Production Year: 2001 - Action/Adventure - Director: Brian Helgeland - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Laura Fraser, Christopher Cazenove, James Purefoy, Shannyn Sossamon more
In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there's only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys--jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath... more
medieval jousting champion, but if you're going to attempt such jarring anachronisms, you'd better establish acceptable ground rules. Writer-director Brian Helgel...
A Knight's Tale
A KNIGHT'S TALE is the rousing story of lawborn William Thatcher's (Ledger) quest to ... more
change his stars, win the heart of an exceedingly fair maiden (Shannyn Sossamon) and rock his medieval world. Follow this fearless squire and his band of medieval misfits as they careen their way toward impossible glory that's part romance, part road trip and part exuberant swashbuckler.
A Knight's Tale
The 14th Century takes on a new look in A KNIGHT'S TALE.Heath Ledger is William Thatcher, ... more
a peasant squire who breaks all the rules when he passes himself off as a knight and takes the jousting world by storm. The only thing that stands between William and his dream of becoming the world champion is the bad boy of the sport, Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell - Bless This Child, Dangerous Beauty).Packed with action, comedy, romance and treachery and with a sensational soundtrack including music from Robbie Williams and Queen, this action packed comedic adventure of medieval gallantry and contest is guaranteed to rock you loaded with special features.
A Knight's Tale - CD
We Will Rock You - Queen Low Rider - War Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman-Turner ... more
Overdrive Golden Years - David Bowie Ramble On - Train Crazy On You - Heart Further On Up The Road - Eric Clapton Get Ready - Rare Earth I Want To Take You Higher - Sly & The Family Stone The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy Score Medley with Dialogue - Carter Burwell We Are The Champions - Robbie Williams & Queen Pieces - Dan Powell Eye Conqueror - Third Eye Blind
accompany A Knight's Tale, his rousing story of a medieval jousting champion, and this anachronistic strategy pays off handsomely by giving the film a joyful exuberance that it might otherwise have lacked. Divorced from the film, this hot sampling of hits is just another corporate song package intended to boost the film's profit margin, but it's still a blast to listen to. For anyone who grew up with this music--by Queen, War, David Bowie, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Heart, Thin Lizzy, and others--the line-up of favourites plays like an hour from the golden years of album-orientated-rock radio. Younger listeners can hear what they missed--the music was so much better than it was given credit for at the time--and an update of Queen's "We Are the Champions", with Robbie Williams interpreting the irreplaceable Freddie Mercury, turns out to be not half bad (especially since Brian May's guitar licks are still fantastic). "One of Our Own" is the only track to sample Carter Burwell's lush film score with a dialogue clip included, and three tracks (including "Eye Conqueror" by Third Eye Blind) are passable non-film songs exclusive to this CD. Cynics might argue that this music has no place in a medieval knight's tale, and that this soundtrack is entirely perfunctory. Those opinions could be justified, but it's a whole lot easier--and a lot more fun--to press "play" and groove on this energetic celebration of heroic rock & roll. --Jeff Shannon
accompany A Knight's Tale, his rousing story of a medieval jousting champion, and this anachronistic strategy pays off handsomely by giving the film a joyful exuberance that it might otherwise have lacked. Divorced from the film, this hot sampling of hits is just another corporate song package intended to boost the film's profit margin, but it's still a blast to listen to. For anyone who grew up with this music--by Queen, War, David Bowie, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Heart, Thin Lizzy, and others--the line-up of favourites plays like an hour from the golden years of album-orientated-rock radio. Younger listeners can hear what they missed--the music was so much better than it was given credit for at the time--and an update of Queen's "We Are the Champions", with Robbie Williams interpreting the irreplaceable Freddie Mercury, turns out to be not half bad (especially since Brian May's guitar licks are still fantastic). "One of Our Own" is the only track to sample Carter Burwell's lush film score with a dialogue clip included, and three tracks (including "Eye Conqueror" by Third Eye Blind) are passable non-film songs exclusive to this CD. Cynics might argue that this music has no place in a medieval knight's tale, and that this soundtrack is entirely perfunctory. Those opinions could be justified, but it's a whole lot easier--and a lot more fun--to press "play" and groove on this energetic celebration of heroic rock & roll. --Jeff Shannon
Production Year: 2008 - Action/Adventure - Director: Christopher Nolan - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
A review by PrincessDi on A Knight's Tale (DVD) September 20th, 2004
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Good
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Outstanding
Soundtrack
Good
Advantages:
Funny, contemporary, clever script, music
Disadvantages:
A bit long for some
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Described as 'an exciting, action packed comedic adventure', and it is. It opens with a jousting arena and the sound of Queen's 'We will rock you'! This is apparently done to give the film a contemporary feel, and in a funny sort of way it works!
