I am currently playing the video game Kingdom Come, and I immediately thought that this is the best video game representation I have seen of medieval Europe. Nothing like this is perfect of course, but most people may actually learn a thing or two about the period from this game. Then I thought; wait, did I see a better representation in ANY medium? Most medieval movies I have seen are a joke in comparison (I still cringe at Kevin Costner's Robin Hood). So, what's the most accurate representations you have seen of this period in films? What about comics or other visual media?

Wayyyy the hell back in the 90s the publisher of the comic I was doing an RPG for had me go around the GenCon dealers and in particular this one whos name I cannot remember who specialized in selling historical battle themed movies on VHS (No DVD yet). One had me looking for was "The Bruce".

If you get on YouTube there are at least two history buffs who review and comment on historical accuracy in movies. Night want to look them up and talk to them about any suggested viewing.

Also there are, or were a few historical re-enactment villages for museums running back in the 70s and 80s. Greenfield Village in Michigan I believe was one we went to way back.

Actual movies I cant think of off the bat as most have something off somewhere. But I'd suggest looking up foreign films as these tend to be less interested in glitz and more on accuracy sometimes. And other times you get aliens. But thats a different story. heh.

Quote from: Omega;1142076Wayyyy the hell back in the 90s the publisher of the comic I was doing an RPG for had me go around the GenCon dealers and in particular this one whos name I cannot remember who specialized in selling historical battle themed movies on VHS (No DVD yet). One had me looking for was "The Bruce".

If you get on YouTube there are at least two history buffs who review and comment on historical accuracy in movies. Night want to look them up and talk to them about any suggested viewing.

Also there are, or were a few historical re-enactment villages for museums running back in the 70s and 80s. Greenfield Village in Michigan I believe was one we went to way back.

Actual movies I cant think of off the bat as most have something off somewhere. But I'd suggest looking up foreign films as these tend to be less interested in glitz and more on accuracy sometimes. And other times you get aliens. But thats a different story. heh.

Interesting suggestions. I had never heard of The Bruce. Thanks!

A few I've heard suggested but am dubious on...

El Cid - 1961 - This movie got mentioned alot decades ago. Even in history class.
The Lion in Winter - 1968 - Heard of frequently. Never seen.
The Return of Martin Guerre - 1982 - Yet another one that would get mentioned now and then.
Henry V - 1985 - Never seen but this is another used to hear mentioned fairly often.
Kingdom of Heaven - 2005 - A more recent movie that got some mention for some of its accuracy. I am a bit dubious on that.

I haven't seen Kingdom of Heaven, but I've read that the extended director's cut is the superior version of the film. It's a Ridley Scott film. Then again, so was Prometheus.

I had it in my Netflix queue for years, but never actually got around to watching it.

Henry V is a Kenneth Branagh adaptation of the Shakespeare play. It put Branagh on the map as a director, and is supposed to be a first-rate adaptation. As a historical document, like the play, it is most likely broadly accurate, but somewhat dramatized.

Thanks for the suggestions folks!

I just saw The King yesterday (or I finished it because I had to take a break). There are some videos online about how terrible the armor and costumes were in this film, but I have seen much much worse in that regard, despite some obvious flaws. Yes, the armor looked a bit funky and didn't cover enough etc., and the battle tactics were.....odd at best. But I thought the acting and/or script were the problem for me. What the hell? Henry himself has barely any facial expressions through many conversations. Sometimes he muses at the sky while there's a battle going on. He was supposed to be a person who likes to drink and party (according to the beginning of the movie), but we almost never see this part of him, and his personality does not to seem fit. Several of the other characters also behave in oddly unnatural ways.  I suppose that this was the "mood" of the movie, but it made the whole thing seem implausible to me.

Is "Knights in Shining Armor" really an accurate description of how medieval Europe is portrayed in post-60s media? I thought it was more "Everything was Brown and Filthy" these days.

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;1142536Is "Knights in Shining Armor" really an accurate description of how medieval Europe is portrayed in post-60s media? I thought it was more "Everything was Brown and Filthy" these days.

That was actually one of the good points of the King. Some of them were pretty shiny. They do end up in a pool of mud, but I guess that happened occasionally.