Nothing invokes more debate or arguments then discussing the top
ten of anything, let alone the Top Ten Medieval Movies. Our list may not be
perfect, but we believe our Top Ten Medieval Movies of all times accurately
reflects some of the best and most enduring movies made about the Middle Ages of
European history. Beginning with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (King
Arthur times) which is commoningly referred to as the Early Middle Ages, through
the High Middle Ages of King John and William Wallace and ending with the Late
Middle Ages of Queen Elizabeth and Roy Roy. And of course, no list would not be
complete without one movie about those bearded Nordic men called Vikings!
While the names and times of these movies may all be different,
they all describe a common story that is weaved throughout human history like
the earth itself - good overcoming the failings of evil. These movies provide a
glimpse of our own past of brutality, and how ordinary men and women over the
past 2,000 years fought and won their freedoms under the most horrific and
difficult circumstances. While the 20th century may have seen equally great
stories of freedom, the seeds of humanity's search for freedom, peace and
harmony take root in those times called the Middle Ages...
#1
Braveheart
(1995) - A stupendous historical saga,
Braveheart won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for star
Mel Gibson. He plays William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish commoner who
unites the various clans against a cruel English King, Edward the Longshanks
(Patrick McGoohan). The scenes of hand-to-hand combat are brutally violent, but
they never glorify the bloodshed. There is such enormous scope to this story
that it works on a smaller, more personal scale as well, essaying love and loss,
patriotism and passion. Extremely moving, it reveals Gibson as a multitalented
performer and remarkable director with an eye for detail and an understanding of
human emotion.
#2
King Arthur
(2004) - The Roman Empire is stretched across
many nations, including Britain. In their conquest for more land, the Romans
went into Sarmatia where they fought the very brave Sarmatian cavalery. The
Romans, impressed by the Sarmatian's weaponery and fighting skills, included
them into their army as knights. After 15 years of serving and fighting for the
Roman Empire the Sarmatian Knights, lead by Arthur/Artorious Castus, are about
to receive their freedom as the Romans are leaving Britain. But the Knights must
carry out one final order before they are free. A Roman priest and his family,
especially his son Alecto, must be rescued from the invading Saxons. But there
is another danger lurking on the road to freedom - the Woads, British rebels who
hate the Romans.
#3
Robin Hood
(2010) - Birth of a legend. Following King
Richard's death in France, archer Robin Longstride, along with Will Scarlett,
Alan-a-Dale and Little John, returns to England. They encounter the dying Robert
of Locksley, whose party was ambushed by treacherous Godfrey, who hopes to
facilitate a French invasion of England. Robin promises the dying knight he will
return his sword to his father Walter in Nottingham. Here Walter encourages him
to impersonate the dead man to prevent his land being confiscated by the crown,
and he finds himself with Marian, a ready-made wife. Hoping to stir baronial
opposition to weak King John and allow an easy French take-over, Godfrey worms
his way into the king's service as Earl Marshal of England and brutally invades
towns under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes. Can Robin navigate the
politics of barons, royals, traitors, and the
French?
#4
Excalibur
(1981) - As the title would suggest, it follows
the travels of the legendary sword Excalibur through Arthurian myth, from the
violent, powerful hands of Uther Pendragon, to a long-years' rest in the stone
to being redrawn by Uther's son Arthur, who uses it to defeat the evil invaders
and establish the great court of Camelot and the great Knights of the Round
Table. It is there in Arthur's glory years and in his decline, brought on by the
love affair between his wife Guenevere and best friend and best knight Sir
Lancelot, the Holy Grail Quest which produces many casualties among the knights,
and the arrival of Mordred, the son Arthur had by his evil half-sister, the
sorceress Morgana. Through it all, the magician Merlin watches over everything,
always ready to throw in a Charm of Making when it's called for.
#5
Gladiator
(2000) - A dying Marcus Aurelius plans to name
his loyal and brave General Maximus as his successor in order to restore the
power of the Roman Senate. However, his power-hungry, jealous son Commodus
learns of the plan, murders Marcus Aurelius, and plans to execute Maximus in
order to secure his claim to the throne. Maximus escapes execution, but is sold
into slavery and is forced to become a gladiator. Eventually, Maximus and his
fellow gladiators are sent to Rome to perform for Commodus. Through his bravery
he wins over the masses and reveals his true identity, much to the chagrin of
Commodus. Can Maximus use his newfound popularity to avenge Marcus Aurelius'
death, or will Commodus be able to keep the throne?