THE STORY
It's the 14th Century and Sir Ector, the master of peasant squire William Thatcher and his two compatriots Wat and Roland, has been competing in a jousting tournament and is apparently resting/recuperating between jousts. He only has to stay on his horse for the next joust and he will have won the tournament. They have not eaten for 3 days now, so they are desperate for the money. One problem….. On trying to rouse their master from his rest they discover that he has in fact died. He is being called for his last joust. So, William quickly steps in, pretending to be his master. He puts his armour on and manages to stay on his horse. A damaged visor saves him from having to show his face so he gets away with it. For him this is a dream come true! And so the adventure begins…..
Will now believes he can continue to deceive everyone by pretending to be a knight. His friends protest that he won't get away with it as he's not a noble, but he talks them into helping him. They have a month to train him….As they are walking along, celebrating the fact that the training seems to be working at last, they come across a naked gentlemen! He walks straight past them as though his behaviour is perfectly normal! They question and tease him and discover that his name is Geoffrey Chaucer (yes, THE Chaucer), writer. He does not tell them exactly how he 'lost' his clothes, but insinuates that they were stolen. They discover from him that they will need a 'Patent of Nobility' for the tournament they are heading for and he guesses that Will is not really nobility. They come to an agreement. He will forge the Patent of Nobility for them and they will feed and clothe him.
Wat: - "……..Pain…lots of pain…."
On arriving at the town where the tournament will be and entering successfully in the competition, Will meets a beautiful and mysterious young Lady. She refuses to tell him her name and he is entranced. He has also entered the sword fighting tournament, which is easy for him but is does not earn as much money as the jousting. His new name is Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein, from Guilderland! Geoff becomes his Herald, Wat and Roland his squires.
'My Lady' as Will calls her is at the tournament, where all the knights pledge to win it for her! Enter Count Adhemar…. Geoff tries to help Will win the lady over with sweet words, but Adhemar teases him over his name and his antique armour. This angers Will and the rivalry between the two men has begun.
Geoff: - "Ladies, Gentlemen…….and everyone else here NOT sitting on a cushion…"Geoff gives Will a rousing, though rather astounding, introduction. The tournament begins….. The first contender is a stranger to Will. He calls himself Sir Colville... He's injured by Will and asks him if he could retain his honour. So, Will shows mercy to him and allows a draw. The knight concedes the next round and Will wins the match. This is a small, seemingly insignificant thing to Will, but impresses the knight. He will remember this. During this tournament his armour is damaged and he seeks out a blacksmith willing to mend it even though he can't pay yet. This is where they meet Kate. He 'sweet talks' her into fixing it for him. She decides to make him a whole new suit of armour with a special new way of heating the metal, her own invention. It is lighter but stronger than the usual ones. They are suitably impressed when they test it out. Will wins the Sword fighting tournament, but loses the jousting to Count Adhemar. He vows to de-horse him next time. After the tournament the champions have to attend a dance. Will can't dance so Geoff and Kate have to teach him. Adhemar tries to make a fool out of Will at the dance, but it backfires.
