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  1. #1

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    I'm surprised nobody mentioned Braveheart. How many MTW fans modded the game to play with the Scots inspired by this movie? I confess that I did it.

  2. #2

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Certainly a most worthy and necessary addition to the list of favorite and inspirational medieval films.
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  3. #3
    Camel Lord Senior Member Capture The Flag Champion Martok's Avatar
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    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Quote Originally Posted by Belisario View Post
    I'm surprised nobody mentioned Braveheart. How many MTW fans modded the game to play with the Scots inspired by this movie? I confess that I did it.
    Frogbeastegg will kill me for saying this, but Braveheart is my favorite (serious) medieval-era movie as well; in fact, it's actually in my personal "Top Ten" list overall. Gross historical inaccuracies aside, I have to admit I find it a highly entertaining film.

    Kingdom of Heaven gets an honorable mention. While it admittedly receives too much of the Ridley Scott "treatment" IMO, it still seems to do a reasonably good job of portraying medieval life.


    All that being said.... If we're not excluding "serious" medieval movies, then my favorites are -- far and away -- The Princess Bride and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Among me and my friends, I would be hard-pressed to think of two films that get quoted more often by us.
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  4. #4

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Favorite yes, but serious?

    I reckognise that Braveheart had tremendous impact and even that it has charm for the historical epic fan, but truth be told it did so for all the wrong reasons.

    The story, characters and cinematography are so pretentious and calculated for the intended effect, that its hard watching the movie without feeling appaled occasionally. The good bad duality is so very strong and punctuated, as other dualities as well: the male/female (that in film terms denotes the braveness of braveheart and the chickenness of Longshack's effeminate son), the "fairness" of battle valor (as if such a thing ever existed) that contrasts between Longshacks that is willing to sacrifice his own men (by pouring arrows in the melee), while Braveheart (implicitly) frowns upon such "unfair" tactics. Also the ahistoricaleness of the movie, especially the battle depictions is legendary - basically this is little more than historically inspired fiction.

    By the way, it was Braveheart (among other things) that inspired (as a blueprnint and model) CA to do RTW and M2TW what they were - ie excercises in visual entertainment which is what Braveheart itself is.

    As for the Kingdom of Heaven, although not without its virtues, it is imo a little more than a car commercial with a medieval theme. The fact that Orlando bloom can't act in a lead role by any means and so is terribly miscasted doesn't help matters either. Gladiator, which is the same thing as KoH, was much better simply because it was correctly casted.

    All in all, you have many more to be afraid of than just ladyfrog.

    Last edited by gollum; 02-21-2010 at 14:56.
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    Cardinal Member Ironsword's Avatar
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    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    I guess it's a medieval/myth crossover, but Excalibur was pretty amazing. Castle sieges, Jousts, personal combat and Jean-Luc Picard before Star Trek!

  6. #6

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Excalibur is one of the best acted movies ever - that's because all actors were theatrical (british) actors. An amazing film and one that never tires me to watch again and again. Its mythos is deep and characters, story, dialogue are as much (if not much more!) enjoyable than the action scenes. The action itself is realistic and non-pretentious. An all time favorite for me.
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  7. #7

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    I agree with your reviews about Braveheart. Certainly the movie has historical inaccuracies and fall in topics. But, as Martoy says, I find it a highly entertaining film and even has the charm of the historical novels of Walter Scott like Ivanhoe. And excuse me if the comparison offends somebody.

    I also admit that Kingdom of Heaven is one of my favorites, a truly inspirational film to any MTW player. And about main characters, I'm looking forward to seeing Russell Crowe again in the new version of Robin Hood legend by Ridley Scott.

  8. #8
    Camel Lord Senior Member Capture The Flag Champion Martok's Avatar
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    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Quote Originally Posted by gollum View Post
    All in all, you have many more to be afraid of than just ladyfrog.

    Perhaps. But she's the one I fear most.

    Froggy (very understandably) tends to have....strong feelings about films that portray England as the stereotypical "evil overlord/imperialistic megalomaniac", especially since it seems to happen so often. I'll admit it does seem like Hollywood has not been particularly charitable towards our friends across the Pond....


    I keep meaning to ask what her feelings are on Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, as it's one of the relatively few movies I can think of where the English are actually the good guys. Of course, the "bad guys" are changed from the USA in the book to the French in the movie; go figure....




