Chevalier

An easygoing film, featuring excellent Czech stuntmen and Paul Bettany as an eccentric poet. You can watch it several times, without getting bored. Very nice entertainment. (13/04/2003)

It's a great story for guys who never grow up. The engaging, witty and superbly filmed story about a poor man who has become a knight has humor, emotion and tension, despite its totally crazy portrayal of the Middle Ages... simply everything you want from a knight. The cast is brilliant – I was absolutely smitten by Paul Bettany as the mercury Chaucer, but even the handsome hero Heath Ledger has charisma and fits into the role of the dreamer William just like the well-balanced sword fits into his hand. To think of this film as a historical documentary about chivalry is indeed a historical mistake – it's a parody, satire, exaggeration, comedy... just thrilling fun with perfect music, great stunts and yes... completely crazy realities and costumes, which I calmly attribute to exaggeration. I can take it without babble when it is offered to me in such a light form. Maybe more than once. Not you? Well, I feel sorry for you, because this Medieval Age rocks! (04/06/2005)

A lot of references and parodies, an adventurous mood, modern music, and a good dose of energy. Once there is too much hugging, crying, and reassurance that William can do absolutely everything, the fun takes a big hit, and the princess' manners annoy me the same way every time I watch it. Nevertheless, with some distance, I would say that Doškař surpassed his time. Today, a confident and occasionally self-deprecating adventure like this would generate even greater interest in the cinema than twenty years ago. (28/01/2006)

Défi cinéma en situation de confinement – actrices préférées : Shannyn Sossamon. Ça faisait longtemps que je n'avais pas vu de film aussi nul. Que son succès surprenne, ça me paraît logique, car je n’en comprends pas la raison. La première heure est ennuyeuse à mourir et la deuxième heure l’est encore plus ! Si Heath et Shannyn n'avaient pas joué dans ce film et si je n’avais pas inscrit celui-ci sur ma liste de défis, je ne pense pas que je l’aurais regardé jusqu’au bout. Mon étoile, c’est juste pour les deux acteurs que j’aime. J'ai appris que pour Shannyn, c'était un rôle de début de carrière qui l'a aidée à en décrocher d’autres, donc au moins, ça constitue un apport au cinéma mondial. Par contre, Heath, ce n’est pas ce rôle-ci qui l’a rendu immortel… (31/08/2020)