I am in complete shock–I just found out that Heath Ledger died today. I don’t think the death of a celebrity has ever hit me like this…for one he *hates to say “was”* so young, and for another, he starred in my absolute hands-down favorite film of all time, A Knight’s Tale. I’ve even been meaning to write a review about it simply because it IS the best ever, but hearing this tragic news makes me want to do it now instead of putting it off for what I know would be forever.

The main cast/characters includes of course the brilliant Heath Ledger: William, the son of a peasant, posing as a knight to compete in jousting tournaments for glory and a side of riches; Shannyn Sossamon: Jocelyn, the girl who captures William’s heart the first time he ever lays eyes on her; Paul Bettany: Jeffrey Chaucer, who aids and abets in William’s great deceit by his talents of writing and speaking; Mark Addy: Roland, the loyal friend who helps keep sense in play when everyone else seems to lose theirs; Alan Tudyk: Wat, the friend who’s often enraged by the misfortunes that befall them, yet his anger is quite comical; Laura Fraser; Kate, the blacksmith, who helps them in return for travel but decides to stay with them until the end; Rufus Sewell: Count Adhemar, the villian, who feels that William is a threat and seeks to destroy him in any way possible.

The basic plot is boy meets opportunity, boy meets girl, boy meets bad guy, boy attempts to triumph with all he meets. Along the way, there’s action in the form of jousting, sword fighting, and a few good punches; romance with the girl who’s way out of the boy’s league; drama from hero/villain rivalry; suspense of trying to keep a secret that, if exposed, holds the penalty of imprisonment; comedy brought by ironic situations, witty dialogs, and, again, those few good punches; tear-jerking brought by an unexpected reunion and impossible victories; and indescribable joy brought by the boys ultimate ability to “change his stars”, proving that anyone else can too, whatever hand life may deal them.

Majority of the costumes are proper to the time period, but the character of Jocelyn wears quite exotic outfits with hair styles to match. At one point in the film, William starts wearing custom armor that’s lighter and more flexible than any that would have existed back then, but this is just one of many ways that the film-makers incorporated the present into the past.

While I’m no expert on cinematography, I can say that the shots of the film are outstanding and never leave you wanting. There’s also some interesting filming techniques used here and there, which I wouldn’t know how to describe, but they’re noticeably different from your average movie and they really do help with the moods of scenes and the telling of the story. And while most films taking place in older times tend to be dull and dreary, this film is saturated with a variety of colors, giving it unique brilliance and life.

The music throws in some modern contemporaries along with the original medieval-style score. Yesterday’s music gives you the effect of the times in the story, but today’s music suggests that many aspects of other times are no different than ours. The result is a clever blend that brings you to the past and lets you identify with it.

The script, to me, is flawless. There isn’t one line of dialog I would change, nor one span of action I would tweak. You can tell when hollywood throws together some mindless screenplay for society’s basic appeals, and that was not the case here. From start to finish, everything has meaning and is clearly well thought out. It does more than attract your senses, it captivates your soul.

In conclusion, if you have never seen this film, go see it. Right now. And if you have been fortunate enough to view it before, go see it again. Right now. While the reality of Heath’s death has yet to sink in to me, it is good to know that this stunning work of art in its many forms will always keep him alive to me, forever, a Knight.