    Quote Originally Posted by Belisario View Post
    I also admit that Kingdom of Heaven is one of my favorites, a truly inspirational film to any MTW player. And about main characters, I'm looking forward to seeing Russell Crowe again in the new version of Robin Hood legend by Ridley Scott.
    Yeah, Kingdom of Heaven (and to a lesser extent, Braveheart) often get me in the MTW "mood" as well. In truth, I suspect that's one reason why I enjoy the film so much, as it reminds me of the game.
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  9. #9

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Quote Originally Posted by Martok View Post
    Braveheart is my favorite (serious) medieval-era movie as well; in fact, it's actually in my personal "Top Ten" list overall. Gross historical inaccuracies aside, I have to admit I find it a highly entertaining film.
    Please don't take this the wrong way, but that film is one of the biggest steaming piles of poo ever to released upon the world. The film is a unpleasant medium for the director's unsavoury political and social views and xenophobia. It ooozes anglophobia, homophobia, scots nationalistic ideals and is in essence a propaganda piece. It steals the character of William Wallace and perverts it to suit Gibson's propaganda aims. (the long haired hippies in woad and kilts are also laughable, it's about as historical as LOTR). On the surface it seems harmless, but sadly people often believe that such films are historically accurate or come to incorrect conclusion as to what is accurate and what isn't.

    Yohei
    Last edited by caravel; 03-18-2010 at 10:32.
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  10. #10

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    I actually always had a question about BH; in the first battle depicted, after he makes his rousing speech and the troops start cheering, he says something in celtic/gaellic (i guess), something to the effect of "Gaora Gabra" (with apologies for my ignorence). Does anyone know what it means and how its spelled?
    Last edited by gollum; 03-18-2010 at 11:24.
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  11. #11

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo

    Just to refresh your memories..., please enlighten me.

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  12. #12

    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Also forgot to mention that unsurprisingly no one mentioned Luc Beson's Jean D'Arc - The Messasnger. It was a terrible film really and in all probability as many gossiping and not so gossiping sources say a pet project of his then girlfriend and supermodel protagonist Mila Yovovitch. At the time, Mila was in her early twenties and the depiction of the Saint is pretty much along the lines of a protestingly atheistic worldview that abounds among 20something year olds. Besson had little choice it seems than accept the idea, and the two of them were riding on the success and the confidence it brings, of teh 5th element in which Mila was substantially better at acting since she had virtually no dialogue :)

    In any case, Jean D'Arc, despite many stellar actors and an expensive and very historically accurate production was a commercial and critical flop as it deserved, since the subtext through which the astounding by all accounts personality of the Saint was approached discarded religion and was there to "prove something" - ie that you have to practice what you preach and that morality cannot be achieved by returning violence to the violent, typical 20something year old points.

    Unsurprisingly the best actors of the film were the ones portraying the English. Even good actors like Dustin Hoffman and Faye Danaway are burried by the script and the depiction of the characters they interpret. However the worst performance imo goes without a shadow of a doubt to Mrs Yovovitch :) Trully despicable portrayal of one of the most intruiging and bold persons to have ever lived.

    I like however the assault sequence of teh Tourelles - it was beautifully shot and climaxed.

    Unfortunately for Luc, the movie flopping seems to have separated him from Mila ;)

    Last edited by gollum; 03-18-2010 at 17:47.
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  13. #13
    Senior Member Senior Member Ser Clegane's Avatar
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    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Of the more recent movies I would second KoH* and Jeanne D'Arc (setting historical accuracy aside I actually also like Braveheart).

    One of the older movies I am quite fond of is El Cid - although I am generally not very fond of Charlton Heston as an actor.

    *EDIT: referring to the Director's Cut - the cinematic version was too obviously cut, it did not really flow.
    Last edited by Ser Clegane; 04-01-2010 at 15:46.

  14. #14
    Thread Necromancer Member Vantek's Avatar
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    Default Re: favorite medieval film?

    Apart from comedy (Monty Python) and fantasy (LotR, Excalibur), I guess Braveheart is the only one I can think of. This is not to say that I adore the film, but simply I can't think of a better one. Kingdom of Heaven was to me just a mindless action movie with a medieval theme. Jean d'Arc I found to be simply boring "aRtsY" lunacy. And actionless drama isn't my thing when it comes to medieval setting, because it's pretty much impossible to credibly reenact medieval setting and even if someone actually managed to pull it off, I just wouldn't be able to relate to such clueless people. So what are we left with... Gladiator, Troy and 300 weren't medieval, they were ancient... Can't think of anything :/

    EDIT: I just remembered feudal japan (Akira Kurosawa's stuff), but I wouldn't consider them to qualify for the question either.
    Last edited by Vantek; 04-01-2010 at 15:45.

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