#6
Elizabeth
(2007) - Two faiths, two empires, two rulers -
colliding in 1588. Papist Spain wants to bring down the heretic Elizabeth.
Philip is building an armada but needs a rationale to attack. With covert
intrigue, Spain sets a trap for the Queen and her principal secretary,
Walsingham, using as a pawn Elizabeth's cousin Mary Stuart, who's under house
arrest in the North. The trap springs, and the armada sets sail, to rendezvous
with French ground forces and to attack. During these months, the Virgin Queen
falls in love with Walter Raleigh, keeping him close to court and away from the
sea and America. Is treachery or heroism at his heart? Does loneliness await her
passionate majesty?
#7
Rob Roy
(1995) One of the most invigorating period
adventures to hit the big screen in decades, this lavish, brilliantly directed
film drew critical and audience raves when it was released in 1995. Inspired by
historical fact and larger-than-life legend, the intelligently scripted story
takes place in Scotland in 1713, when Highland farmer and clan leader Rob Roy
MacGregor (Liam Neeson) is forced to borrow money from the duplicitous
aristocrat Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) to help his clan survive a harsh
winter. When Montrose's vile henchman (Tim Roth) schemes to dishonor MacGregor
and his wife (Jessica Lange) and take the money for himself, the rugged
Highlander must take courageous action to preserve his integrity. What
follows--along with some of the finest sword-fighting ever filmed--is a tale of
courage and valor destined to become an enduring movie classic. Tim Roth
received a well-deserved Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actor) for his
indelible performance as the foppish but deadly villain Cunningham, and both
Neeson and Lange bring an earthy, sensual quality to their passionate roles.
Boasting a wealth of breathtaking scenery and high-intensity action, Rob Roy is
further blessed by a splendid supporting cast (including Brian Cox and Eric
Stoltz), and the lush soundtrack by Carter Burwell strikes a perfect balance of
romanticism and vigorous dramatic energy.
#8
Ironclad
(2011) - It is the year 1215 and the rebel
barons of England have forced their despised King John to put his royal seal to
the Magna Carta, a noble, seminal document that upheld the rights of free-men.
Yet within months of pledging himself to the great charter, the King reneged on
his word and assembled a mercenary army on the south coast of England with the
intention of bringing the barons and the country back under his tyrannical rule.
Barring his way stood the mighty Rochester castle, a place that would become the
symbol of the rebel's momentous struggle for justice and
freedom.
#9
Sword of the Valiant
(1984) - Gawain was a squire in King Arthur's
court when the Green Knight burst in and offered to play a game with a brave
knight. No knights stand to defend their king's honor. Except for the valiant
Gawain. After being quickly knighted Gawain plays the game, but learns that it's
all a trick, and he has lost. But the Green Knight shows mercy, letting Gawain
grow a year older before having to face the consequences. Gawain journeys across
the land, learning about life, saving damsels, and solving the Green Knight's
riddle.
#10
The Vikings
(1958) - In the Middle Ages, Viking warriors
continue to raid the English coast. In one such raid the Viking leader Ragnar
kills the English king and forces himself on the Queen. With the King dead, his
brother takes the thrown but unknown to anyone but a trusted servant, the Queen
is now with child. In order to protect the boy, he is sent away to be raised in
safety away from the new King. Twenty years later, the Vikings under are still
raiding England and they now have an Englishman, Egbert, making maps of the
English coast for them. Ragnar has a son, Einar, a lusty warrior who takes what
he wants when he wants it. They also have a slave, Eric, taken prisoner as an
infant. Egbert realizes from a necklace Eric wears that he is the son of the
Queen and is Einar's half-brother. When they kidnap Morgana, a Welsh beauty and
the English King's betrothed, the stage is set for an inevitable clash between
the half-brothers and with the reigning English King.
One of Walt Disney's favorite attractions was the Carousel of Progress. Presented during the 1964-1965 World's Fair, Disney seemed especially devoted to this project. The Carousel of Progress is steeped in both nostalgia and futurism, the attraction's premise is an exploration of the joys of living through the advent of electricity and other technological advances during the 20th century via a "typical" American family.
Beam ahead nearly 50 years later and yes, the Carousel of Progress is still playing in Walt Disney World as the longest running stage show in the history of American Theater. The optimism and excitement about the future of technology was one of Walt Disney's most enduring legacies and can be heard in the Carousel's theme song - "The Best Time of your Life" - if you have ever been to this Walt Disney World attraction, then you are probably humming the song to yourself now.
