A Knight's Tale is a movie set in about the Middle Ages or the 14thcentury. The story is about a poor boy named William Thatcher (Heath Ledger) and his dream is to be a knight one day. His father tells him to go on a journey to be what you want to be and “change your stars” or his destiny. This gripping movie is about a man achieving his dreams no matter what or who gets in the way.
This movie is directed by Brian Helgeland, also directing such films as Payback: Straight Up and The Order . The film was produced in 2001 at the studios of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. This movie will indeed provide hours of entertainment.
William's father, John Thatcher wants nothing, but the best for his son and apprentices him to a knight. However, a tragic jousting incident took the live of William's master. He no chose, but to take his master's place in the tournament or die from starvation. Struggling his way through Thatcher ends up winning the tournament and starts his quest to become a knight. With his friends, Roland and Wat, he trains vigorously for an entire month before the next tournament. The group has problem only men of nobility could participate in a tournament and William doesn't have proof of nobility.
The men, fortunately, stumble upon a writer. The writer, Geoffrey, had nothing not even the clothes on his back due to the gamble problem he obtains. The Geoffrey has a proposition, they fed him and cloth him and he'll forge a proof of nobility for William. Now with a new member they are off to met a evil man, William's new rival, named Adhemar and perhaps the love of his life, Lady Jocelyn. At the first of many tournaments to come William is entered in two events, sword fighting and jousting. On his way to the arena meets this Lady Jocelyn, who is constantly fought over by Adhemar and William for her heart. William struggles at first but rising above the competition and wins in sword fighting but loses to Adhemar in jousting.
William wished to get even with Adhemar, but however Adhemar is called off to war. This gives William a chance to hone his skills and in this period wins Jocelyn's heart. William wins a series of tournaments quickly and faces a new competitor, the Prince of Wales. All who faced him would instantly withdrawn in fear of injuring or displeasing his highness. Despite the pressure of his friends William goes through will the joust and defeats the Prince. With the joust over Edward comes to greet William and thank him for actually facing him.
Finally, it time for the World Tournament, the place of all the action. Thatcher first lived in London and wish to tell his father that he had changed his stars. This emotionally moment is interfered by a foul trick by Adhemar, who had followed William to his home. With is information Adhemar proves that William's nobility is false and has him thrown into the stocks. However there is a man in the crowd who owed William a favor, the Prince of Wales. With the authority of the prince he knights Sir William Thatcher. Now able to participate William brings Adhemar to is knees in the match. William has indeed change his stars and now has money, fame, and Lady Jocelyn.
Many movies give up historical accuracy to provide more entertainment to the crowd and this movie is not an acceptation. The movie has a lot of flaws and inconsistencies. On example is that often times props would change from the left side to the right side or they would change altogether.
One major historical inaccuracy is when they enter the city of Paris. Off in the distance you see none other than the Eiffel tower. But wait the Eiffel Tower wasn't built until 1889 what is it doing in the 14thcentury. The same thing happens when they enter London when you can see The Eye of London, a giant Ferris Wheel.
Another inaccurate fact is the names of a certain character, Edward “the Black Prince” of Wales. I've heard that in his lifetime he wasn't called The Black Prince but instead Edward of Woodstock. Edward was only called the Black Prince several years after his death. This name was thought to have started in France. A Frenchman was talking about the countless men lost to Edward military genius and in turn started the name.
Lastly another false fact is the clothing for the time. One of the biggest differences was the clothing of Lady Jocelyn. Women barely ever wore hats. The women often wore large elegant dress with tons of detail and design. Instead she wore dress someone would probably wear today and not in the past.
For a person interested in the subject of the movie I don't recommend this feature. The worthwhile information this movie gives you is that people in the Middle Ages had tournaments with knights. Also the film gives details about two events in the tournaments, jousting and sword fighting.
This film does have a little more information about the time period. The movie contain a few people that were actual historical figures such as Prince Edward of Wales. For these reasons I would have to say this movie is strictly entertainment for the masses.
This film is absolutely hilarious and constructed for your entertainment. One example of this was the addition of the modern day music. The music help to create a fun cheerful tone to the movie is everyone could enjoin it. This is because most music back then contained mostly wind and string instruments. And that doesn't help hype up the crowd, but probably helps them dowse off to sleep.
One of my favorite parts of the movie was the constant babbling of Roland and Wat. These two often created the humor of the movie with their constant fighting and cunning jokes. Wat often said stuff without even thinking it through, for example when Lady Jocelyn calls jousting “little boys with sticks” I think his reply is hilarious, “I am sorry, but its called a lance!”
Finally this is just a heart warming movie about a boy who had a dream to become a knight. He believed that any man could change his destiny if they strived for it. The plot just leaves the people with a positive attitude in that they can do anything they dream as long as they set their minds to it.
Although the movie is not all that historical accurate is wasn't made to be educational, but to provide hours of joy for people. The movie is very funny and suggested to anyone looking for a way to spend an afternoon to pick up this movie and enjoy. This really a great movie with a beautiful message in it; if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.
