Yes, they flat out recognize:
Braveheart might not be known for being the most historically accurate
of films — it jettisons historical fact altogether

from
https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/25_best_movies_and_tv_shows_about_the_middle_ages/s1__39006598#slide_1

25 best movies and TV shows about the Middle Ages
Updated 36 minutes ago | By Thomas West
Though films and TV series about the Middle Ages do not always attract
the same level of love and critical praise as those set in other periods
of history, there are still a number of notable films and TV series
which take the period as their setting. For some time, many of these
looked to the medieval period as a moment of chivalry and knightly
quest. More recently, however, popular culture set in the Middle Ages
has leaned into the gritty and grimy aesthetic, demonstrating how
flexible this particular period remains and the many things it has come
to represent.

1 of 25'Camelot'
'Camelot'
Starz via MovieStillsDB
If there’s one figure from the Middle Ages who looms larger than any
other, it would have to be King Arthur. His saga has been reimagined
countless times, but one of the more noteworthy efforts was the
short-lived Camelot from Starz. Though it only lasted one season, the
series was nevertheless noteworthy for the extent to which it straddled
the line between historical authenticity and the core elements of this
well-established legend. In addition, it features a strong cast, and Eva
Green is particularly exceptional as the cunning and ruthless Morgan
Pendragon, who wants to bring down both Arthur and Camelot.

2 of 25'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'
'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'
EMI Films via MovieStillsDB
Of all the films released by the Monty Python comedy troupe, Monty
Python and the Holy Grail is arguably the best and funniest. A riotous
and joyful send-up of everything having to do with the King Arthur
legend, from King Arthur himself to Lancelot and the Lady in the Lake.
It has all of the surrealism and absurdity of the troupe’s usual humor,
but what makes it really special is how it seems to understand what
makes the original legends so enduringly popular. Perhaps nothing
highlights its premier status more than the fact that it ended up being
the basis for its musical, Spamalot.

3 of 25'The Pillars of the Earth'
'The Pillars of the Earth'
Starz via MovieStillsDB
Based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett, the Starz miniseries The
Pillars of the Earth focuses on the residents of the fictional town of
Kingsbridge as they struggle to build a cathedral and contend with the
political strife known as the Anarchy. Though there are a host of
characters, much of the action revolves around Eddie Redmayne’s Jack
Jackson and Hayley Atwell’s Lady Aliena, with Ian McShane and Matthew
Macfadyen turning in performances as the cunning and ruthless Waleran
Bigod and Prior Philip, respectively. Though it can be a bit
melodramatic and predictable in its plot, the series is nevertheless a
good adaptation of Follett’s novel and a rich depiction of life and
struggle in the medieval period.

4 of 25'The Adventures of Robin Hood'
'The Adventures of Robin Hood'
Warner Bros via MovieStillsDB
In classic Hollywood, few actors were as dashing and handsome as Errol
Flynn, so it makes sense that he would have been cast as Robin Hood in
Michael Curtiz’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, released in 1938. It’s a
Technicolor swashbuckler as only old Hollywood could have made it, and
Flynn is joined by a great supporting cast that includes Olivia de
Havilland as Maid Marian, Claude Rains as Prince John, and Basil
Rathbone as Guy of Gisbourne. What it lacks in historical authenticity,
it more than makes up for in simple joy and exhilaration, as it sweeps
the viewer up in the efforts of Robin and his Merry Men to topple the
cruel and corrupt rule of Prince John.

5 of 25'El Cid'
'El Cid'
Allied Artists via MovieStillsDB
If there was one actor in classic Hollywood who represented the epic
film, it was Charlton Heston. Whether as Moses or Ben-Hur, something
about his chiseled physique and simple physical presence made him seem
ideal for epic heroes. In El Cid, he plays the titular character, one of
the most celebrated heroes in Spanish history, a man who fought against
the Moors of Spain during the Middle Ages. It has everything one expects
of such a drama, with moments of powerful passion and others of deep
introspection about the nature of religious faith, the bounds of duty,
and the ultimate price of heroism.

6 of 25'The Last Duel'
'The Last Duel'
20th Century Studios via MovieStillsDB
Ridley Scott is one of today’s most versatile directors, and there are
few genres he hasn’t worked in. He has proved particularly adept at the
epic, however, and The Last Duel, while not an enormous success, is
nevertheless a thoughtful exploration of the nature of patriarchy in the
medieval world. It’s a grim and somber film featuring the superb acting
talents of Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, and Adam Driver. It shows a grittier
side of the Middle Ages than some might expect, and this is its great
strength and the thing that can sometimes make it difficult to watch.

