Macbeth opened in October in London to critical acclaim. The movie is being released today in Canada and the US.
Macbeth: Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard star in dark, gritty interpretation of Macbeth
December 3, 2015 By
Making the Medieval Relevant: Crossing Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Studies on Disease and Disability
November 20, 2015 By
A summary of a paper given by Professor Christina Lee at the University of Nottingham’s “Making the Medieval Relevant” Conference.
Celebrating Agincourt 600 at the Wallace Collection
October 26, 2015 By
This week, historians around the world are gearing up to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, one of the most significant battles of the Hundred Year’s War.
A little touch of Branagh: Henry V
October 24, 2015 By
Kenneth Branagh’s film of Henry V, released in 1989, was greeted with wide critical acclaim of a kind which repays close attention.
Sewing the Scene: The Uses of Embroidery in Medieval Film
October 17, 2015 By
This paper explores how embroidery has been used in films to establish, and often destroy, feminine space and autonomy. However, the most recent addition to the medieval film canon represents a distinct change in this trend.
Said in jest: Who’s laughing at the Middle Ages (and when)?
October 8, 2015 By
The essay begins with a negative image of a medieval scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which is used to point out that the scene is a knowing parody rather than founded on a genuine belief in an unmitigatedly dark age
Secret Gestures and Silent Revelations: The Disclosure of Secrets in Selected Arthurian Illuminated Manuscripts and Arthurian Films
August 29, 2015 By
This paper explores visual language and iconic systems central to the representation of the Arthurian cycle in thirteenth and fifteenth century Gothic illuminated manuscripts and in two Arthurian films; its focus is the theme of courtly love and crucial revelations of the secret or hidden.
Machiavelli and Botticelli Movies to Hit the Screen in 2016
August 29, 2015 By
Machiavelli and Botticelli are set to hit screens in 2016. We sat down to chat with Italian director, Lorenzo Raveggi about his two ambitious projects.
Movie Review: Dangerous Beauty
August 28, 2015 By
Late 16th century Venice, where a woman can be a nun, a wife or a courtesan. For Veronica Franco, the free spirited girl scorned by because of her lack of wealth, the choice is an obvious one…
Movie Review: Tristan and Isolde
August 13, 2015 By
As far as medieval movies go, Tristan and Isolde definitely isn’t the worst I’ve seen. I was looking for a movie to watch after work, and I thought, hey, James Franco, Sophia Moyles, Henry Cavill, and Rufus Sewell, all directed by Ridley Scott?! – this can’t be that bad. Well, it was pretty bad, but it wasn’t the worst 2 hours of my life. So what went wrong?
Miyazaki’s Medieval World: Japanese Medievalism and the Rise of Anime
August 8, 2015 By
Hayao Miyazaki’s films always present vibrant worlds full of lush, colorful landscapes, characters, and fantastic, even mythic adventures.
Robin Hood: A Legend in Text, Film and Popular Consciousness
July 20, 2015 By
All four films entirely reject the setting for the legend given by the early/scholarly tradition. All four are set firmly and unmistakably in or just after the reign of Richard I (1189-99), either during Richard’s absence on Crusade, or (Marian alone) just after his death at Chaluz.
Movie Review: Knights of Badassdom
June 26, 2015 By
When the people behind Knights of Badassdom wanted us to promote the film, I asked if they wanted us to review it. They said no. After watching it, I can understand why.
Macbeth trailer released – first look at Michael Fassbender’s upcoming film
June 5, 2015 By
This adaption of Shakespeare’s tragedy stars Michael Fassbender, with Marion Cotillard portraying his wife, Lady Macbeth.
Genre Medievalisms: Geek Goes Chic!
June 4, 2015 By
Is Cersei a collection of bad medieval stereotypes? Have nerds gone mainstream? Were American cowboys a modern retelling of the medieval knight? Put down that comic, put away your bag of dice, and indulge your inner nerd.
Medieval Movie Review: Outcast
May 29, 2015 By
The emphasis of ‘Outcast’ was on stunts, not facts, language, costumes, weapons, geography, chronological timelines, or other elements inherent in a historical fiction plot.
Shadow of the Sword (The Headsman)
May 21, 2015 By
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau gives us a sympathetic Headsman in Reformation Austria, in the ‘Shadow of the Sword (The Headsman)’.
Knights’ Tales: Looking at Representations of the Knight on Film
May 9, 2015 By
The present paper will focus on different portrayals of the knight in English-speaking films. What medieval features are kept? To what extent is accuracy important? How do these films contribute to our own modern day view of the knight and the Middle Ages?
Katherine of Alexandria: Decline of an Empire
April 27, 2015 By
According to hagiographers, (C)Katherine was a princess, the daughter of Roman governor named Constus. She was well educated, beautiful and highly intelligent. She converted to Christianity at the age of 13 or 14 and caught the eye of the Roman Emperor, Maxentius (278-318 AD).
’I’m gonna git Medieval on your ass’: Pulp Fiction for the 90s – the 1190s
April 17, 2015 By
We feel confident in asserting that there are any number of telling informative analogies between Pulp Fiction and medieval chivalric literature, particularly Arthurian romance.
What is Your Favourite Scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail?
April 9, 2015 By
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, here are some of the best scenes from the film. Vote for the one that is your favourite!
The Quickener – A Medieval Tale
March 27, 2015 By
The year is 1348. Medieval England has just been struck by a terrifying plague. The fate of a young sculptor and his wife will be decided today. With a brutal moneylender breathing down their necks and The Black Death wrecking havoc will they be able to escape doom?
Lancelot and His Upcoming Reboot: Forgiven or Unforgiven?
March 26, 2015 By
Remakes can be a really interesting way to get at the heart of a story, as long as they don’t misplace that heart in the retelling.
Do You Remember Braveheart?
February 27, 2015 By
Were you paying attention when you saw this Scottish adventure from 1995?
What Character From The Princess Bride Are You?
February 22, 2015 By
Are you a prince, pirate, princess, or peasant?
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