Corazon de Caballero (A Knight's Tale)

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

Kick back and enjoy a good flick........2007-08-26

This is a great little movie: good script, entertaining soundtrack and good acting. The caveat is that you need to let go the desire to box the movie into a specific genre, because is happily and effectively ignores them.

Incredibly Different!.......2007-08-08

Entertaining is too light a word for "A Knight's Tale", which has become one of my all-time favorites. Not only is the music unusual, yet fitting for the Medieval setting in which the story is set, there is a workin' female farrier/blacksmith who is on equal footing with the male protangonist. Of note, although attractive, the actors, such as lead Heath Ledger, are not the glitzy beautiful we have come to expect in movies. The actors display human foibles and strengths, such as poor choices and loyalty, all truthfully.

There is humor and teamwork and the universal theme of trying to better oneself. Incredible aerial camera shots of the horses, jousting and dancing that I found breathtaking memorable. Watch this movie! It may also become your favorite!

A Knights Tale.......2007-08-08

My son watched this and he wouldnt leave his brothers alone till they watched this He is 15

A surprisingly novel approach to this genre.......2007-07-12

I ran across this movie first on TV, about 1/4 completed and knew nothing about it. I generally love the genre, but did a double-take when the rock music piped up. I wasn't sure I was hearing what I was hearing. But it fit right in. In fact, I would never have thought it could work and probably would have turned up my nose before watching if I had known beforehand (honest admission).

The choice of music is perfect and conveys the right emotional quality. You can't just stick in a rock soundtrack for novelty and hope it will work. The music still has to further the story. When the story in of a different era than the story, the task is difficult. They manage it perfectly.

But don't be convinced that this is all about the music. Though formulaic, the story is well-told, well-acted, well-written and exciting.
We purchased it because we intend to watch again (probably more than most other movies).

I love things new, different and well-done. This is it. By the way, it is a great date-movie. It has a story which appeals to men and women and it romantic (without being drippy and boring).

A Fun Film - If You Get the Joke and Don't Take It Seriously.......2007-06-23

Here is my disclaimer - DON'T TAKE THIS MOVIE SERIOUSLY. I have to admit, when I first saw A Knight's Tale, at first I was a bit put off by the glaring historical inaccuracies and rock music. That is I was until I saw the scene where the herald, Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany), is getting the crowd fired up prior to a match and it all made perfect sense - Jousting as PRO WRESTLING! What the director and writers have done is a satire, putting the features and passion of pro wrestling (and other fan favorite sports like football) into a medieval setting.

Not to completely rehash the plot, the story is a basic, Horatio Alger rags to riches story. William (Hugh Ledger) is a commoner serving as page for Sir Hector, an aging knight who dies of a heart attack during the course of a tournament. Out of funds, William dons Sir Hector's armor and finishes the tournament. This victory inspires William to try to make a living impersonating a knight. He convinces Sir Hector's other pages, Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), to join him and with practice, they become successful on the "Jousting circuit" with William creation, "Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein." Along the way, William defeats the heavy, Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), gets the girl (Jocelyn - played by Shannyn Sossamon), and wins the Jousting Championship.

The dialogue is average (although Bellamy shines in the role of the herald) and the directing is adequate (I did like the shots of the jousting) but the real fun in this film is the satire and the music. The musical selection, such as "Golden Years" by David Bowie for the dancing scene or the choice of "The Boys are Back in Town" by (British) band "Thin Lizzy" for the return to London scene really capture the spirit of the action on the screen. Other details such as the Nike "Swoosh" on the armor just add to the "don't take this too seriously" tone.

I suppose from looking at what others have written, this is a love it or hate it film. I think I got the joke and once I started looking at it from that perspective, found the movie very entertaining.

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