NatureMomma Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 My daughters 13, and we are just finishing up our study on the Middle Ages. I would like to find a few good movies that we can watch together that can show more of the life, and feeling of the time period. I know it's probably few and far between to find one that is historically accurate, but that would be great if so. What are some good ones to check into? Thanks! Quote
theelfqueen Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Id consider maybe. Name of the Rose, Lion in Winter and the fun of Error Flynn's Robin Hood Quote
Kristie in Florida Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Pretty sure it is inaccurate, and I haven't seen it in years so I'm not sure if it is appropriate, but how about A Knights Tale with Heath Ledger? I'm sure others will have more. 2 Quote
Hilltopmom Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 The ones I'm thinking of probably wouldn't be considered appropriate for a young teen, all mini series/ TV shows- Pillars of the Earth, The Tudors, The White Queen. They were good, but have nudity & s*x scenes, fyi. I'm folowing though, as my 13 yr old is doing that time period next year:) Quote
Angie in VA Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Ladyhawke? I haven't seen it, so this is a suggestion and not a recommendation. Quote
Zoo Keeper Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 The Cadfael series is well done, and wouldn't be shocking for family viewing. 5 Quote
wintermom Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 The Cadfael series is well done, and wouldn't be shocking for family viewing. I've read one of the mystery books by Ellis Peters, and they are excellent. I didn't realize that there was a TV series. 1 Quote
athomeontheprairie Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 We really loved the bbc show Merlin. Clearly the magically element is not accurate, but there are some really good scenes that depict what peasant life (and others) might have been like. Quote
Tanaqui Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 We really loved the bbc show Merlin. Clearly the magically element is not accurate, but there are some really good scenes that depict what peasant life (and others) might have been like. Neither are all the tomatoes that get thrown around. And I also came here to suggest A Knight's Tale. Love that film - and it's historically accurate that women could become blacksmiths back in those days. (Very little else seems to be, but whatevs.) Quote
wintermom Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 The British TV series Merlin is set in the Middle Ages with young Arthur, Lancelot, etc. It's appropriate for young audiences. Quote
Chris in VA Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Neither are all the tomatoes that get thrown around. And I also came here to suggest A Knight's Tale. Love that film - and it's historically accurate that women could become blacksmiths back in those days. (Very little else seems to be, but whatevs.) We crack up whenever the broadcast movie channels show A Knight's Tale. It used contemporary music and some other things that are so out of place it's hysterical. 1 Quote
Lori D. Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) re: Merlin Well, I really tried, people, struggling through half of the episodes of the first season, but it's just… well, like watching a modern high school soap opera filmed on what looks like an amateurish set that vaguely is meant to look like a Medieval castle and village, but really looks like a TV soundstage. Lots of modern teen angst and relationship ups & downs, conflicts with parental figures, lots of soap opera dialogue, no stand-out acting, with one or two very brief scenes per episode that have young Merlin doing something magic-related. It just wasn't enough fantasy or creative scriptwriting to help me stick it out. Sorry! JMO… But I'm a middle-aged woman, and I can *totally* get why tweens/teens would love this show, and anyone who enjoys a lite/fluff fantasy/medieval setting with some magic thrown in. :) Absolutely can NOT think of anything terribly historically accurate AND appropriate for tweens/teens… :( However, if you don't mind the lack of realism, here are a few ideas: These would work well for tweens/young teens: - Cadfael episodes - Ivanhoe (1952) -- Normans/Saxons - Knights of the Round Table (1953) - Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - Secret of Kells (2009) -- animated Non-Fiction - David McCauley's Castle, and, Cathedral - Life in the Middle Ages -- kids' documentary by Schlessinger Media I have NOT personally seen these, but they look like they would be fine for tweens/teens: - El Cid (1961) - Prince of Foxes (1949) - The Black Rose (1950) - The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) [and possibly Marco Polo (2007) or (1982), but I'd preview] There are about specific figures in Medieval England's history, but might be pretty slow/dull for tweens/young teens: - Alfred the Great (1969) - 800s England - The Lion in Winter (1968) -- 1100s England; play about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine - Becket (1964) -- 1100s England; Henry II and Thomas a Becket - Joan of Arc (1948) -- 1400s France - Henry V (1989) -- 1400s England; Kenneth Branagh's version of Shakespeare's play If you like musicals, you might enjoy this spin on King Arthur: - Camelot (1967) -- the musical play These are great, but you may wish to preview first: - A Knight's Tale (2001) -- a