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Outcast is a historical fiction action-adventure film that was released in 2014. The film is directed by Nick Powell and stars Nicolas Cage, Hayden Christensen, and Alexandre Bailly. It is set during the time of the Crusades and follows the story of two Crusaders, Jacob (Hayden Christensen) and Gallain (Nicolas Cage), who have become disillusioned with the war and desire to return home. Their journey takes them to China, where they become embroiled in a power struggle between two brothers vying for the throne.

The film begins in the Middle East during the time of the Crusades. Jacob and Gallain are two knights who have grown tired of the constant fighting and decide to leave the Crusade and return home. They are caught and imprisoned by a Chinese king who is seeking to increase his power by uniting the warring factions of China. Jacob and Gallain are rescued by a rebellious Chinese princess, Lian (Yifei Liu), who is on the run from her own people.

Lian brings Jacob and Gallain to her home in China, where they meet her father, the Emperor (Preston Baker). The Emperor is old and feeble, and his two sons, Shing (Andy On) and Zhao (Bill Su), are vying for the throne. Zhao is a vicious warlord who seeks to control the entire country, while Shing is a more benevolent ruler who seeks to bring peace and unity to the land. Lian and Jacob are drawn to Shing and seek to help him gain the throne.

However, things are not so simple. Zhao has a powerful ally in the form of the King of the neighboring country, who seeks to ally with him to conquer China. Gallain also has a secret past that is not revealed until later in the film. As the power struggle heats up and battles begin to rage, Jacob and Gallain must fight to help Lian and Shing gain the upper hand, all while trying to find a way back home.

One of the main themes of the film is the idea of redemption. Jacob and Gallain are both haunted by their past actions in the Crusades and seek to atone for their sins by helping the Chinese people. They also seek redemption for their own personal failures, such as Gallain's failure to protect his family. Lian also struggles with her own sense of duty to her family and her desire to do what is right for her people.

Another theme of the film is the clash of cultures. Jacob and Gallain are Westerners who find themselves in a foreign land with customs and traditions that are unfamiliar to them. They must learn to navigate this new world while also trying to help the people they have come to care for. The film also explores the idea of what it means to be an outsider, as Jacob and Gallain are outsiders in China just as Lian is an outsider in her own family.

The action in the film is well choreographed and there are plenty of fight scenes to keep audiences entertained. The film also features some beautiful cinematography, particularly in the scenes set in the Chinese countryside. The musical score is also noteworthy, with a combination of traditional Chinese instruments and Western orchestration.

The performances in the film are a mixed bag. Nicolas Cage, in particular, seems to be phoning it in, and his performance is wooden and unconvincing. Hayden Christensen fares better, showing a range of emotions as Jacob struggles with his past and his loyalty to Lian. Yifei Liu is also impressive as Lian, conveying her inner turmoil and her fierce determination to do what is right for her people.

Overall, Outcast is an entertaining film that offers plenty of action and adventure, but it also has some deeper themes that make it more than just a mindless popcorn flick. While the performances are not always strong, the story is engaging and the action is well executed. Fans of historical fiction and action-adventure films will likely find much to enjoy in this movie.

Outcast is a 2015 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6 and a MetaScore of 33.