around and he sees Ralof sleeping and an unknown man (Chris Hemsworth), unconscious. He’s satisfied with the life he’s led. He feels like he inspired changed and Tullius in the front keeps saying a civil war is brewing thanks him. They are leading him to his death, unless…
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