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Post by maxx02 on Feb 16, 2007 21:40:32 GMT
A couple of you asked why I dislike this picture so vehemently, so here you are: Bad screen play. Nothing happens. It goes nowhere. The dialogue is mediocre and meaningless and it sheds absolutely no light on anything happening in the story. Bad casting.  , where do I begin. Even Paul Bettany is frightening in this. Rufus looks lovely but his performance is not up to his usual exacting standards. Shannyneneyen Sssslossmeslna or whatever her name is, is a horror story. She has more feathers in her head than what seems to be growing out of her hair. Heath Ledger--he's a bit like James Franco, isn't he? Okay maybe a little better but not much. Bad direction. One ambling joust after another. It might have been interesting to see William actually improve but we only get a passing mention. Completely meandering and absurd going nowhere and accomplishing nothing, not even entertainment. Don't even get me started on the music, costumes and entire premise.... Mostly I hate it because in the hands of a better director it could have been a really wonderful picture, set in an era that I really love, peopled with characters that were interesting instead of 20th century Hollywood stupid shallow completely designed to try to rake in the cash from a teen audience. And the only one more wasted than Rufus was James Purefoy. But other than that I loved it. It has one of my very favorite visual scenes with Rufus. Guess which one...  It may not be the one you think... As to the question about the coins, I haven't rewatched it so I can't answer it yet. But I expect there will be plenty of time as everyone comes out to defend. ;D |
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Post by ukelelehip on Feb 16, 2007 22:03:54 GMT
But I expect there will be plenty of time as everyone comes out to defend. ;D Yes people please do. Let's keep it positive!! Think bunny rabbits and rainbows...  Think how dishy Roof looks in tin. |
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Post by pattirose on Feb 16, 2007 23:18:46 GMT
ROTFLMAO!! That's hilarous Maxx - thanks for the reply.
And speaking of tin, on the extras, I think it was the costume designer, comments on how the actors were "uncomfortable" in it and how she felt it added the realism of their performances -then they cut to a clip of Ruf looking "uncomfortable" and trying to explain how the raw tin was taking chunks out of his neck. Poor baby he looked quite miserable and very "uncomfortable".
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Post by mcr5137 on Feb 16, 2007 23:44:20 GMT
Well, I don't think things always have to be positive........every actor has done a film or two that isn't very good, and Ruf is no different. Plus, we can't all like the same things! I love hearing what people like or DON'T like about different films! So with that, thank you, Maxx, for giving your reasons. Now I will tell you why I liked some of the very things you didn't! Not to keep things positive..........just to keep things interesting!
One of your complaints was the acting of Heath and Shannyn........and I liked both. Now let me say that I haven't seen either of them in many other things (Heath in The Patriot and 10 Things I Hate.... and SS in an SVU ep, where she was wonderful, and her bit part in Holiday) so I don't have a lot to compare here. But I thought Heath played the naive, ambitious (but not in a bad way like Adhemar), "wanting-to-change-his-stars" character rather well. William was young, born to a low position, left his father at a young age and saw the grandeur that was the life of a knight........he didn't have a lot of experience in life and I felt Heath played that perfectly. Shannyn was supposed to be a lady, of noble birth, and, until the time of meeting William, there was not much meaning in her life........and I think she played it that way.......very shallow, very spoiled, quite petulant, and very "nothing". To me, that's what that character called for. As for Bettany.......sorry, he can't be bad, no matter what, to me! Granted he's done some much more major roles, more dramatic, and shown his skills far more superbly, but for the role of cocky Geoffery Chaucer........he was great! Again, I think he gave what that role called for.
You felt the screenplay went nowhere..........to me, that was the point. I didn't see this as a dramatic film with a major plot or a big point to make.........it was meant as a fun, don't have to think too much, good vs. bad, rags to riches, romantic story and sometimes that's what I want! Just pure escapism and fun! So to me, it was exactly what I expected and just what I wanted. Maybe it was geared towards teens and meant to feel shallow........but, again, sometimes that's just what I need!