During the next tournament he meets the stranger again. He discovers that he is none other than Prince Edward and no-one else will go up against him. The Prince is disappointed. But Will decides that he will not stand down just because he's royalty, which impresses the Prince further. Adhemar has had to go and join his army at war, so is away from the tournaments for a while. He is told by her lady-in-waiting, that his lady's name is Jocelyn. Will wins all the tournaments while he's away and tries to impress Jocelyn. She asks him to go against his normal behaviour and lose the matches to prove his love for her! He refuses, and then changes his mind when he reaches the arena, much to the confusion of his friends. He takes a lot of punishment and his lady is suitably impressed. She sends him a message not to lose anymore matches as she can't bear to see him in any more pain. Of course he wins the tournament again, and the lady!
Wat: - "It's called a lance… hellooo!"
The next tournament in London, his home town. He hasn't been back here since he was a small boy, put into the services of Sir Ector by his father to help him find his dream. Adhemar is back from war now too, and informs Will that he has asked her father for Jocelyn's hand in marriage. Will looks for his father and discovers that he's now blind. They catch up on old times and he tells his father of his exploits. But, Adhemar has been spying on him and discovers Will's secret.
I won't tell you how it ends, but it is of course a happy one.
CONCLUSION
The modern music in a 14th century setting seems odd, but adds to the humour of the film. This will appeal to male and female alike. The cast are impeccably chosen for their parts. The different characters each have their endearing idiosyncrasies and go well with each other. Wat being the 'thick clown' as the actor himself describes his character and Geoff the 'clever clown'. Roland, the sensible one also has his moments as does the lovely Kate. You could dress William in sackcloth and he'd still be gorgeous! (Oh, hang on they DID dress him in sackcloth!) Jocelyn the beautiful lady is surprisingly modest for her nobility, which endears her to you and you can see why Will would fall for her. It is interspersed with Wills memories of his childhood to help you to understand his motivation. There are no special effects, but plenty of stunts, so I have rated that section on the stunts. A very watchable film rated PG (UK), 127 mins long.
Rated ***** "…an absolute must see…" by The News Of The World.
CAST
Heath Ledger (The Patriot, 10 things I hate about you) as William Thatcher Rufus Sewell (Bless this child, Dangerous Beauty) as Count Adhemar Shannyn Sossamon as Lady Jocelyn Paul Bettany (Gangster No. 1) as Geoffrey Chaucer Laura Fraser as Kate the Blacksmith Mark Addy (The Full Monty) as Roland Alan Tudyk (28 Days) as Wat James Purefoy as Colville/Prince Edward Christopher Cazenove as John Thatcher
BEHIND THE SCENES
Costume Designer - Caroline Harris Production Designer - Tony Burrough Director of photography - Richard Greatrex.Bsc Music by Carter Burwell Edited by Kevin Stitt Produced by Tim Van Rellim/Todd Black Written, Produced and Directed by Brian Helgeland
SPECIAL DVD FEATURES
• Commentary by Brian Helgeland and Paul Bettany • Making of Featurettes • Behind the Scenes Featurettes 1. The Rock music scene in 1370 2. Sexy Armour and a Rock band on tour 3. You never know what you'll find in a Czech pop house! 4. School of hard knocks! (Training the horses and riders) 5. Tournaments - A cross between pro football and stock car racing 6. The Marquee Event 7. The world's 1st sports promoters (Heralds) 8. Stories for people 9. The Rules of Love 10. Heath Ledger profile 11. A Directors Quest • Deleted Scenes 1. The Campfire Scene Discussing the choice of banner/emblem for Will's new identity. Not absolutely necessary for the story and not particularly funny. 2. Adhemar Intro Again, not necessary for the story, but gives a hint of his personality which you soon see anyway. 3. Chaucer's 2nd Speech Another of his cleverly worded intros, not sure why they left it out! 4. Riot Adhemar's nasty side shows when he leaves the dance in a huff! 5. Chaucer's wife Very funny discovery of Geoff's wife, although she's not mentioned in the rest of the film. 6. The Stocks This is not so much a deleted scene as an altered one! It had contained another of Geoff's rousing speeches, so I assume that they decided they were becoming a bit much!
