Yup, 3/4 Musketeers (with all of it's flaws, its still a great movie(s), the Duellists, Master and Commander, Warlord, etc. "Waterloo" had some cool bits in it too, but the whole thing of hundreds of Cuirassiers going over the mythical cliff was a bit much, though true to 19th Century French revisionism. I liked "The Last Valley", but there were too many weirdnesses that had nothing to do with the 30-Years War that it has to be taken on it's own.

Speaking of 17th Century subjects, there is of course, "Cromwell" with Richard Harris. The scene of the Horse contacting Pikes was excellent! Hard to beat the costuming and weapons either. There are also a number of Polish films set in the 17th Century, such as "With Fire and Sword" and "The Deluge" that are top-notch from a cool stuff/cool actions point of view. "The Deluge" has one of the best Cavalry Charges I've ever seen on film.

BTW, Patrick, since I read "Ivanhoe" long before I saw the film, I actually know how to spell the Antagonist's name!

"Brian du Bois Gilbert" Cool character, I always thought, not an evil person, just on the wrong side of things and a bit too impetuous for his own good.

Cheers,

Gordon

How about Kenneth Branagh's, Henry V? It has been awhile since I've seen it, so I'd have to look at it again before I recommend it as an example of historical accuracy. I do remember that the Earl of Essex spent a lot of unnecessary time in his plate armor, like the knights in Boorman's Excalibur.

The Mission has a terrific rapier streetfight scene between Robert DeNiro and Aidan Quinn. It's nasty, brutish, short and very convincing. DeNiro wins, of course, using his rapier to parry while opening Quinn's gut with a navaja.

Of movies not mentioned yet, I love the 1997 BBC miniseries of Ivanhoe. It's six hours long but fun from beginning to end. The combat, costumes, armor and weapons are quite well done too.

Here's the link to the IMDB site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118354/
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I also really liked Elizabeth with Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett. Again, costumes, armor and weapons were fantastic.

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Ahh, I wish I wasn't so picky about historic costuming. it's difficult to watch a lot of these movies because, well, there are so few of them that lack glaring mistakes. Often times, the later period ones are much better, but anything from the Renaissance and before seems to be a mish-mash of time periods, bad fabric choices, and most of all, bad fit. But, of course, none of this matters outside of the exercise of talking about them in that context. These movies are meant to be entertainment, not items of historical study. And so even the most picky of us, myself especially, must understand and accept the intent of the presentation and be able to fit within that context.

I'm right there with you, Patrick. I'm a huge movie fan. As you mention, I think it's important for me, and all of us, to understand the purpose of movies is entertainment, not authenticity. One often strives to be correct, but there are severe limits as to what can be accomplished within that realm.

The final hurdle I've had to overcome is my theatrical background. As many know I was an actor and a fight director back in the "bad old days". After I left that profession it was years before I could go to a movie or a play and enjoy the production from an entertainment standpoint, and not focus on the technical stuff as well as the "artistic" choices.

In spite of any possible issues I'm really excited about this movie. The crusading era has always been one of my main periods of interest, and there are far too few movies made that depict it.

My wife is still a highschool drama teacher (we met in the theatre) so you can imagine what a pair we make!