A Knight's Tale [Region 2] DVD (Region 2)

7	Listal rating

Manufacturer : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release date : 25 February 2002
Number of discs : 1
EAN : 5035822182837

Comedy (3), Pseudo-historical (2), Action (2), History (2), Region 2 (1), Drama (1), Music (1), Romance (1), Medieval (1)

Description

There's no rule against rock anthems from the 1970s in the soundtrack for a movie about a medieval jousting champion, but if you're going to attempt such jarring anachronisms, you'd better establish acceptable ground rules. Writer-director Brian Helgeland does precisely that in A Knight's Tale and pulls off this trick with such giddy aplomb There's no rule against rock anthems from the 1970s in the soundtrack for a movie about a medieval jousting champion, but if you're going to attempt such jarring anachronisms, you'd better establish acceptable ground rules. Writer-director Brian Helgeland does precisely that in A Knight's Tale and pulls off this trick with such giddy aplomb that you can't help but play along. (Upon witnessing a crowd of peasants at a jousting match, singing and clapping to the beat of Queen's "We Will Rock You," you're either going to love this movie or dismiss it altogether.) Other vintage rock hits will follow, but Helgeland--the Oscar®-winning cowriter of L.A. Confidential--handles this ploy with judicious goodwill, in what is an otherwise honest period piece about a peasant named William (Heath Ledger) who rises by grit and determination to the hallowed status of knighthood.

As if the soundtrack weren't audacious enough, Helgeland (recovering from the sour experience of his directorial debut, Payback) casts none other than Geoffrey Chaucer (wonderfully played by Paul Bettany) as William's cohort and match announcer, along with William's pals Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), and feisty blacksmith Kate (Laura Fraser). Of course there must be a fair maiden, and she is Jocelyn (newcomer Shannyn Sossamon), with whom William falls in love while battling the nefarious Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell) on the European jousting circuit. Add to this an inspiring father-son reunion, Ledger's undeniable charisma, a perfect supporting cast, and enough joyful energy to rejuvenate the film's formulaic plot, and A Knight's Tale becomes that most pleasant of movie surprises--an unlikely winner that rises up, like its hero, to exceed all expectations. --Jeff Shannon ... (more) (less)

Directed by :

Starring :

Lists


	My Lovely DVDs - Films (220 items) by Drapedindarkness Published 5 months, 1 week ago View all lists

Ratings of A Knight's Tale [Region 2]

7/10
11 global ratings

jedi58

Jessica

Joe G

Denorios

tartan_skirt

hornblower

1
want this

Legethien

Reviews of A Knight's Tale [Region 2] DVD (Region 2) - View all - Post review

Jessica

A Knight's Tale

Posted : 2 years, 8 months ago at May 5 17:31

This movie, while definitely entertaining, is pure fluff---not to mention, annoying with the current songs and suggestive dancing that would not have been seen during the time period portrayed in this movie. The character of Chaucer (played by Paul Bettany) is a much needed dose of comic entertainment, but really isn't needed for the story. I have seen this movie a couple of times, and even though I am definitely NOT a fan, it is watchable if you put your brain on pause and forget all you might know about the time period. I guess, while deciding the soundtrack for this film, someone thought it would be utterly brilliant to use songs from the recent past, but every time one of those songs starts up---and, for example, the dance scene gets completely ridiculous---, I just roll my ...Read more

Rating : 4/10

0 comments