Movie Gazette

Heath Ledger stars as William Thatcher, a young peasant squire who has ideas above his station. When his knightly master dies during a jousting tournament, William secretly steps into his place in order to win the much-needed prize. This gives him the idea that he could compete again, and he enlists the help of his master's other servants Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk) in training him. On the way to their first tournament, they encounter a naked man walking down the road – Geoffrey Chaucer, who has lost his clothes through gambling. This talented wordsmith creates a new identity for William, as Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein of Gelderland.

At his first tournament, William meets the beautiful Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon) and is smitten. But he has a rival for both Jocelyn and the joust, in the cunning and slimy Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell). William wins the sword competition, but only comes second in the joust to Adhemar. He determines to defeat Adhemar and to win Jocelyn with the help of his 'squires' Roland and Wat, Chaucer his 'herald', and feisty lady farrier Kate (Laura Fraser). But this is not without risk – only the nobility can compete in the tournament and disaster is always looming.

This is a cheerful and appealing comedy with a range of likeable characters that need make no apologies for the plot's many clichés. From the moment Queen's 'We Will Rock You' rings out over the joust, it is clear that this is a film which doesn't intend itself to be taken too seriously. Although the story is set in the past, the rock music and other modernisms helps the film draw its parallels with the present. Heath Ledger is charming as the hopeful knight, and is a fine foil for his great supporting cast of comic characters. Rufus Sewell does a good job as the villainous Aldhemar, and makes him a character one loves to hate. The only flaw in the cast is Shannyn Sossamon as Jocelyn, who is wooden, shallow and vain – it is impossible to see what the handsome, intelligent and ambitious William would find attractive about her. The soundtrack is very much part of the film, setting its mood perfectly with plenty of classic tracks by Queen, AC/DC and others.