Review of A Knight's Tale (2001) by Savvy — 31 Aug 2010

This is such a clever, genre-bending movie. What's odd to me is that many folks didn't "get" the intention of the filmmakers. They take us back to the days when the BIG weekend sport was jousting and when the hot dance tunes were traveling minstrels and the big sports stars were Knights. So, many scenes start out with the Medieval crowd and music but then segue into the crowd chanting or dancing to modern music. My take on this: it was meant to show young people what the equivalent spectacle was to our own current times. Actually, when you watch the movie with that key to understanding the soundtrack -- it is just great fun and inspirational.

The story of a poor stable boy who dares to rise above his station maybe an old one -- but Heath Ledger is wonderful. And Paul Bettany as Geoffrey Chaucer steals the show. The dialogue is witty and sly and literate. And the comradery of the gang of jousters is a joy to experience. This is one of my favorite "feel good" films.