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Movies / Upcoming / A Knight's Tale
A Knight's Tale

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A Knight's Tale (2001)

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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

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Reviews for A Knight's Tale

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81 - 100 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Unarguably no great piece of filmmaking, A Knight's Tale manages to be moderately entertaining and enjoyable within its own set of parameters.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
05/11/01
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

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.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
05/11/01
Maitland McDonagh
Maitland McDonagh
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
05/11/01
Geoff Pevere
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star

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.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
05/11/01
John Zebrowski
John Zebrowski
Seattle Times

The effects look phony, the supporting cast is lackluster and Helgeland's script is filled with continuity problems and characters who make no sense.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
05/11/01
William Arnold
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

More often than not, it's fun.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
05/11/01
Bob Graham
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle

It will rock you -- straight to sleep.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
05/11/01
Stephanie Zacharek
Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com

A Knight's Tale proves that a filmmaker -- and his audience -- can have fun pandering.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
05/11/01
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

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.

Full Review Source: Ottawa Citizen | comment Comment
05/11/01
Jay Stone
Jay Stone
Ottawa Citizen

Though the picture is definitely flawed, it maintains a joie de vivre that's surprisingly refreshing.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
05/11/01
Kim Morgan
Kim Morgan
Oregonian

Shamelessly manipulative.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
05/11/01
Gene Seymour
Gene Seymour
Newsday

A solidly entertaining popcorn movie.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
05/11/01
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post

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.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
05/11/01
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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.

comment Comment
05/11/01
Rene Rodriguez
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald

A rousing tribute to sporting events regardless of era or rules.

Full Review Source: Calgary Sun | comment Comment
05/11/01
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Calgary Sun

Far more entertaining and engaging that anything this silly has a right to be.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
05/11/01
Steve Tilley
Steve Tilley
Jam! Movies

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.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
05/11/01
Bob Thompson
Bob Thompson
Jam! Movies

Spirited but uneven.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
05/11/01
Louis B. Parks
Louis B. Parks
Houston Chronicle

Like those wrestling matches, this flick is a flashy good time, kinda stupid but still a tad more clever than you might initially realize.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
05/11/01
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Take it for what it is and you'll find it quite enjoyable, especially if you're a female between 9 and, oh, 79.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
05/11/01
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News
 
 
81 - 100 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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