7 of 25'The Northman'
'The Northman'
Focus Features via MovieStillsDB
Following the success of The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers
returned to the big screen with The Northman. A retelling of the legends
that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it revolves around Alexander
Skarsgård’s Amleth, a young man who swears vengeance against his uncle
after his father is traitorously murdered. Though it has moments of camp
excess, there is still a profound beating heart to this film that helps
to elevate above its excesses. Skarsgård makes for the perfect epic
hero, at once strikingly handsome and spiritually tortured. The film
also excels at bringing out the cruelty and beauty of the Middle Ages.

8 of 25'Braveheart'
'Braveheart'
Paramount Pictures via MovieStillsDB
Braveheart might not be known for being the most historically accurate
of films — it jettisons historical fact altogether — but there’s no
denying its power. Mel Gibson is in extraordinary form as William
Wallace, the Scottish rebel who led his people to fight back against the
English, led by their hard-edged and avaricious king, Edward I. The film
is filled with rousing battlefield scenes and speeches, but it also
doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of medieval life. This is
entirely fitting, as this was an often-brutal age, and the film allows
for a surprisingly rich understanding of one of the era’s most important
historical figures.

9 of 25'Kingdom of Heaven'
'Kingdom of Heaven'
20 Century Fox via MovieStillsDB
After success in The Lord of the Rings and Troy, Orlando Bloom kept up
with the epic filmmaking by appearing in Kingdom of Heaven. He portrays
the character Balian of Ibelin, a blacksmith who goes to the Holy Land
and becomes ensnared in the fraught politics of the Crusades. The film
shows all of Scott’s keen eye for action and epic storytelling, and it
was timely, as its examination of the relationship between Christians
and Muslims dovetailed with the then-new War on Terror. Though it takes
some notable liberties with known historical facts, there’s still an
emotional truth to it, allowing it to become a surprisingly thoughtful
piece of epic filmmaking.

10 of 25'The Green Knight'
'The Green Knight'
A24 via MovieStillsDB
The legend of the Green Knight is one of the lesser-known stories from
Arthurian legends, which gives director David Lowery quite a bit of
license. The result is The Green Knight, one of the most unique and
innovative films about the Middle Ages. Dev Patel gives a masterful
performance as Sir Gawain, who yearns to be the type of hero he thinks
he deserves to be. It is a unique mix of magic and desire and dark
magic, and it is also fiercely deconstructive, diving deep into the
haunted spirit of folklore, forcing a reckoning with what storytelling
means and entails.

11 of 25'Vikings'
'Vikings'
History via MovieStillsDB
As its title suggests, Vikings is set during the Viking Age and focuses
in particular on Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most famous heroes of the
era (played by Travis Fimmel). As with so many other series, it takes
some significant liberties with the known history of the period, but
this doesn’t lessen its appeal. The series is remarkable for the extent
to which it captures the grittiness and grime of the early Middle Ages.
There is, nevertheless, a savage beauty about its presentation of this
era and its most terrifying inhabitants, and Fimmel has a suitably
fierce and intense charisma that makes him ideally cast as a Viking warlord.

12 of 25'Vikings: Valhalla'
'Vikings: Valhalla'
History via MovieStillsDB
Vikings: Valhalla is a spinoff of the hugely successful Vikings and
takes place about a century after its parent series. In this case, it
focuses, in particular, on the conflicts between the English and the
Vikings. As with its predecessor, there’s a gritty and realistic feel to
the show that is key to its appeal. At the same time, however, it gives
viewers an understanding of the complicated politics that were very much
at work in the period when the dominance of the Vikings was beginning to
come to an end. It also features some of the most famous names of the
Middle Ages, including Leif Erikson, Harald Sigurdsson, King Canute, and
Queen Emma.

On Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:06:30 -0700, a425couple
<a425couple@hotmail.com> wrote:

Overall a great list but how could you possibly overlook Robin and
Marion (1976)?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075147/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
This was a great romance starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn
which was basically the Robin Hood story fast forwarded 20 years to
when both of them were aging - as you say perhaps not the most
historically accurate but then you knew that given who the two stars
were playing right?

