Knight’s Tale, enchanting, lo too long
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

    Two hours is a little on the lengthy side, especially since the plot is not entirely complex. However, once it gets going, A Knight’s Tale is an enchanting and engaging story excelling in cinematography.

    William, played by Heath Ledger, was born a peasant boy with a dream to become a knight.

    Unfortunately, by tradition, knights must be born of noble blood.
One starry, dreamy night, young William asks his father, John Thatcher (played by Christopher Cazenove), if it is possible for a boy to “change his stars.”

    His answer, of course, is something like “if a boy believes in himself, he can do anything he wants,” and the film’s ending is pretty much given away at that point.

    Even so, the journey is a pleasing one. Much credit is given to William’s three side-kicks: Wat (Alan Tudyk), Roland (Mark Addy) and Geoff Chaucer (Paul Bettany).

    Each has a distinctive personality adding a much needed comic relief to the storyline.

    Perhaps the most enjoyable and memorable character is the part played by Bettany.

    As Geoff Chaucer, he enters the scene naked and stranded on the side of the road. He has lost his belongings because of gambling.

    William and his crew decide to take him along as part of their “knight” make-up. He acts as William’s wild scatterbrained ring announcer whose performances excite audiences on screen and tickle audiences in the theater.

    A Knight’s Tale is filled with beautiful cinematography. Scenery, costumes, makeup, lighting and camera angles give the movie a storybook appeal. All that is missing is the leather binding.

    At times, writer, producer and director Brian Helgeland seems to have borrowed an idea from the earlier Romeo and Juliet starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DeCaprio.

    Although set in the Renaissance era, the film weaves contemporary music in the sound track. The opening credits have knights and arena audiences being wound up for a jousting match to the tune of Queen’s We Will Rock You.

    Ledger practices his jousting skills to Low Rider, makes a dramatic entrance to The Boys Are Back in Town and celebrates success to We Are the Champions.

    A ballroom scene shows William’s lady-in-waiting, Jocelyn (played by Angelina-Jolie-look-alike, Shannyn Sossamon), in a gold dress with a runway model hairstyle sprayed red and gold. The entire moment has a “trippy” feel.

    Although the comparable Romeo and Juliet may have seemed tacky to some, Helgeland’s contemporary blends are just enough to benefit the film in a creative way. According to the director, the effect of these choices was not an accident.

    “For a movie to work, the audience has to be invited in. They can get pushed away if overwhelmed by costumes, obscure speech and antique music,” he said in an interview. “Our goal was to create a bridge between then and now.”

    This bridge is what seems to have created the intriguing originality of the movie.

    Searching for depth, accuracy of time-period and realistic situations could hinder the enjoyment of this film.

    A Knight’s Tale is clearly intended for story time entertainment and has plenty to offer in the way of enchanting characters, beautiful pictures and fairytale fantasy.