Movies/TV Shows involving medieval scenes

[Tundra]

I have to plan a lesson on medieval history, and then present my introduction to it- I thought I'd start 'snazzily' with a video. Can anyone think of any movies that have scenes that could be a good introduction to it? It's the first class. They're in year 9 (or would be if they weren't imaginary) An appropriate scene (or scenes adding up to) about 5-10 minutes long would be good. They'd have to make some sort of sense out of context, and show something useful. Like... the feudal system, or peasants, or chivalry or something hugely stereotypical. It doesn't have to be entirely accurate as accuracy could be something to discuss in the lesson.

[alcar]

1) Jabberwocky
2) Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[MichaelB]

DragonHeart! The bits without the dragon, such as the villagers and the preparationss for the siege and the weaponry stuff are all really quite accurate and useful. That one scene where the knight was instructing peasants how to fight with bows and arrows, swords, and axes was cool.

Oh, look what I found. (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medfilms.html) A list of movies wih medieval scenes in them, sorted by age and region (Pagan, Byzantium, Celtic, Islam, England (Arthurian or Robin Hood), urbal/rural life, europse, Renaissance, Asia, etc. etc.).

Also, The Brothers Grimm has some good late medieval Germany and France scenes.

[Tundra]

Thanks Michael! :)

[MichaelB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqeLSjeQJ7E

Historically accurate sword vs. axe fight. Note the clothing and armour styles, as well as the technical use of the weapons, and the design and make of the weapons themselves.

Not really something you'd want to show in a classroom, right? But still really cool and fascinating.

[Tundra]

I'd prefer actors dressed up/a plot, for this yeah. But yep that's awesome.

[AXJ]

Braveheart. <3

Lots of good illustrations of feudal class divisions in the TV show The Tudors, too.

[Tundra]

Except that's Tudor. :P

[Tundra]

Right, it's totally inaccurate but it might spark conversation- first episode of BBC's Robin Hood. Why? Because I have it already, and I can't be stuffed stressing about this anymore.

[Dwiesel McAllister]

The naughty side of me wants to suggest the opening sequence of Robin Hood:Men in Tights...

Hey, you know what would be cool? You could use BBC's Robin Hood and something more accurate to compare and contrast the two. Shoot, if you were my teacher and you started class by showing me medieval-type movies, you would officially be the coolest person EVER. Even if you failed me...:P

[MelancholyBliss]

Except that's Tudor. :P

Then as a stickler you should probably know that Tudor happened roughly around the last few years of the middle ages and that the two are often compared to each other much more than they are contrasted. :p

[WritersTear]

A Knight's Tale - that shows jousting and such.

[Tundra]

I sorted it out. I showed the first 10 minutes of the BBC robin hood and my classmates enjoyed it and could see why I chose it.

[WritersTear]

Cool.

[Tundra]

Now I wonder if I could teach it to primary school students as well... hmn. Probably!

[GabrielGadfly]

Seems I'm late on this one, but there's a french film from the 80s called Le retour de Martin Guerre ("The Return of Martin Guerre" in English).

It's one of the best portrayals of 16th century life, including aspects such as dining, familial relations, law, etc. It's based on a real case in which a man named Martin Guerre left his wife after being accused of stealing grain. Some years later, a man returns to the village claiming to be Martin Guerre. Since he possess knowledge of Martin's life and family, he is accepted back into the community, but evidence soon comes out that suggests the man claiming to be Guerre may in fact be an imposter.

It's a pretty fascinating film, though younger viewers may find it boring.

[cat_lover_4113]

I'm late as well, but there's Merlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_(TV_series)).

[Tundra]

Historically accurate. I didn't watch much of Merlin, but really?