Unarguably no great piece of filmmaking, A Knight's Tale manages to be moderately entertaining and enjoyable within its own set of parameters.
A Knight's Tale (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:136
Fresh:79
Rotten:57
Average Rating:5.8/10
Consensus: Once you get past the anachronism, A Knight's Tale becomes a predictable, if spirited, Rocky on horseback.
Runtime: 2 hrs 24 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $55,001,689
Synopsis: In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor... In the Middle Ages, before television or professional sports, there is only one form of competition to separate the men from the boys: jousting tournaments. William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), a poor and humble squire, has always dreamed of proving himself worthy as a knight. When he gets a lucky chance--seeing an opportunity to disguise himself in the identity of a knight--William decides to maintain the illusion for as long as possible. He is aided by his friends Wat, Roland, and Geoffrey Chaucer--a writer with a knack for forging official papers. Under his new title, Sir Ulrich of Liechtenstein, William wins tournaments and receives monetary awards. However, the only way for William to prove himself as truly noble is to beat out all of his enemies, including the arrogant and undefeated Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), in a series of jousts. Once he does so, William will reveal his his true identity. Writer-director Brian Helgeland creates a unique blend of rousing adventure, comedy, and modern sensibility in A KNIGHT'S TALE, giving a contemporary make-over to the medieval genre with a soundtrack that includes hit songs from Queen, David Bowie, Sly & The Family Stone, and Thin Lizzy. [More]
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon
Starring: Heath Ledger, Mark Addy, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Laura Fraser, Rufus Sewell, Christopher Cazenove, Alan Tudyk
Director: Brian Helgeland
Director: Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, Brian Helgeland
Composer: Carter Burwell
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Reviews for A Knight's Tale
This brazen mix of old and new is undermined by the predictable story, shallow characterizations and a dopey sense of humor that evokes Monty Python and the Holy Grail without actually being especially funny.
Basically a thrift-store bin of borrowed ideas and careworn teen cliches, A Knight's Tale executes one of the most drastic wastes of promise this side of a gifted high school slackoff.
A meandering story packed with corny moments, mostly dull acting and a star who, hype aside, shares only an accent with fellow Australian Russell Crowe.
The effects look phony, the supporting cast is lackluster and Helgeland's script is filled with continuity problems and characters who make no sense.
A Knight's Tale proves that a filmmaker -- and his audience -- can have fun pandering.
Helgeland wrote L.A. Confidential and directed Payback, but this is his first stab at full auteurism, and A Knight's Tale comes with a coherent vision.
Though the picture is definitely flawed, it maintains a joie de vivre that's surprisingly refreshing.
For the most part, the movie is without a sense of scope or curiosity about daily life in the larger society, and is otherwise devoid of things that go bump in the knight.
Strip away its 14th Century trappings and A Knight's Tale is just a Middle Ages Rocky that spares no cliche in its unduly long, 2 1/4 hours.
Far more entertaining and engaging that anything this silly has a right to be.
Even if you don't joust, you should appreciate Brian Helgeland's winking post-modern take on the medieval sport in A Knight's Tale.
Like those wrestling matches, this flick is a flashy good time, kinda stupid but still a tad more clever than you might initially realize.
Take it for what it is and you'll find it quite enjoyable, especially if you're a female between 9 and, oh, 79.
Latest News for A Knight's Tale
December 14, 2005:
San Fran Crix Make Their Year-End Picks
SAN FRANCISCO -- The love story "Brokeback Mountain" won three major awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, from the San Francisco Film Critics Circle, the... More...
June 15, 2005:
Trailer Bulletin:The Brothers Grimm
AOL Moviefone.com unleashes the first trailer for Terry Gilliam's "The Brothers Grimm," which opens on August 26th. Matt Damon ("The Bourne Identity") and... More...
May 10, 2005:
Wachowskis Tap Weaving for "Vendetta"
James Purefoy is out and Hugo Weaving is in, according to Variety. The movie in question is "V for Vendetta," which is a big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic... More...
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 68% 68% | Sherlock Holmes | 26/12 |
| 40% 40% | The Lovely Bones | 26/12 |
| 100% 100% | The French Kissers | 26/12 |
| 85% 85% | Bright Star | 26/12 |
| 87% 87% | Nowhere Boy | 26/12 |
| 18% 18% | Alvin and the Chipmunk… | 26/12 |
| 11% 11% | Did You Hear About the… | 26/12 |
| 05% 05% | Old Dogs | 26/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- A Knight's Tale at Rotten Tomatoes
- A Knight's Tale at IGN
- A Knight's Tale at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.



Top Critic