• Robbie Williams and Queen Music Video • Theatrical Trailers 1. A knights Tale 2. Final Fantasy • Screensaver* • Weblink* • Filmographies • Subtitles
Requires a DVD-Rom drive on your PC with Windows '95 or higher to access the DVD-Rom features. They will not work in a CD-Rom drive and may not work in a Macintosh PC.
Also compatible with PS2.
Websites - aknightstale.com and www.cthe.co.uk
As you can see there are plenty of extra features for you to browse through! I personally always check out the behind the scenes and making of featurettes. The deleted scenes often prove interesting too.
Advantages: Good fun for children and adults with no sensibilities Disadvantages: Acting and actors not worth mentioning, ludicrous score, ludicrous modernism, goes on far too long
A letter…
Dear Mr. Helgeland,
I hope you don't mind me writing to you like this, but I need to get this of my chest. Last night I watched your film A KNIGHT'S TALE on television and, although it cost me nothing to watch, this morning I am in urgent haste to inform you that it is truly of the most deplorable, deplorable taste. I am not by any means trying to pick a fight with your sensibilities, God forbid, but God!
To begin complaining then, why ... ...Emmerich for having made GODZILLA, a damn nuisance. For instance, for example, for a film that is set somewhat six hundred years ago the females look remarkably healthy and divine for a century where England didn't stop suffering from famine and disease until the start of the next century. Do they not? And that actress who plays Kate, were you asleep when she read her lines? Surely you must know that people didn't talk like that then, like they've ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Queen, Paul Bettany Disadvantages: Lack of believability. Too much modernising.
...is in the service of a Knight (Sir Ector) competing in the jousting games who dies just before he is due in a match. Thatcher decides it will be a great idea to take his place and dons his clothes and under such disguise begins his jousting career. Only trouble is, as he is not a noble he is forbidden to take part in the jousting games. So begins the web of lies and deceit He persuades his friends, Roland (Mark Addy - "The Full Monty") and Wat Falhurst ... ...Thatcher to pretend to be a noble and thus enter into the games.
So, why did I have a problem with this movie? It should have been a great movie with such a great cast. Well, there are two reasons.
Firstly, and most fatally in my opinion, the love story was hideously unbelievable. Thatcher meets a girl who is quite attractive and he goes after her. Not that different from most movies, but then for no explainable reason he turns on her in the middle ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Funny, very entertaining Disadvantages: A couple of dubious performances, too long
William Thatcher, a lowly squire in medieval times, is give the opportunity to take on the identity of a knight when his master dies and he and his friends, Wat and Roland, are left with no meal ticket. When they meet Geoffrey Chaucer, a man who has fallen on hard times, he offers to forge documents to prove that William is a knight, so that he can enter jousting competitions to earn their keep. Passed off as Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein, William ... ...a lady of some consequence and Count Adhemar of Anjou, who is William's rival in both jousting and love. Will William prove himself to be a worthy knight? And will he win the love of Lady Jocelyn? I had absolutely no idea what to expect from this film before I watched it, but I had presumed from the DVD jacket that it was going to be a very serious affair. Within the first two minutes of watching, I found that it was going to be very far from serious ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Acting, story, soundtrack and many others Disadvantages: Slightly cheesy, predictable ending
...one of three servants to a famous and noble knight whom suddenly dies during a jousting contest. Tired and half starved William, helped by his two friends Roland (Mark Addy – “The Full Monty”, “Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas”) and Wat (Alan Tudyk – “Wonder Boys”), decides to compete himself, putting himself in grave danger as only knights are allowed to joust. Luckily he survives the contest, wins the ... ...No. 1”, “The Land Girls”), a writer and poet who helps them fake their way into the jousting circuit. Soon William, under the name of Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein, becomes a great competitor and creates an intense rivalry with champion Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell – “Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence”. “Dark City”) and begins a relationship with the exotic Lady Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). He fights ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Extremely funny, very well done in terms of action scenes and use of music Disadvantages: Too sentimental
*ALTHOUGH ITS A PREDICTABLE STORY, YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW THAT I DO GIVE AWAY MAJOR PLOT DETAILS IN THIS OPINION*
With the help of his companions Wat, Roland, Kate and real life famous playwright and gambler Geoffrey Chaucer, a peasant squire by the name of Will Thatcher, disguises himself as a knight of noble blood, hoping to fulfil his life long dream. Entering tournaments all over France, he meets and falls in love with Lady Jocelyn and makes an ... ...gains fame and fortune, in a similar style to football heroes of the modern day, but whether he’ll be able to convince Jocelyn of his love and to hide his true identity is another question.
