I know a few people who've bemoaned the lack of action in the film, but I think that's being a bit harsh. There's more than enough action amongst all the political intrigue. It's also worth pointing out that, unlike some movie franchises I could mention, the action is not used as a substitute for plot, narrative, and character development, but to drive the story forward.
All in all a great addition to the series and I can't wait for the final pay-off next year. Fingers crossed they don't go all Michael Bay on us.
If the week began in the comfort of the cinema, it ended in the gloriously muddy local countryside of a small village by the name of Morville. Not so much ankle deep, as shin deep in places. It turned a gentle five mile stroll into something akin to the wolf run. At one point one of my walking buddies, Derek, lost both his shoes in the mud. Resorting to washing them, once they'd been recovered, in an ice-cold stream, along with his feet and socks. The grand finale of this little adventure was the descent of a steeply wooded bank, covered in leaves and mud, and extremely slippy. It left me wishing I'd brought my walking poles and gaiters and taught me never to underestimate the challenge no matter how small.
Incidentally the walk began and ended at the villages picturesque Norman Church. The original 12th Century church was dedicated to St. Gregory in 1118 by the Bishop of Hereford. Shortly after the dedication ceremony lightening killed two women and five horses! Divine retribution perhaps for some unspoken crime? While the remains of the village whipping post can still be seen outside the villages Victorian school. Material for a story at some point in the future no doubt?
Talking of which I am still on course to release a revised, and hopefully, much improved edit of Exiles, by the end of the year.