The 2004 film King Arthur claimed to be “the untold true story behind the legend,” and while this is an overstatement on many levels,that the filmmakers found an interesting figure in history to upon which to base their new Arthur is undeniable. While scholars have searched high and low for sufficient evidence to prove the existence of Arthur and found nothing substantial enough to confirm the myth, Jerry Bruckheimer & Co. stumbled upon some existing research about one “Lucius Artorius Castus” and had a field day with the idea.

Lucius Artorius Castus lived in the 2nd century AD, and served as the Roman commander of the Sixth Legion in Britain, stationed at Hadrian’s Wall in the north, the massive barricade that stretched from Newcastle to Carlisle; his grave in the Balkans makes that much clear. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius defeated a group of Sarmatian warriors above the Black Sea in 175 AD, and he conscripted the remaining 8000 into the Roman army; of these 5500 were sent to Britain as reinforcements along the Great Wall. The best archeological evidence of their presence here comes from the Roman fort at Ribchester, but there is no evidence linking them with Lucius Artorius Castus. Nevertheless, some scholars have surmised that many Sarmatians did serve under Artorius and his name became a sort of honorary title for great warriors — it has even been speculated that the entire Arthurian legend can be traced back to these press-ganged Sarmatians (see “The Sarmatian Connection” by C. Scott Littleton). A curious theory indeed, and one that enabled 21st-century filmmakers to fashion a King Arthur along both modern ideals and “new” historical evidence.

This would of course mean that the film was set two centuries too late, right? Not quite; the filmmakers do at least acknowledge the difference in dates:

[The Sarmatians'] leader, Artorius Castus, is the offspring of a marriage between a Roman and a British woman. He may be either a descendant of the original Lucius Artorius Castus, prefect of the VI Vecxtrix Legion and commander of the Sarmatian warriors in exile, or simply a leader who took the name Artorius as a title. (Production Notes)

The heavy Sarmatian influences in the film (horse traditions, battle standards, armor, etc.) are the result of the filmmakers squeezing the Sarmatian theory for all it’s worth. And while the history is simply shaky at best and the film no closer to proving the existence of Britain’s most elusive national hero, King Arthur works. Perhaps if the producers had not made such fanciful claims regarding the movie’s historical validity, the critics would have found less to hate. Admire its creativity, but ignore its “facts”

For the past two weeks now, I have been entertained by a new show on NBC, Merlin. Actually, it’s not a new show, and it’s not NBC’s. It’s a BBC creation (there’s a surprise) that first aired across the pond in 2008 and work on the second season, to air this autumn on the BBC, is underway in France and Wales.

I had read a tidbit here and there about the series before, but I was surprised when I happened upon an episode on NBC while passing through my parent’s room. With the swordfighting and magnificent shots of Camelot, I thought, “Why, this must be that show Merlin!” Quite unintentionally, my Sunday evening plans evaporated, and I sat spellbound in front of the TV for two hours instead. “Spellbound” might be the wrong word, but I certainly didn’t want the show to end. And luckily for me, I caught the premier night (or perhaps not so lucky, if you consider the absurd amount of commercials).

Merlin is a far cry from the traditional Arthurian legend. For starters, Merlin (Colin Morgan) is a peasant boy, with X-Men-like mind powers who comes to Camelot to work with King Uther Pendragon’s (Anthony Head) court physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson), hoping he can get some answers regarding his gifts. And Arthur (Bradley James) is no chivalrous, noble king—at least, not yet. More like your typical, swaggering (and hott) high school jock in mail and plate armor—but he’s showing promise. Oh, and Guenivere, simply called Gwen (Angel Coulby), is the daughter of a blacksmith, handmaiden to Morgana (Katie McGrath), Uther’s (irritating) ward. The twists and modernization of the Arthurian legends are by no means unwelcome, and they are not nearly as difficult to swallow as those in A Knight’s Tale; that movie was painful—this series is fun and unoffensive, though not on par with some of BBC’s other dramas in terms of plot and acting.