>Yes, they flat out recognize:
>Braveheart might not be known for being the most historically accurate
>of films — it jettisons historical fact altogether
>
>from
>https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/25_best_movies_and_tv_shows_about_the_middle_ages/s1__39006598#slide_1
>
>25 best movies and TV shows about the Middle Ages
>Updated 36 minutes ago | By Thomas West
>Though films and TV series about the Middle Ages do not always attract
>the same level of love and critical praise as those set in other periods
>of history, there are still a number of notable films and TV series
>which take the period as their setting. For some time, many of these
>looked to the medieval period as a moment of chivalry and knightly
>quest. More recently, however, popular culture set in the Middle Ages
>has leaned into the gritty and grimy aesthetic, demonstrating how
>flexible this particular period remains and the many things it has come
>to represent.
>
>
>1 of 25'Camelot'
>'Camelot'
>Starz via MovieStillsDB
>If there’s one figure from the Middle Ages who looms larger than any
>other, it would have to be King Arthur. His saga has been reimagined
>countless times, but one of the more noteworthy efforts was the
>short-lived Camelot from Starz. Though it only lasted one season, the
>series was nevertheless noteworthy for the extent to which it straddled
>the line between historical authenticity and the core elements of this
>well-established legend. In addition, it features a strong cast, and Eva
>Green is particularly exceptional as the cunning and ruthless Morgan
>Pendragon, who wants to bring down both Arthur and Camelot.
>
>
>2 of 25'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'
>'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'
>EMI Films via MovieStillsDB
>Of all the films released by the Monty Python comedy troupe, Monty
>Python and the Holy Grail is arguably the best and funniest. A riotous
>and joyful send-up of everything having to do with the King Arthur
>legend, from King Arthur himself to Lancelot and the Lady in the Lake.
>It has all of the surrealism and absurdity of the troupe’s usual humor,
>but what makes it really special is how it seems to understand what
>makes the original legends so enduringly popular. Perhaps nothing
>highlights its premier status more than the fact that it ended up being
>the basis for its musical, Spamalot.
>
>
>3 of 25'The Pillars of the Earth'
>'The Pillars of the Earth'
>Starz via MovieStillsDB
>Based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett, the Starz miniseries The
>Pillars of the Earth focuses on the residents of the fictional town of
>Kingsbridge as they struggle to build a cathedral and contend with the
>political strife known as the Anarchy. Though there are a host of
>characters, much of the action revolves around Eddie Redmayne’s Jack
>Jackson and Hayley Atwell’s Lady Aliena, with Ian McShane and Matthew
>Macfadyen turning in performances as the cunning and ruthless Waleran
>Bigod and Prior Philip, respectively. Though it can be a bit
>melodramatic and predictable in its plot, the series is nevertheless a
>good adaptation of Follett’s novel and a rich depiction of life and
>struggle in the medieval period.
>
>
>4 of 25'The Adventures of Robin Hood'
>'The Adventures of Robin Hood'
>Warner Bros via MovieStillsDB
>In classic Hollywood, few actors were as dashing and handsome as Errol
>Flynn, so it makes sense that he would have been cast as Robin Hood in
>Michael Curtiz’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, released in 1938. It’s a
>Technicolor swashbuckler as only old Hollywood could have made it, and
>Flynn is joined by a great supporting cast that includes Olivia de
>Havilland as Maid Marian, Claude Rains as Prince John, and Basil
>Rathbone as Guy of Gisbourne. What it lacks in historical authenticity,
>it more than makes up for in simple joy and exhilaration, as it sweeps
>the viewer up in the efforts of Robin and his Merry Men to topple the
>cruel and corrupt rule of Prince John.
>
>
>5 of 25'El Cid'
>'El Cid'
>Allied Artists via MovieStillsDB
>If there was one actor in classic Hollywood who represented the epic
>film, it was Charlton Heston. Whether as Moses or Ben-Hur, something
>about his chiseled physique and simple physical presence made him seem
>ideal for epic heroes. In El Cid, he plays the titular character, one of
>the most celebrated heroes in Spanish history, a man who fought against
>the Moors of Spain during the Middle Ages. It has everything one expects
>of such a drama, with moments of powerful passion and others of deep
>introspection about the nature of religious faith, the bounds of duty,
>and the ultimate price of heroism.
>
>
>6 of 25'The Last Duel'
>'The Last Duel'
>20th Century Studios via MovieStillsDB
>Ridley Scott is one of today’s most versatile directors, and there are
>few genres he hasn’t worked in. He has proved particularly adept at the