Now I will agree with you on a few points...........James Purefoy was just there for decoration. They could have made that role much more important and fun. Other than him knighting William, he served no purpose and that was a shame. I did like the scene where William says "he puts his own life in danger. He's just like me, he has to hide to compete" If they had just built more out of that part of the story, I would have liked it better. I also agree that they showed way too much of the actual jousting........and to what end? As you say, they don't really show William's improvement and yet he continues to win, so obviously he getting better........but we don't see that. We also don't see his growth as a person other than the scene where he chooses not to run in the face of imprisonment. Surely with all that he goes through, he becomes a better person? To just show scene after scene of two knights jabbing each other was boring.
The music...........I loved it! I thought it was very witty to put modern music to that time period. I took it to mean that the story of change, rags to riches, and romance are the same no matter when it takes place. To have the crowd singing Queen's song and using "Golden Years" during the dance scene was just genius to me! It "modernized" the story without actually taking it out of the time period! And I love period films, don't get me wrong! But this was half fantasy..........and the music just made it all the more fun!
I have no clue what your favorite scene was..........I have several! The dancing scene, complete with Rufus' facial expressions, was wonderful! I loved the scene where William sees his father.......yeah, it was sappy, but I loved it! I liked Bettany's "introductions" at the tournaments! He just cracked me up! I loved that William's men (well and Kate, the metal worker) loved him no matter what, supported him no matter what. I loved the knighting scene where the Prince said just that, "Your men love you, and if I knew nothing else, that would be enough".
I loved how "bad" Rufus was! I loved how gorgeous he was! He stole the show for me completely.........and I originally went to see it because of Heath Ledger and because it was about that time period! At the time, though I had seen Rufus before, I didn't know who he was at all. Right away he caught me off guard and I found myself watching him most of all!
Ok, I'll shut up.......I'm most likely making you want to upchuck! I do hope you'll tell us what your favorite scene was......you've got me curious now! And thanks again for answering why you didn't like this one! I loved reading your comments and although I saw things differently, it makes this all really interesting.
Michelle
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Post by aftereightlady on Feb 17, 2007 15:54:15 GMT
After mcrs long comment there isn't much left to say any more - above all because I have the same opinion. One of your complaints was the acting of Heath and Shannyn........and I liked both. Me too! As for Bettany.......sorry, he can't be bad, no matter what, to me! Granted he's done some much more major roles, more dramatic, and shown his skills far more superbly, but for the role of cocky Geoffery Chaucer........he was great! Exactly! The music...........I loved it! I thought it was very witty to put modern music to that time period. I took it to mean that the story of change, rags to riches, and romance are the same no matter when it takes place. Yes!!! I loved how "bad" Rufus was! I loved how gorgeous he was! He stole the show for me completely......... YES! YES! YES!  I have no clue what your favorite scene was.......... Nor have I, but I know what MY favourite scene is: I most definitely LOVE (!!!!) the scene where Adhemar expains the jousting rules to Jocelyn. There is one short moment (when she answeres his annotation that he didn't never lie on his back with "Nor have I") when there creeps such an astonishment and desire and covetousness over his face, through his eyes--- Well, I must admit: I'm melting like sweet butter in the sun whenever I look at his facial expression in that moment. He plays with his eyes, he flirts with his eyes, with just one short glance. It's absolutely fabulous! |
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Post by ree on Feb 17, 2007 17:17:48 GMT
Nor have I, but I know what MY favourite scene is: I most definitely LOVE (!!!!) the scene where Adhemar expains the jousting rules to Jocelyn. There is one short moment (when she answeres his annotation that he didn't never lie on his back with "Nor have I") when there creeps such an astonishment and desire and covetousness over his face, through his eyes--- Well, I must admit: I'm melting like sweet butter in the sun whenever I look at his facial expression in that moment. He plays with his eyes, he flirts with his eyes, with just one short glance. It's absolutely fabulous! Yes, A8L I think that scene is an example of Rufus at his best. He manages to convey a succession of different emotions primarily with his eyes that anyone, from any country, immediately understands. It never ceases to amaze me when I see him do this in his films! |
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Post by mcr5137 on Feb 17, 2007 23:07:46 GMT
Oh.....I forgot about that scene! I loved that one too!