That said, Merlin is a great way to fill the Sunday night void left by the end of Masterpiece Classic—and I have found myself on the edge of my seat more than once! More fantastical than historical, with the central theme being the use of magic despite Uther’s strict prohibitions, Merlin is no period piece, but it is a new, captivating rendition of the timeworn Arthurian tales for this generation sure to entertain.

Merlin has been airing NBC at 8pm Eastern, with the one-hour installments coming in pairs (“The Dragon’s Call”, “Valiant”, “The Mark of Nimueh”, and “The Poisoned Chalice” being episodes 1-4), but there is no indication yet that July 5 will see another episode besides “Lancelot.” You can watch all the episodes on the Merlin minisite, but I must warn you: you will have memorized the Capital One desert island advertisement by the time it is through—NBC doesn’t even soothe the commercial irritation with variety.  You can also read about the upcoming season two here if you want, but I smell spoilers.

We now have two sets of photos from the set of Ridley Scott’s 2010 film Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. Click here  to see shots featuring Crowe and others on horseback, as well as transportation of a more modern nature, and here to see what looks like the making of a battle or invasion scene, as well as some close ups of Crowe’s garb.

Vanessa Redgrave (Atonement, Byron, A Man for All Seasons) will play Eleanor of Acquitaine, Richard I and John’s mother, wife of Henry II. Mark Strong (A & E’s Emma, Henry VIII, Tristan + Isolde), Sir Godfrey; Oscar Isaac, King John; Lea Seydoux, Isabella of France. Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, and Alan Doyle will play some of Robin Hood’s men.

Check out these two new posters for Sherlock Holmes, opening Christmas Day. I must say Robert Downey Jr. looks rather dashing.

The Romantic Poets are sensational stuff, worth of more film attention then they’ve been given (read the novel Passion). So I was thrilled to discover that a new John Keats biopic that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival will see a fall release in the US, if the rumors on IMDB are to be believed—actually, I am just thrilled that such a movie even exists. It is called Bright Star, after Keat’s poem of the same name, and highlights the short-lived relationship between the poet (Ben Whishaw) and Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish).

Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art– 
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart,
Like nature’s patient, sleepless Eremite,
The moving waters at their priestlike task
Of pure ablution round earth’s human shores,
Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask
Of snow upon the mountains and the moors–
No–yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,
Pillow’d upon my fair love’s ripening breast,
To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,
Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,
Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,
And so live ever–or else swoon to death. (Source)

The film’s official site is too artsy to navigate at the moment, but you can see some great stills here.

And finally, here’s a comprehensive article in the Independent on Sam Mendes’s recent acquisition of a new Middlemarch adaptation. Apparently, Martin Scorsese had been interested in bringing the behemoth novel to the big screen, but was deterred by, well, its daunting size.

“Period dramas are expensive to make and in these times when people are looking to budget, it’s not the easiest of times,” she said.

“Not every book set in the past suits being turned into a film, but I think Middlemarch lends itself well to adaptation. Focus Features have got a fantastic track record of doing classics and doing them extremely well.”

Andrew Davies, who has won five Baftas for his TV adaptations of novels by Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and William Thackeray, has already adapted Middlemarch for a BBC TV mini-series. He has now finished writing the script for the film.

WE WILL ROCK YOU.

That’s the subtitle for the “unforgettable,” puzzling, anachronistic 2001 film, directed by Brian Helgeland and starring Heath Ledger, Rufus Sewell, Shannyn Sossamon, and Paul Bettany. Well, A Knight’s Tale certainly did rock me, but it was an uncomfortable sort of rocking—like trying to enjoy oneself when on an alarmingly small boat that’s bouncing about on the ocean. In all honesty, I really don’t know where to begin or what to say when it comes to this one. What I was expecting, I don’t quite know, but it wasn’t this—”this” being a great idea executed poorly with some glaring offenses that almost make the movie painful.