>epic, however, and The Last Duel, while not an enormous success, is
>nevertheless a thoughtful exploration of the nature of patriarchy in the
>medieval world. It’s a grim and somber film featuring the superb acting
>talents of Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, and Adam Driver. It shows a grittier
>side of the Middle Ages than some might expect, and this is its great
>strength and the thing that can sometimes make it difficult to watch.
>
>
>7 of 25'The Northman'
>'The Northman'
>Focus Features via MovieStillsDB
>Following the success of The Witch and The Lighthouse, Robert Eggers
>returned to the big screen with The Northman. A retelling of the legends
>that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it revolves around Alexander
>Skarsgård’s Amleth, a young man who swears vengeance against his uncle
>after his father is traitorously murdered. Though it has moments of camp
>excess, there is still a profound beating heart to this film that helps
>to elevate above its excesses. Skarsgård makes for the perfect epic
>hero, at once strikingly handsome and spiritually tortured. The film
>also excels at bringing out the cruelty and beauty of the Middle Ages.
>
>
>8 of 25'Braveheart'
>'Braveheart'
>Paramount Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Braveheart might not be known for being the most historically accurate
>of films — it jettisons historical fact altogether — but there’s no
>denying its power. Mel Gibson is in extraordinary form as William
>Wallace, the Scottish rebel who led his people to fight back against the
>English, led by their hard-edged and avaricious king, Edward I. The film
>is filled with rousing battlefield scenes and speeches, but it also
>doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of medieval life. This is
>entirely fitting, as this was an often-brutal age, and the film allows
>for a surprisingly rich understanding of one of the era’s most important
>historical figures.
>
>
>9 of 25'Kingdom of Heaven'
>'Kingdom of Heaven'
>20 Century Fox via MovieStillsDB
>After success in The Lord of the Rings and Troy, Orlando Bloom kept up
>with the epic filmmaking by appearing in Kingdom of Heaven. He portrays
>the character Balian of Ibelin, a blacksmith who goes to the Holy Land
>and becomes ensnared in the fraught politics of the Crusades. The film
>shows all of Scott’s keen eye for action and epic storytelling, and it
>was timely, as its examination of the relationship between Christians
>and Muslims dovetailed with the then-new War on Terror. Though it takes
>some notable liberties with known historical facts, there’s still an
>emotional truth to it, allowing it to become a surprisingly thoughtful
>piece of epic filmmaking.
>
>
>10 of 25'The Green Knight'
>'The Green Knight'
>A24 via MovieStillsDB
>The legend of the Green Knight is one of the lesser-known stories from
>Arthurian legends, which gives director David Lowery quite a bit of
>license. The result is The Green Knight, one of the most unique and
>innovative films about the Middle Ages. Dev Patel gives a masterful
>performance as Sir Gawain, who yearns to be the type of hero he thinks
>he deserves to be. It is a unique mix of magic and desire and dark
>magic, and it is also fiercely deconstructive, diving deep into the
>haunted spirit of folklore, forcing a reckoning with what storytelling
>means and entails.
>
>
>11 of 25'Vikings'
>'Vikings'
>History via MovieStillsDB
>As its title suggests, Vikings is set during the Viking Age and focuses
>in particular on Ragnar Lodbrok, one of the most famous heroes of the
>era (played by Travis Fimmel). As with so many other series, it takes
>some significant liberties with the known history of the period, but
>this doesn’t lessen its appeal. The series is remarkable for the extent
>to which it captures the grittiness and grime of the early Middle Ages.
>There is, nevertheless, a savage beauty about its presentation of this
>era and its most terrifying inhabitants, and Fimmel has a suitably
>fierce and intense charisma that makes him ideally cast as a Viking warlord.
>
>
>12 of 25'Vikings: Valhalla'
>'Vikings: Valhalla'
>History via MovieStillsDB
>Vikings: Valhalla is a spinoff of the hugely successful Vikings and
>takes place about a century after its parent series. In this case, it
>focuses, in particular, on the conflicts between the English and the
>Vikings. As with its predecessor, there’s a gritty and realistic feel to
>the show that is key to its appeal. At the same time, however, it gives
>viewers an understanding of the complicated politics that were very much
>at work in the period when the dominance of the Vikings was beginning to
>come to an end. It also features some of the most famous names of the
>Middle Ages, including Leif Erikson, Harald Sigurdsson, King Canute, and
>Queen Emma.
>
>
>13 of 25'Excalibur'
>'Excalibur'
>Warner Bros via MovieStillsDB
>The legend of King Arthur has inspired generations of filmmakers, but
