Ironclad

In 1215 England the quiet after the Magna Carta becomes a battleground for power. The barons who forced King John to sign the charter soon face his decision to regain control, assembling a mercenary army along the southern coast. Rochester Castle, a mighty stronghold on the edge of the realm, becomes the focal point of a brutal struggle between crown and rebels. The action follows Thomas Marshall, a battle hardened knight whose loyalty is tested under fire, and Lady Isabel, a determined noblewoman drawn into the siege and its political stakes. As siege engines pound the walls and shifting loyalties spark urgent choices, the film threads romance, honor, and strategy into a tense defense of a fragile, hard won freedom.

Released in 2011 and directed by Jonathan English, Ironclad uses an original screenplay by Erick Kastel. The budget was 25 million, and the cast includes James Purefoy, Kate Mara, Jason Flemyng, Paul Giamatti, and Brian Cox.

Audience reception was mixed, with a vote average around 6.1 out of 10 from 786 votes. The film centers on the clash between rebellion and authority, the ethics of leadership under pressure, and a restrained romance set against siege warfare.