The premise is this: a young squire’s master is killed  and the young squire, William Thatcher (played by Heath Ledger), decides to fool everyone and become a knight himself, the major issue being only people of noble birth and blood can joust. There are humorous characters aplenty, the main three being William’s two peasant buddies, Roland (Mark Addy) and Wat (Alan Tudyk), and Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany)—I didn’t take “Rock-n-Roll meets The Canterbury Tales” seriously (though the title is borrowed from the work), but yes, the great poet himself occupies a central position in the story as William’s grandiloquent herald with a gambling problem. Needless to say, this little tidbit of his career does not show up on his Wiki bio page. He was the funniest character in the film, so one can forgive his random appearance.

There is an awful lot of jousting in this film, as William (Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland, thanks to Chaucer’s noble patent forgery skills) competes in tourney after tourney. After a while, I lost all hope of anything ever happening and accepted that this was just a renaissance faire jousting demonstration on steroids. A Knight’s Tale is, in essence, not a period drama at all, but a modern-day, feel-good sports movie with a fourteenth-century twist. Fast forward 600 years and you’ve got Angels in the Outfield or Leatherheads. If you enjoy lots of slow-motion tilting, this is your movie.

Much like the subplots for sports movies are generally pretty tame and predictable, the romances and petty dramas in this film are not much to speak of. William, being an attractive, lithe young knight, of course has a love interest, and her name is Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon). Jocelyn looks like she has stepped right out of a nasty modern-medieval photo shoot on America’s Next Top Model. Umm, seriously? We are in the 1300’s, not a catwalk in Milan. Thankfully, some humorous dialogue save her from being completely irritating. The little blacksmithess (my word), however, is very likeable. Considering it was her armor that saved Will from being killed while he was losing to impress Lady Anime, he should have been cavorting with her instead—and she is wearing the right clothes.

I hate Rufus Sewell in pretty much everything the guy is in (apparently, he plays Alexander Hamilton in the HBO series John Adams, which is a crying shame because I really like Hamilton), and his role as the villainous Count Adhemar of Anjou in A Knight’s Tale is very vile indeed.

Beware of heavy anachronisms in this film, both deliberate ones meant to screw with your mind and spice up the film (much like the infamous Converse in Marie Antoinette), and ones that aren’t so funny. We have what looks to be Tudor England in the fourteenth-century (mistake), people alive and kicking when they should be dead (mistake), peasants singing “We Will Rock You” before a joust among other rock tracks (joke), and Jocelyn’s offensive attire (joke or poorly informed costume designer?).  Just don’t take anything in this movie seriously—and when the knights come waltzing into London to “The Boys are Back in Town,” complete with screaming fangirls, on their way to the “World Championships,” one realizes it is impossible to do otherwise

Oh, but the film does have one saving grace that earns it a spot on my DVD shelf: James Purefoy. I was unaware that he was in the film, so when I saw a very familiar grin underneath a black helm, I am not ashamed to say my heart did a little flutter. He doesn’t have a great deal of screentime (shame), but as the Black Prince, son of King Edward III, he has a significant role, ultimately knighting William so he can legally face Count Adhemar in the World Championships.

A Knight’s Tale isn’t all that exciting. Good acting, flat story. Recommended for fans of Heath Ledger and James Purefoy and anyone interested in jousting. This seems to be everyone’s favorite Middle Ages movie, however, so you might as well watch it anyway. It vacillates over that fine line between facetiously fun and annoying, so I give it 3 out of 5 stars (and James is responsible for star number 3 )

And RIP Heath Ledger.

Check out this review from The Guardian: “A Knight’s Tale: Hoxtonista hairdos, Freddie Mercury and the Mexican Wave“

Here are some English reactions to the movie.

An Entertainment Weekly take.

And another Guardian review, a bit more positive.

Do you own a lovely Regency manor? Reside in a charming cottage in Kent? Looking to make some extra pounds in this year? Instead of roaming around your home pretending you lived 200 years ago, why not let your house actually star in a costume drama, or shine in a period photograph shoot? This handy Telegraph article will tell you all you need to know about “How to get your home into show business.” Apparently, this is a very lucrative enterprise across the pond! (And hey, maybe you can persuade them to write in a scullery maid scene just for you!)

