favorite medieval film?

[gollum]

Ok, although this question may be a bit of general interest, i reckon that movies, with their bold and immediate transport that effect in one to the time in question can act as major inspirations for anyone that plays the game.

For me, the best medieval films are, no not Monty Python and the Holy Grail nor Joan D'Arc and Kingdom of Heaven, but a black comedy film (that gossip has it, influenced very much the making of the Grail Python film), which is (unfortunately in terms of language) Italian (although it has been released in English under the title "For love and gold").

I am reffering to none other than the legendary Brancaleone da Norcia, a poor but valorous and kindhearted if not neive and pompous knight and the two films in which he stars in the search of fame, glory, titles and pretty princesses: "L'armata Brancaleone" (Brancleone's army) and "Brancaleone alle Crociate" (Brancaleone in the Crusades).

Both films are made by the legendary Italian director Mario Monicelli (who has authored other legendary comedies like "Amici miei" = "My friends").

In it a conscious full blown black satire of the middle ages is presented, including religion, chivalry, romance, nobility, the knight's quest and other such themes.

For those of you who can find the movie(s) with English subtitles, i would highly recommend them, although i have to underline that the archaic dialects of the Italian language and all their linguistic mannerisms Brancaleone and other characters speak are one of the highest pleasures of the film. In the second installment, most speech is delivered theatrically and in rhyme, adding to the feeling that one is infact watching an actual medieval ballad (that is punctuated by other elements of the narrative, as the duel between Brancaleone and Death himself).

What about other mainhallers' medieval cinematic preferences? and a few words about them and why you like them please.

[The Lurker Below]

i'd like to toss in an honorable mention for The Court Jester here. it is the Spaceballs of its day. a very popular version of Robin Hood and a movie called The Scarlet Pimpernel had just been released a couple years prior to it. Danny Kaye lends a great deal of satirical talent to make an enjoyable film.

[gollum]

Thanks for making me aware of this classic and awarded film, The lurker below. Lets see if anyone will mention El Cid: "From my cold dead hands!"

[Trapped in Samsara]

Hi

OK. A fantasy trilogy so probably inadmissible, but some of the battles in Peter Jackson's LoTR's The Two Towers and The Return of the King are pretty stirring. The charge of the Riders of Rohan before the walls of Minas Tirith! Great stuff.

Regards
Victor

[gollum]

Well Tolkien after all was a prof. in medieval litterature. Rohan is basically the Anglo-Saxons on horses (which Tolkien felt that if only they had in Hastings they would have beaten the Normans, the conquest of England by which he lamented as he had a deep love and affection for the Germanic mythos and ethos of the Anglo-Saxon culture), and Gondor a cross between French/Italians of the middle ages.

[naut]

I always liked Mel Brookes' Robin Hood: Men in Tights. From a castle being wheeled away on a massive cart to needing a locksmith for a chastity belt. One of my favourite movies.

I'll definitely look into L'armata Brancaleone and Brancaleone alle Crociate. Thanks for the recommendation.