>few have approached the material in quite as unique a way as John
>Boorman. His Excalibur has many of the elements of the traditional
>Arthur story — with the boy raised in ignorance of his true heritage,
>his dalliance with his own half-sister, Morgana, and the doomed romance
>of Guinevere and Lancelot — but he glosses it all with his unique visual
>sensibilities. The film exists in the fraught territory between history
>and fantasy, with scenes of such brutality and beauty that they seem to
>sear themselves into the viewer’s mind.
>
>
>14 of 25'Becket'
>'Becket'
>Paramount Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Thomas Becket was one of the most formidable and noteworthy
>personalities of the Middle Ages. His friendship-turned-rivalry with
>King Henry II was significant for the men and England's history. Richard
>Burton (who plays Becket) and Peter O’Toole (who plays Henry) give
>stirring, soulful performances. They both excel at taking these
>larger-than-life figures and turning them into fully fleshed-out
>individuals, two men driven to collide with one another due to their own
>deeply-held beliefs. This is the kind of literate costume drama viewers
>can really sink their teeth into, and the well-written screenplay and
>the tremendous performances help to elevate it to the best the genre has
>to offer.
>
>
>15 of 25'The Lion in Winter'
>'The Lion in Winter'
>AVCO Embassy Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Based on the play of the same name, The Lion in Winter depicts a
>Christmas gathering of King Henry II of England and his fractious
>family, including his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his three
>surviving sons, Richard, Geoffrey, and John. It’s a film filled with
>memorable performances, particularly from Peter O’Toole, Katherine
>Hepburn, and Anthony Hopkins. It’s a literate drama about a family
>damaged almost beyond repair. Moreover, it ably captures the toxic
>politics which were always such a key part of the Angevin family, a
>dynasty in which fathers frequently fought against sons and in which
>sons turned against one another.
>
>
>16 of 25'The Sword in the Stone'
>'The Sword in the Stone'
>Walt Disney Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Though it wasn’t an enormous success at the time of its release, The
>Sword in the Stone has subsequently come to be seen as one of the most
>beloved Disney films. Loosely adapting the first book of T.H. White’s
>The Once and Future King, it follows a very young King Arthur as he
>becomes the student of the eccentric wizard Merlin. Filled with
>memorable songs, vibrant animation (including a wizard’s duel, in which
>Merlin and his nemesis Madam Mim transform into various animals), and
>some valuable life lessons, it’s a film that shows the extent to which,
>even in the post-Walt era, Disney still knew how to produce a great
>animated feature.
>
>
>17 of 25'Robin Hood'
>'Robin Hood'
>Walt Disney Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Disney’s Robin Hood is another of those Disney films that emerged from
>the 1970s to lackluster reviews but has subsequently become beloved.
>With its memorable cast of anthropomorphic animals in the traditional
>Robin Hood roles and catchy songs, it’s a treat to watch. Of course, no
>Disney film is complete without a good villain, and the nefarious Prince
>John ranks up there with the best of them, though he is far sillier than
>he is competently evil. It’s a lighthearted take on one of the most
>beloved legends from the Middle Ages.
>
>
>18 of 25'The Name of the Rose'
>'The Name of the Rose'
>Columbia Pictures via MovieStillsDB
>Based on the thought-provoking novel by the late Umberto Eco, The Name
>of the Rose stars Sean Connery as William of Baskerville and Christian
>Slater as his novice, Adso of Melk. Together, they undertake an
>investigation of a series of strange deaths at a remote abbey. Slowly
>but surely, they uncover the dark secrets hidden behind its walls.
>Though not quite as elegantly constructed as the book, there is still a
>great deal to enjoy about this film, not the least of which is Connery’s
>performance. However, it’s also enjoyable because it grapples with
>weighty issues, including, most notably, the perilous nature of
>forbidden knowledge.
>
>
>19 of 25'The Last Kingdom'
>'The Last Kingdom'
>BBC via MovieStillsDB
>In keeping with the gritty aesthetic that seems to characterize so many
>contemporary depictions of the Middle Ages, The Last Kingdom immerses
>the viewer in the turbulent period of English history when the native
>English were starting to fight back against the Vikings. It focuses in
>particular on the character Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon raised by
>Vikings who finds his fate intertwined with that of the man known to
>history as Alfred the Great. The Last Kingdom doesn’t shy away from the
>brutality and violence that were often a part of the medieval world, but
