Title: A Knight's Tale
Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG-13
Starring: Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Mark Addy,
Directed By: Brian Helgeland
Written By: Brian Helgeland
Star Rating: 4/5 stars
Trivia: When Chaucer first introduces "Sir Ulrich" in his speech, the crowd does not react at first because the Czech extras could not understand the speech. Mark Addy's loud prompt was what tipped them off to start cheering. This awkward moment was left in because it made the scene funnier.
Extra Trivia: The initial scene of the two knights jousting in the first scene of the movie is actually footage of Heath Ledger's stunt double in an accident. During filming of a later scene in the movie, the lance of the stunt double's opponent moved off target and hit him in the head. The double fell to the ground unconscious. The entire footage was used for the introduction.
Overall, I like this movie. It's fun. It's got an interesting soundtrack. I like the re-imagined costumes. The story is entertaining. I like it. I don't absolutely love it, but I own it, so that must say something. I like Heath Ledger. And Alan Tudyk is awesome. But my favorite is definitely Paul Bettany. Any scene with Chaucer is an automatic win. My issue with the movie comes with the romantic story line. I could so without it. I really think we could have made a decent movie without the love story. It's unnecessary. And Jocelyn's character is utterly annoying. Ever time she opens her mouth I want to smack her. It's as if the filmmakers wanted a "feminist" (I'm using quotations, because she's really not) character but wound up with a spoiled rich girl. She plays at the feminist until she's got him on the line. Then she switches back to the flower. And finally she gives him herself as a Prize (her words not mine) after the mid movie climax. The entire character is utterly ridiculous. And for that I took away a star. I just try to ignore her scenes and think of it as a movie about a boy becoming a knight.
Best Bits:
[Keeping beat for a dance lesson] Chaucer: And one and two and three and four and your hands should be light like a birdie on a branch. And one and two and three and four and Wat doesn't lead he follows like a girl. [Wat punches him. Scene changes, and Chaucer now has a tissue stuck up one nostril] Chaucer: And one and two and twirlie twirlie twirlie! And one and two and you're still getting it wrong! And one and two and three and four you can hit me all day cause you punch like a... what? Roland: A girl! ~~ William: Oi sir, what are you doing? Chaucer: Uh... trudging. You know, trudging? [pause] Chaucer: To trudge: the slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on. William: Uhhh... were you robbed? Chaucer: [laughs] Funny really, yes, but at the same time a huge resounding no. It's more of an... involuntary vow of poverty... really ~~ Wat: Uh, betray us, and I will fong you, until your insides are out, your outsides are in, your entrails will become your extrails I will w-rip... all the p... ung. Pain, lots of pain. ~~ Chaucer: Yes, behold my lord Ulrich, the rock, the hard place, like a wind from Guilderland he sweeps by blown far from his homeland in search of glory and honor, we walk... in the garden... of his turbulence! [crowd is silent, cricket noise] Roland: Yeah. Crowd: Yeahhhhh! ~~ Chaucer: I'm a writer. Wat: A what? Chaucer: A wha- a what? A writer. You know, I write, with ink, and parchment. Geoffrey Chaucer's the name, writing's the game. You've probably read my book? the Book of the Duchess? No? Well, it was allegorical. Roland: Well, we won't hold that against you, that's for every man to decide for himself. ~~ Chaucer: [singing] He's quick, he's funny, he makes me lots of money, Lichtenstein! Lichtenstein! ~~ Germaine: My Lord, the Count Adehmar, Son of Phillip DeVitry, son of Gilles... er... Master of the Free Companies, defender of his enormous manhood, a shining example of chivalry and champagne.
