Learning Team B Week 4 - A Knight's Tale
HUM150
October 29, 2013

Learning Team B Week 4 - A Knight's Tale
Complete the following matrix by filling out each category. Provide a brief description of each component and how that component was used in the film you selected. For example, if you selected the film The Shining, under setting, in the first column, you would describe one important film setting, and in the second column, you would explain how that film’s setting was used to impact the audience (how was it presented, what information was provided, what mood was established, etc.).

1. Name the film you watched.
A Knight’s Tale

2. What genre do you believe it falls under?
Romance and action

In a short-answer format with a minimum of 50 words, answer the following question:

1. Did the film fit the mold associated with that genre? Why or why not?
All members of the team agreed that this movie definitely falls under romance because it’s a very traditional love story and is predictable as you know that they will end up together in the end. They are also from opposite side of the “tracks”; she is royalty and he is a peasant trying to become more.
Most of the team members decided that the movie should also fall under action because the joust competition throughout the movie provided a dose of action as it was fast-paced, and exciting.
There is enough strategy and good against evil drama to justify calling this movie a romantic-action film.

SettingMost of the movie took place outdoors in dusty arenas.Church and dance hall not a lot of detail plain setting | Scenes are realistic, feel of actually being in the audience.Not a focus of the movie | ActingThe arena scenes had some of the best acting, medieval jousting with modern sporting event behavior. I enjoyed the twist with the observing audience. The thump-thump-clap to “We will Rock You” is very relatable to today.William’s drive and desire to become a knight was excellent acting. You can see the need in his eyes to achieve this goal. I believe Heath Ledger maybe a method actor. When he is speaking to Roland and Wat about changing their stars and 15 gold coins into more than they could ever dream of.There is a scene in the church were William and Jocelyn are arguing about his love for her and they both have some much passion you feel as if they have a real relationship. | The acting in the film is very believable. All the main and supporting character’s took on their roles quite well and had great progress and development throughout the film. William changes his stars and becomes a Knight. Jocelyn becomes more trusting and open to a relationship with a Knight. Lord Adamar, the villain, ends up losing the tournament and the girl. Roland, Wat and Chaucer all supported the roles and main characters ultimate goals of succeeding for a better future for them all. All in all, acting was believable and added to the quality and enjoyment of the film. There were also several references to Chaucer throughout the film, from his Canterbury Tales. | LightingNatural sunny lighting throughout the tournaments.Cloudy overcast during Lord Adamar’s review of Wills’ victoriesLower lighting during dance, letter reading and church scenesFog dimly lighted during flash back when Will was a child being set away | Generated a more enjoyable tournament experience Heightened anguish victory and disappointment of his nonattendance to the tournaments Created a more romantic and intense feelings duringIntensified his sadness and him being scared going off to the unknown | CostumesMedieval peasants and novelty fashions. Knight’s armor | The differences between the peasants and the novelty attires, grooming, and hair provided a clear delineation between the two social classes of the time. The changes in dresses, hats, and hair show the changes Jocelyn went through in response to Williams’ romantic advances. | MakeupThe makeup had a sun-kissed and natural quality. Hair ranged from elaborate, very tight works of art to long, untended, and disheveled | Makeup and hair played a primary role differentiating between the peasants and novelty. Novelty appeared well groomed with clean and adorned hair. Peasant appeared with old, torn clothes, and dirty looking un-kept long hair. We see again a clear delineation between the novelty and peasant social classes. | MusicR&B music played during some tournaments. Fanfares played when introducing the knights for the tournaments (instruments played were trumpets, drums, etc.)For instance, when William talked about being in love or talking to Jocelyn and when they danced. A higher note, more suspenseful and victorious music played during tournaments. Soft, sad melodies when William remembered his childhood, and when he went back home to see his father.Pop music (low rider) played when William was learning the medieval sport jousting. | The movie started with the song “We will rock you”. That song is a rock genre that on the 1800’s did not exist yet. I would have agreed that it was ok to play it on the background, but people were actually singing it in the first scene.The instrumental melodies played in the background with piano or flute during the movie set the mood of the audience and set expectations of the type of scene being played. | SoundWilliam’s first sword fight you can hear the ding and dong of his sword as he fights the other knight and 1-2-3-4-5 he wins.Jousting scenes you can hear every splinter break off the jousting spear and even hit the ground when he is fighting Adamar for the final victory.In the arena you hear the pounding and the ground moving as the horses are running towards the opponent and their labored breath as they are running. | The sound effects mostly involve weapons for sword fighting and jousting. Character’s accents where perfect.In the arena it is the crowd cheering and breath and running of the horses. All the sounds added in felt real and fit into the movie very well. | EditingMost of the movie has cross-cutting shots. During the scenes where William practiced to be a knight there were several very short scenes using the montage sequence to show his improvement over time.There was eye matching editing during tournaments when William looked into Jocelyn’s eye and she looked back to him.There were many reverse shots, especially during tournaments showing William on his back and the next scene coming toward the opposite knight.At the beginning of tournaments there were very extreme close shots of the armor, the horses eyes, and the instrument used for jousting). | The effects on editing and the different shots used in the movie affected the audience to feel transported to the nineteen century where jousting was the sport played by Nobel knights. |

References:

A Knight's Tale . (n.d.). Amazon TV. Retrieved October 25, 2013, from http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&deviceLinked=1&docId=1000777461