>it also has moments of soaring triumph.
>
>
>20 of 25'A Knight’s Tale'
>'A Knight’s Tale'
>Sony Pictures Releasing via MovieStillsDB
>Some of the most notable movies about the Middle Ages have tended to be
>dramas, but every so often, a comedy comes along. A Knight’s Tale is
>filled with deliberate anachronisms, but Heath Ledger, who portrays
>William Thatcher, a peasant who masquerades as a knight, is so
>charismatic and fun to watch that it’s easy to overlook these
>inaccuracies. It’s the sort of underdog story that is always guaranteed
>to thrill a film audience, and though it might not be one of Ledger’s
>more lauded performances, there’s no denying that he exudes the same
>charm he does in such other roles as 10 Things I Hate About You.
>
>
>21 of 25'Henry V'
>'Henry V'
>Curzon Film Distributors via MovieStillsDB
>The works of Shakespeare have been adapted numerous times to film, and
>one of the more notable efforts in this regard is Henry V. Directed by
>and starring Kenneth Branagh as the title character, it focuses on
>Henry’s invasion of France and its consequences. Though it maintains
>Shakespeare’s dialogue, it still gives a gritty representation of
>medieval battle. In this film, Branagh pulls off one of the most
>difficult feats, reimagining the oft-adapted works of the Bard and
>rendering them into something new, fresh, and exciting. Among the other
>members of the talented cast are Judi Dench, Ian Holm, and Derek Jacobi.
>
>
>22 of 25'The Hollow Crown'
>'The Hollow Crown'
>BBC via MovieStillsDB
>The Wars of the Roses were some of the most noteworthy and devastating
>conflicts to have hit England, and they make for fascinating and
>compelling drama. The British TV series The Hollow Crown is a
>multi-part adaptation of several of Shakespeare’s notable works,
>including The Henriad. It is truly an embarrassment of riches when it
>comes to its cast, which includes such heavy hitters as Ben Whishaw, Tom
>Hiddleston, and Michael Gambon. This is meticulously crafted television
>at its best, and it makes Bard’s classic history plays feel fresh, new,
>and ever more relevant for the 21st century. What sets this series
>apart, however, is the extent to which each episode manages to work both
>as an episode of television and as part of a coherent whole.
>
>
>23 of 25'The White Queen'
>'The White Queen'
>Starz via MovieStillsDB
>For the past decade, Starz has made a point of releasing sumptuously
>produced historical dramas focusing on the experiences of notable
>historical women. One of the most notable is The White Queen, which
>tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the commoner who married none
>other than Edward IV. However, their romance is only part of the story.
>The series masterfully weaves together their love with the broader
>conflicts of the Wars of the Roses, as Elizabeth’s fate intertwines with
>many of the other prominent women of the period, including the
>redoubtable Margaret Beaufort, who would herself give birth to a man
>fated to become a king.
>
>
>24 of 25'Ivanhoe'
>'Ivanhoe'
>MGM via MovieStillsDB
>The works of Sir Walter Scott were enormously popular in his own
>lifetime, and they have a remarkable afterlife on the big screen. Of the
>many adaptations of his work, one of the best is 1952’s Ivanhoe. The
>film focuses on the adventures of its title character, a Saxon who
>nevertheless wants to see King Richard return to England. It’s a
>sweeping adventure film of a distinctly old-fashioned sort, and while it
>makes some changes to Scott’s novel, it keeps true to the spirit of it.
>It also features some great performances from Robert Taylor, Elizabeth
>Taylor, George Sanders, and Joan Fontaine.
>
>
>25 of 25'Outlaw King'
>'Outlaw King'
>Netflix via MovieStillsDB
>Chris Pine is one of the most charming and charismatic actors working in
>Hollywood, and he brings all of that to bear in Outlaw King, in which he
>plays Robert the Bruce. Though often overshadowed by William Wallace,
>Bruce was also key to Scotland’s Wars of Independence, this film
>restores him to his rightful place in history. Though it might like some
>of the heightened grandeur of the earlier Braveheart, it’s a more
>historically accurate film. Like many other films about the Middle Ages
>from the 21st century, it doesn’t shy away from the dirt, blood, and
>violence of this pivotal period in Scottish history.
>
>Thomas J. West III earned a PhD in film and screen studies from Syracuse
>University in 2018. His writing on film and TV has appeared at Screen
>Rant, Screenology, FanFare, Primetimer, Cinemania, and in a number of
>scholarly journals and edited collections. He co-hosts the Queens of the
>B's podcast and writes a regular newsletter, Omnivorous, on Substack. He
>is also an active member of GALECA, the Society of LGBTQ Entertainment
>Critics.
>
>More must-reads:
>
>The 25 best cult classic films of all time
>The 25 best TV miniseries of all time