A new medieval movie is in the works, starring Natalie Portman, James Franco (oo-la-la! Tristan + Isolde all over again!), and Danny McBride. Filming for Your Highness, a comedy about “two spoiled and arrogant princes” who “must complete a quest to save the kingdom,” will begin this July in Belfast, Ireland, in the city’s historic Titanic Quarter.

While browsing through B & N the other day, I came across what appeared to be Mr. Bean wearing a ruff and sporting some sharp Tudor facial hair. Naturally, I was intrigued and picked up the DVDs. I had stumbled upon Black Adder, a BBC historical sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder of various generations. Mr. Bean was a childhood staple of mine, so this series quickly found a spot in my (shamefully long) Netflix queue. Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate DVD Edition is soon to be released in the UK:

This deluxe edition includes all four series digitally remastered plus a whole host of special features, many of which are exclusive to this collection.

Blackadder is one of the most fondly remembered and critically acclaimed BBC comedies ever to emerge from England. It traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of World War I. Packed with brand new and exclusive extras and digitally restored episodes, Blackadder Remastered – The Ultimate Edition is released on DVD from 15th June.

Currently available in the US is Black Adder–The Complete Collector’s Set, which includes five versions of Edmund Blackadder, for $84.99 on Amazon.

And finally, if you have yet to see this piece of awesomeness because you live under a rock or something, here it is, in all its HD YouTube glory:

Happy Earth Day!

The first image of Russell Crowe as Robin Hood has been released, and Comingsoon.net has it here.Though Crowe looks exactly like Maximus again, sans uber hott gladiatorial garb, I am not complaining about the similarity

Opening in theaters on May 14, 2010, the Universal action-drama co-stars Cate Blanchett, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Strong, Scott Grimes, Kevin Durand, Alan Doyle, Oscar Isaacs, Lea Seydoux and William Hurt.

Crowe plays Robin of Loxley in an origin story of Robin Hood that hews close to historical facts of the period. Abandoned as a child, he finds community with the common people of Nottingham. Robin’s abandonment and trust issues hamper his ability to fall in love. He meets his match in Marian (Blanchett), a strong, independent woman.

This is Plymouth has a review of Bath in its travel section. It includes references to Jane Austen, and a number of interesting trivia tidbits about the Georgian city that has been designated a World Heritage Site. For any Austen or Regency fan, Bath’s architecture and atmosphere make it a veritable mecca.

Telegraph reports that tickets have gone on sale for a cruise that will mark the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. The 12-night cruise, which will follow the same course as the fated ship with the same number of passengers in tow, expects tickets to sell out, despite the £2,595 price tag.

“The Titanic still grips the imagination of people throughout the world and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a unique cruise packed with interest for those with a fascination for the Titanic story,” he said. “The whole voyage will be steeped in Titanic history. The food served will match the sumptuous menus on the original voyage; the entertainment will include music and dancing in the style featured in those glorious times and there will be a chance to hear first hand from historians who have studied the Titanic story.”

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House has received a £262,000 donation from English Heritagefor repairs that will prevent the historic house from rotting. As critical to Gaskell’s writing career as the Chawton cottage was to Jane Austen, Plymouth Grove, located in Knutsford, Cheshire, has seen tourism rise considerably since the release of BBC One’s highly successful adaptation Cranford, starring Dame Judi Dench.

She wrote all her books – with the exception of Mary Barton – at the seven-bedroomed house in Manchester. But now the Regency-style villa needs major structural repairs. It closed earlier this year for the work on the roof, windows and walls to start. Experts are also going to eradicate the dry rot. The project will weatherproof the house.

I regret that I haven’t blogged in a while, but to be honest there hasn’t been much to blog about! And summer is on the horizon(*cue Hansel’s Messiah*)!

Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood has been given a release date for 2010: May 14.