You must have seen the adverts with a crowd at a jousting tournament clapping in time with Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’. Equally memorable are the medieval-costumed cast jiving to the ‘The Golden Years’ and one of the funniest lines in the film is Wat’s sarcastic ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A knight in shining armour, music, comedy Disadvantages: Some bits are too long.
...tournament they are passed by a naked man casually walking by (or 'trudging'), they question his reasons as to why and discover he is a writer called Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), of whom they have never heard of! He precedes to tell them that he can forge 'Patents of Nobility' and that they are a requirement for entering the tournaments. Realising William is not a noble they come to a compromise that Geoffrey would forge 'Patents of Nobility' for them under William's new name Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein, if they feed and clothe him and he continues along with them.
At the tournament William sets his eyes on a beautiful young lady and follows her asking for her name of which she refuses. He is enterred into the two contests, the joust and sword. He successfully wins the sword, but it is of a lower prize than winning the joust. The knights...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: First rate entertainment Disadvantages: Not a single one!
..., The Knight's tale, The Wife of Bath's tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Pardoner's tale and the Franklin's tale.
All are extremely entertaining. Some are amusing, some are moving, and some are both amusing and moving. There are tales of chivalrous Knights, of chivalrous alchemists, of drunken students and of fast friends who become dangerous and deadly foes.
Amongst my favourite tales is that of Chanticleer and Pertelote. Chanticleer is a proud cock and Pertolete the love of his life. Along with the other six ladies in his harem, of course! Both Chanticleer, Pertelote and a fox learn several valuable lessons.
There is also a written biography of Geoffrey Chaucer on the DVD. I feel it would have been preferable to have had this read by the actors who appeared on the DVD, but that is a minor quibble as this is probably one of the best films I...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Plot: Loosely inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' and set in the 14th Century this is the story of William Thatcher, a peasant squire, who has a real talent for jousting. During this time only Knights of noble birth are eligible to joust and so William enlists the help of his three friends Wat, Roland and Geoffrey to adopt a false identity and compete in high level competitions.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there's 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 in a jousting match. 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 (Alan Tudyk), Roland (Mark Addy), and Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany, in a role loosely based on the real storyteller)--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--and win the heart of the beautiful Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon)--is to beat out all of his enemies, including the arrogant and undefeated Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), in a series of jousts. Writer-director Brian Helgeland creates a unique blend of rousing adventure, comedy, and modern sensibility in A KNIGHT'S TALE, giving a contemporary make-over to the medieval genre with a soundtrack that includes hit songs from Queen, David Bowie, Sly & the Family Stone, and Thin Lizzy.
Technical information
Special Features: Commentary By Brain Helgeland And Paul Bettany, Making Of Featurette, Behind The Scenes Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Robbie Williams And Queen Music Video, Theatrical Trailer, Screensaver, Weblink, Filmographies
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 English, Stereo English
Professional reviews
Review: "...A KNIGHT'S TALE delights in comparisons to present-day sport....[Bettany] is especially delightful..." (Box Office, p.55, 01/06/2001)
"...An impressive ensemble; there aren't many movies in which the actors use their voices so well, making each line reading memorable..." (New York Times, p.E16, 11/05/2001)
"...Sometimes great fun....Heath Ledger does handsome and sincere well..." (Sight and Sound, p.48-9, 01/09/2001)
"...The easy charm of Ledger and the chemistry with his buddies make the training scenes a treat..." (Total Film, p.92, 01/09/2001)
"...[Bettany's] silver-tongued exaggerations of the jousting jock's brave deeds and mighty stature before each match are great fun..." (USA Today, p.9E, 11/05/2001)
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