Caprig
"A KNIGHT'S TALE: A Very Different Review"
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I didn't have much interest in this when it first arrived in theaters. Back then Heath Ledger was, to my mind, just another young handsome face and this seemed like a sappy star vehicle designed to further his career. Of course, he turned out to be much more than a handsome face and if I'd bothered to see this film I would have known it then. Not only does he give a charismatic and compelling early performance, the film itself is a lot of fun: a very clever and entertaining update of the old knight in shining armor swashbuckling saga, that turns it into a comical version of the classic sports success story, such as Rocky or The Karate Kid.
+1
Heath's not the only one that makes this worth seeing; Rufus Sewell is the villian you love to hate, and Paul Bettany (as Chaucer, whose story of the same name in The Canterbury Tales this is loosely based on) and Alan Tudyk as a comic and loyal sidekick, are fun to watch and give engaging performances. Very entertaining and well worth watching. The musical score, drawing on classic rock icons like David Bowie and Quiet Riot, somehow works, making it all feel less like a period piece and more like an entertaining adventure. Lots of fun. I like.
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More A Knight's Tale reviews
review by ElectricRay.
September 04, 2004
A Knight's Tale really works. It's eye candy, not brain candy, but it worked a treat for me. I thought the potential love triangle was left sadly unexplored (especially as there wasn't really any chemistry between Will and Jocelyn), but otherwise, full marks: Sewell was a great villain, the father/son bit was done nicely (you should see Cheapside nowadays, by the way), and I thought the rock music worked extremely well. Finishing with Ackadacka was just inpired (so much so that School of Rock took … more
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review by beckytcy.
March 05, 2002
Pros: i didn't pay for it Cons: the anachronisms and cliches made me ill The Bottom Line: Made me angry for hours after having seen it. I'm sure that there are a million better scripts out there. Why did this get produced? Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot. I am a very enthusiastic person and I tend to overuse superlatives. At least once a day (my friends can attest to this) I will say something … more
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review by Caprig.
July 23, 2001
Pros: Exciting, sometimes predictable, creative, funny, excellent casting, deep yet light Cons: back view male nudity, sexual allusions, not historically accurate
The Bottom Line: Like encountering a gleaming sapphire in sooty soil, this movie was a pleasant surprise. Light and funny-it has a deeper side. One of the best movies released in years. Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot. … more
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About the reviewer
Nathan Andersen (nateandersen)
I teach philosophy at Eckerd College, in Saint Petersburg, Florida. I run an award-winning International Cinema series in Tampa Bay (www.eckerd.edu/ic), and am co-director of … more
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About this movie
In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight. When he gets a lucky chance--seeing an opportunity to disguise himself in the identity of a knight--William decides to maintain the illusion for as long as possible. He is aided by his friends Wat, Roland, and Geoffrey Chaucer--a writer with a knack for forging official papers. Under his new title, Sir Ulrich of Liechtenstein, William wins tournaments and receives monetary awards. However, the only way for William to prove himself as truly noble is to beat out all of his enemies, including the arrogant and undefeated Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), in a series of jousts. Once he does so, William will reveal his his true identity. Writer-director Brian Helgeland creates a unique blend of rousing adventure, comedy, and modern sensibility i...
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Cast:
Heath Ledger,
Rufus Sewell,
Mark Addy,
Paul Bettany,
Bérénice Bejo,
Shannyn Sossamon,
James Purefoy,
Olivia Williams,
Alan Tudyk,
Laura Fraser,
Christopher Cazenove
Director:
Brian Helgeland
Genre:
Action,
Adventure
Release Date:
May 11, 2001
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
DVD Release Date:
June 4, 2002
Runtime:
2hr 12min
Studio:
Sony Pictures
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