Movie #3 : A Knight's Tale

 I want to start this review by talking about Heath Ledger. Heath Ledger was such an amazing actor who unfortunately passed at the age of 28. He is known for movies such as "10 Things I Hate About You" "Brokeback Mountain" as well as "A Knight's Tale". Seeing him on screen makes me feel sad but also happy in a way because although I know he would have gone on to do more great roles, I am glad he was immortalized on film. He was a kind person and stood up for others. He will always be missed.

Heath Ledger was the main character in the movie "A Knight's Tale" playing William. William, who was just a squire, decides to impersonate a knight after his master dies. He works with his two companions and meets more on the way to great a strong group of friends. He begins to joust which he has a natural talent for. This talent not only brings love but also suspicion. Will he be able to compete without being found out? 

The movie, directed by Brian Helgeland in 2001, is set in the 14th century and follows the gaming practices popular during this time. The decision to watch this movie came from my love for Heath Ledger, but also from my Roman art history class. I was looking at shows in this category and found this movie and it seemed like the perfect fit. It also had romance which is of course my favorite genre, along with hints of comedy which were funny for all time periods. As for the historical accuracy of the movie, I have no idea. It's highly possible the movie was not accurate, but I don't think that was really the point. 

The point of this movie, in my opinion, was to show how given the opportunity, one can find make greatness in themselves. While William was a squire, he was not able to reach his full, but once he gives himself a title, he is able to flourish into his best form. From here, he is also able to find love, friendship, and glory. During this time period, and even now, economic status is extremely important when looking at what opportunities will be available to you. I respect William for going after what he wanted, even if it meant risking his life. 

The costume and hair department did fantastic jobs, especially with women's fashion and hair. At first, I was a little hesitant to watch the film because it was so long, but once you watch it, you realize there are aspects of the movie that need to be shown in order to give the story depth. In all, I really enjoyed this movie and I recommend it to those who like historical action and romance.