Keira Knightley’s UK period piece, The Edge of Love, will be released in limited theaters starting tomorrow, March 13, 9 months after being released in Europe. The film focuses on the tangled relationships of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and stars Kevin McKidd, Cillian Murphy, Sienna Miller, and Matthew Rhys.

Here is Part 1 and 2 of  the interview with Daniel Radcliffe on his role almost a decade ago as David Copperfield that Masterpiece has on the David Copperfield minisite:

Remember how Kate Winslet and Sienna Miller had passed on that Maid Marian role opposite Russell Crowe in the upcoming Robin Hood? Well, no worries—a period film queen has stepped up the plate, Cate Blanchett herself. A while back, this was merely hearsay:

Cate Blanchett looks more and more of a certainty for the role of Maid Marian in Sir Ridley Scott’s forthcoming film Nottingham after Sienna Miller was apparently deemed too slim and youthful for the part. “I think Cate Blanchett is set to take the Maid Marian part,” says Mark Strong, who has already been signed up to play Sir Guy of Gisbourne, at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards, at the Grosvenor House hotel, in Park Lane. “She is a wonderful actress and it would make it a much classier film if she was in it.” (Telegraph)

But now she has been confirmed for the $130 million Ridley Scott film which will begin production in April. Yippie!

I am a Cash Cab junkie and watch it everyday after school while I exercise; basically, it’s a trivia game show that takes place in this guy’s taxi. Unsuspecting people enter the cab, are taken back by the flashing lights (a sight that never ceases to amuse), and answer general knowledge questions for cash all the way to their destination. Anyway, as I was doing some monotonous dumbbell lifts, I watched this exchange occur between Ben Bailey, the host/cab driver and the three young male contestants. In honor of the new 1066 underway, here it is: (By the way, this was TiVoed, so I was able to get everything just right )

Ben (asking a $50 question): “In 1066, what illegitimate son of a Norman won the Battle of Hastings and became King of England?”

Guy 1 (oozing with confidence and bravado, as he turns to his buddies next to him): “You know William & Mary College? It’s William. He — it’s — I’m pretty sure that’s gotta be it—”

Guy 2: “Really—”

Guy 1: “90% sure. Yea.”

Guy 3 remains silent, with a confused expression on his face

Guy 2: “Alright” (shakes head)

Guy 1: (dramatic pause): “William the Conqueror” (smiles smugly)

Another pause

Ben: “William the Conqueror is correct!”

Lights on ceiling flash and music starts

Guy 1 (jumps up in seat and shakes fists): “YES! That’s what I’m talking about!”

Uproar continues until the next question about Tinker Toys. . .

Needless to say, I about died laughing. He was only about what? 600 or so years off? Common mistake, I’m sure.

*sighs* I hope there weren’t any Brits watching.

It appears that a Hollywood epic concerning the Battle of Hastings has been confirmed:

LONDON — Shine Pictures, the new joint venture between U.K.-based Shine Group’s Kudos Pictures and Arnon Milchan’s New Regency, has hired “Gladiator” scribe William Nicholson to pen a big-screen version of the epic, era-defining battle in 1066 between King Harold and William the Conqueror for the throne of England.

The Hollywood Reporter states that the film has been dubbed “1066″ for now and is expected to soon go into production. Fox will handle the worldwide release.

Nicholson said that the script focuses on the fraught relationship between the two greatest warriors of the age, King Harold of England and William the Conqueror. Starting as comrades, they became bitter enemies destined to fight to the death at the climactic Battle of Hastings. . .

Webster said that the film will be “an intimate portrait of two men told on an epic scale.” No budget details were disclosed but the full-scale costume drama is to feature two massive battles and a naval exchange and fits in with New Regency’s stated ambition to make big, commercial movies.

Read a lengthier Variety article here.

This is exciting news! Gladiator is a terrific film, and I hope we can expect the same sort of work with 1066.

The Guardian has an article about BBC’s Emma 2009. Apparently the BBC is only slowly purging it’s drama department of classic bonnet films; perhaps they decided fans’ withdrawal symptons could turn nasty.