In Arthurian legend, the Knights of the Round Table had a code of chivalry to which they were bound. It included honor, honesty, valor and loyalty. Yes, one had to be strong enough to face enemies, but there was more to being a knight than brute strength. Caring for the weak and speaking the truth even when it could be costly have always been considered marks of chivalry. Directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane bring these ideals to life in their adaptation of “Nimona,” currently streaming on Netflix.
In a futuristic medieval society, Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed) has risen to the rank of knight despite being a commoner. When his knighting ceremony goes awry and he is framed for the murder of Queen Valerin (Lorraine Toussaint), he must hide from the kingdom as well as his partner Ambrosius Goldenlion (Eugene Lee Yang), fellow knight, Sir Thoddeus Sureblade (Beck Bennett), and The Director (Frances Conroy). In order to clear his name, he has to team up with Nimona (Chloe Grace Moretz), a shape shifter who many in the kingdom consider a monster.
This is a genuinely wonderful movie. The animation is interesting and brings ND Stevenson’s graphic novel to life in a spectacular manner. The graphic novel has a rather simple look to it, and I appreciate that the animators didn’t go overboard changing the look for the film. The color palette is lovely and they pulled out all the stops for the climactic fight in this. Nimona’s final form is truly astounding.
ALISE CHAFFINS is a Morgantown writer who loves movies and sharing her opinions. She reviews a movie from a streaming service every Saturday and one newly in theaters every Sunday. Find more at MacGuffin or Meaning on Substack.