very fun "rock opera" version of jousting and the middle ages with Geoffrey Chaucer (Canterbury Tales author) playing the role of; the violence is knights getting off of horses while jousting; occasional mild rude comments, suggested-but-not-seen s*x, and one scene with a nude man from the rear, because his gambling addiction caused him to stake all his belongings and he lost (hence, learning a lesson from consequences) - Robin Hood (2010) Loved Return of Martin Guerre, as it has the ordinary peasant feel of Medieval times down very well, but it has some adult topics. Subtitles, but also one to preview for tweens/young teens. These are non-realistic, silly fun -- OR -- fantasy adventure films set in Medieval Times: - The Princess Bride (1987) -- vaguely Medieval setting, romantic romp with fantastical elements - Ever After (1998) -- sweet re-telling of Cinderella; setting is more fairytale than medieval - Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949) -- Bing Crosby in a musical take on Twain's tale - DragonHeart (1996) - the last dragon and a dragons laying knight team up together; humor and kid level adventure - LadyHawke (1985) -- definitely a fairytale/fantasy feel of magic (lovers who are cursed by the villain so that she is a hawk by day while he is a wolf by night, never to be together, until a very very young Matthew Broderick helps them break the curse and confront the villain) Edited January 31, 2016 by Lori D. 5 Quote
Lori D. Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) We crack up whenever the broadcast movie channels show A Knight's Tale. It used contemporary music and some other things that are so out of place it's hysterical. The "featurette"/documentary on the film is very interesting, with the producers speaking about trying to do something very different and creative in trying to blend modern sensibilities with Medieval setting and social castes, and see what resulted. The film intentionally set out to be a modern take on Medieval jousting, portraying it as the NFL of its day. :) The music absolutely fits when you think of it in those terms. (Think stadium spectators.) And you can't beat the athleticism of the horses and stunt crew in the jousting scenes. Spectacular! And very fun modern spin of the Geoffrey Chaucer character as a sort-of ring announcer/promoter for the up-and-coming young Knight character of Heath Ledger. A very clever choice of modern characterization in the script, as Chaucer really was a witty linguist and author of his day. But, I'm biased. I come out of a film background, and really love the risk they took in trying something new with this film. It worked for me, but I totally understand it's not going to work for everyone. :) Edited January 31, 2016 by Lori D. 1 Quote
Kareni Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 The Cadfael series is well done, and wouldn't be shocking for family viewing. Another recommendation for this. Regards, Kareni Quote
Loesje22000 Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Crusade in Jeans http://www.amazon.com/Crusade-March-Through-Emily-Watson/dp/B001AUKUV8/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1454221595&sr=1-2&keywords=crusade+in+jeans It is based on a Dutch book for 12-15yo Quote
wintermom Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) If The Princess Bride is getting a mention, then it would be fitting to add Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail. You definitely want to pre-watch for scenes that may not be appropriate, but it's a "classic" and most teens hear about scenes and quotes from outside sources. We used to do "The Black Knight" mock-fights in Taekwon-Do with pool noodles. Edited January 31, 2016 by wintermom 3 Quote
Emerald Stoker Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 If you don't mind subtitles, how about "Le Retour de Martin Guerre"? Quote
Hannah Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 You might like to reference this old thread. Quote
Momto4inSoCal Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Following since we are going to be in middle ages next year. I started to watch marco polo, the new series on netflixs, to see if it was appropriate and it's a definite no. I read later it wasn't super accurate either. Why do movies about ancient or middle ages have to have so many s3x scenes? There's tons of great movies but absolutely nothing I can sit with my kids and watch. Quote
Bluegoat Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 If you would do Vikings, you might try one of the versions of Beowulf - I think I like Beowulf and Grendel the most, it has some weird elements but the setting and clothes are very good which I think is the main point with a period movie - the attitudes will never be anything but modern. The Name of the Rose is very good, as people mentioned, and I agree with the Cadfael series. Braveheart might work. The Seventh Seal Tristan and Isolde Quote
NatureMomma Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 Wow, these are all super helpful, absolutely great lists to check out. Thank you so much for all the help ladies! Quote
Carol in Cal. Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 And Prince Valiant, if you can find it. Old, appropriate, romanticized. Quote
theelfqueen Posted February 14, 2016 Posted February 14, 2016 This is a fun place to play ;) http://www.frockflicks.com/ Sometimes irreverent and inappropriate but provides some interesting context to the historical films. Quote
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