And I'm sorry I got so wordy...........I'll bite my tongue (or my fingers) next time!
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Post by maxx02 on Feb 17, 2007 23:20:38 GMT
And I'm sorry I got so wordy...........I'll bite my tongue (or my fingers) next time! No, no, no! It was great. Keep talking. I like reading all of them. |
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Post by ree on Feb 18, 2007 2:17:51 GMT
And I'm sorry I got so wordy...........I'll bite my tongue (or my fingers) next time! No, no, no! It was great. Keep talking. I like reading all of them. I enjoy them too, from all of you! I would like to add that I appreciated this film much more after watching the special features and gaining an insight into what motivated the Director to make certain peculiar choices, like the music for instance. I also loved Rufus' sad left out little boy face during the dance. I 'm not sure what motivated the frenzy of coin slinging, I'll have to watch it again, unless it was to say. "I may not be able to connect musically with people my own age but I'm rich & the people love me for my generosity." |
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Post by mcr5137 on Feb 18, 2007 2:37:47 GMT
I haven't seen that part yet.........but from what I've read........I think he might have done it as a way to "buy" the people's affections and admiration, which is basically what you are saying, Ree. He doesn't "fit in" because he's such a jerk! So I think that was his way of getting the people to stop thinking about William and start thinking (and liking) him!
Michelle
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Post by sevensisters on Feb 18, 2007 3:31:06 GMT
After having watched this film several times now I like it better than I did at first. I couldn't stand the use of modern music in a medieval setting, and still don't like that part, and the outlandish costumes Joselyn wore, as well as the modernizing of her character into someone totally unlike a medieval noblewoman would probably have been. But overall I like the story and realize it's not meant to be taken seriously, just watched for fun.
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Post by aftereightlady on Feb 18, 2007 8:36:27 GMT
After starring , uhm, looking at some screencaps of A Knight's Tale at maxx' page, I realised that the Germen version must be once more different to the region 1 and region 2 English ones, because I know the scene after the dancing scene when Adhemar is bunging the money, but I've NEVER seen a scene where he is (obviously) training (or fighting?) with a sword (?) and - well - without a shirt... That's a great deficit, I fear.  BTW: I loved to read your opinion mcr, please don't stop talking! |
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Post by pattirose on Feb 18, 2007 17:58:18 GMT
The shirtless/topless training with a sword is on the region 1 - extended version which also has the longer Paul Bettany speech in its extra 10 minutes of footage. I just watched it again, for like the 10th time and didn't see any scene where he was throwing money. Unless everyone is talking about the 4 coins he puts in the beggars cup?
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Post by aftereightlady on Feb 18, 2007 18:11:58 GMT
I just watched it again, for like the 10th time and didn't see any scene where he was throwing money. Unless everyone is talking about the 4 coins he puts in the beggars cup? No, it's an obviously cutted scene between the dancing scene and the crackling fire. In that scene Adhemar leaves the banquet and goes to a lovely patio where a crowd is revolting, perhaps because the people are hungry and feel like getting a raw deal for the nobility is celebrating while they are staying out in the cold without a meal and without money. Hereupon Adhemar relieves the wardens of rations of food and money and throws bread and coins towards the crowd. |
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Post by pattirose on Feb 18, 2007 18:49:34 GMT
aftereightlady thanks for clearing that up for me, I have never seen that scene, sad to say.
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It may not be the one you think...
Think how dishy Roof looks in tin.
