![]() Yearning for both spiritual and temporal salvation, Balian joins the Crusader forces defending Jerusalem, only to find the fanatical and power-hungry nobles to be more dangerous than the enemy outside the city walls. Set in the late 12th century, Kingdom of Heavenfollows Balian (Orlando Bloom) as he travels to Jerusalem after learning he is the bastard son of a powerful local baron (Liam Neeson). Ridley Scott’s 2005 epic may be a surprise at the top of the list given the initially mixed reviews and the mediocre box office returns, but Scott’s director’s cut adds spectacle and depth, making it an all-time classic medieval movie. Dripping with drama and bursting with battles, Vikings delves deep into Norse culture to create a vivid and authentic world that viewers will never want to leave. The latter’s odd couple friendship with Ragnar forms one of the most beautiful and devastating relationships in the entire series. ![]() Katheryn Winnick as the fierce and intelligent Lagertha and George Blagden, as the conflicted English monk Athelstan, are particular standouts. Travis Fimmel’s tour de force as the ambitious and mercurial Ragnar takes center stage but almost every actor shines in their roles. Created by Michael Hirst ( The Tudors, Elizabeth), Vikings presents a sprawling cast of dynamic, gripping characters rising and falling like the waves of the North Sea. History Channel’s six-season odyssey follows the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, a Norse farmer and adventurer who raids England, kick-starts the Viking Age, and eventually becomes the King of Denmark. Vikingsis the best medieval show on this list, and it is not even close. Though the series is finished, a feature film, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, is slated for a 2023 release. A deft combination of political drama and war drama, The Last Kingdom is a grounded, historical complement to Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. As a result, Uthred, a lethal but headstrong warrior, consistently finds that the throne room can be far more dangerous than the battlefield. The Danes are not wholly evil while the Saxons, despite their posturing, and not wholly virtuous. This is a classic hero's journey that loves to live in gray areas. Split between these two warring cultures, Uthred is pulled in both directions throughout the series as he fights to reclaim his destiny. Based on Bernard Cornwell’s book series, The Saxon Stories, the show follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the Saxon heir to a Northumbrian castle who is robbed of his birthright and raised by the invading Danes. The Last Kingdomis Netflix’s second entry on this list and for good reason, the five-season drama combines high-stakes politics, passion, and warfare, adding up to an addicting medieval TV show. Related: Iconic MCU Roles That Heath Ledger Would Have Crushed It may not have won Oscars or was revered by critics, but A Knight’s Tale is arguably the most entertaining entry on this list and is certainly the most rewatchable. Helgeland cleverly hit on jousting being the medieval equivalent of professional sports and structured his film as a sports movie, a unique tactic among period pieces set in the Middle Ages. He seizes this chance when his master dies, forging a noble lineage that allows him to smash his way through Europe’s jousting circuit.Īccompanied by his loyal sidekicks Roland and Wat (Mark Addy and Alan Tudyk in a lovable double act), William bluffs his way through high society, falling in love with the effervescent Lady Jocelyn and angering the dastardly Count Adhemar. ![]() William Thatcher, played with charm and enthusiasm by the late Heath Ledger, is a humble squire who dreams of becoming a knight. ![]() Confidential, Mystic River) rollicking adventure injects contemporary humor and rock n’ roll into the classic tale of a lowborn boy trying to change his stars. Related: James Bond: Sean Connery's Best Moments As 007Ī Knight’s Taleis a perfect blend of fresh and familiar. A captivating medieval murder mystery, The Name of the Rose is a perfect blend of intellectual stimulation and emotional resonance. Murray Abraham) and the fearful tactics of the Inquisition.Ĭonnery gives an assured performance, inhabiting the gravity and intellect of William with ease, while Abraham and Ron Perlman highlight a strong supporting cast. But his inquiries are put in jeopardy by the fanatical Bernardo Gui (F. William possesses a Sherlockian intellect, one he uses to investigate a series of mysterious deaths that occur during a Church conference in an isolated Italian abbey. But his turn as Franciscan friar William of Baskerville in the 1986 adaptation of Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Roseis often unfairly overlooked. Sean Connery’s post-Bond career was replete with excellent performances in memorable films - The Untouchables, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and The Hunt for Red October the first that often spring to mind. ![]()
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