So, what does this all have to do with the Roku? It is our firm belief that we are entering a new golden age of technology that the Father of Imagineering would have found so intriguing and exhilarating that he would have concluded, as he did in 1964, that it would change the world. He would have wrapped himself around the technology and stretched it to the boundaries of space. All of the promises of the last 15 years of technology development are coming to a crescendo that will result in a major shift in social, economical and political change as the choice of freedom ceases the day. The signs are everywhere. Blazing fast computer processors, wireless internet, tablets and touch screens will eventually be attached to every device we own making our lives easier with more time for Americans to engage in what Americans have always done - innovate!
The Roku represents what we believe is the future and promise of a new age of media and communications that will change the world. Once upon a time, watching a movie at home meant ordering a DVD online, waiting for it to arrive, then having it sit on your coffee table for weeks until you were in the mood to watch it. Then came along the Roku—the original streaming player. Now, millions of people use Roku to choose what they want to watch instantly. Whether you’re exploring over 700 channels of movies and shows, delving into what really interests you, or just stumbling across something new, Roku makes it happen easily, instantly and affordably. Movie night—or any night—will never be the same.
Roku was designed to be amazingly easy to use. With the simple remote, you choose what you want to watch, and it starts instantly. That's it.
Roku does not charge a monthly fee. Simply access your existing subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon or watch free content with services like Crackle and Vudu. Enjoy all the free movies, shows, and music. Or browse the latest blockbusters on demand.
Roku connects easily to your TV and wireless (Wi-Fi) network at home. You’ll be up and streaming in minutes.
Access all of Celtic Radio channels using the Live365 Channel, right from your HD T.V.
We have put to the test the HD Roku for 30 days and did not encounter one problem. Connection with our wireless access point was as advertised; simply and trouble free. We really appreciated both the HDMI port and the alternative RCA plugs for our older T.V.'s. The Roku is small and portable and can easily be carried to another room in a jiffy or to a friend's house for that matter. The Roku is the first T.V. streaming device that we consider easy to rent movies and very usable. We used Amazon and really liked the 48 hour rental time. Best of all we found the HD Roku for $48 at our local Walmart.
We highly recommend the HD Roku for its ability to be used on both a HD TV and older VGA (RCA Plugs) TV. If you enjoy listening to the Celtic Radio channels on Live365, then you will love the Live365 channel especially on your HD TV with full color albums, song info and more.
With the Roku and other new products coming on to the market, prepare for the Golden Age of new technology to become the Best Times of our Lives! 5 Stars from Celtic Radio!
The Secret of Roan Inish is an American independent film written and directed by John Sayles, and released in 1994. It's based on the novel The Secret of Ron Mor Skerry, by Rosalie K. Fry. It is centered on the Irish and Orcadian folklores of selkies—seals that can shed their skins to become human. The story, set on the west coast of Ireland, is about Fiona, a young girl who is sent to live with her grandparents near the island of Roan Inish, where the selkies are rumored to reside. It is an old family legend that her younger brother was swept away in his infancy and raised by a selkie. Part of the film takes place in Donegal. The movie has been widely praised for its uniqueness and its breathtaking cinematography filmed by Haskell Wexler.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Fiona — played by Jeni Courtney — a young girl who is sent to live with her grandparents in an Irish fishing village. Her grandfather weaves tall tales about the family's evacuation from their home on the tiny island of Roan Inish and his great-great grandfather, who once cheated death at the hands of the sea. As she meets other villagers, Fiona hears more personal stories about an ancestor who married a beautiful, part-human/part-seal, and more about how the sea stole her baby brother during the departure from Roan Inish. Later, Fiona believes that she has found Jamie romping in the grass on Roan Inish, and she must convince the family of her vision.
Although in the original novel the story takes place in Sotland, the filmmakers decided to have the film take place in Ireland for practical reasons. Critic Stephen Holden, of The New York Times, liked the film's direction. He wrote, "The Secret of Roan Inish is the first film directed by Mr. Sayles that could be described as visually rhapsodic. Photographed by Haskell Wexler on Ireland's rugged northwestern seacoast, it is a cinematic tone poem in which man and nature, myth and reality flow together in a way that makes them ultimately indivisible.
A beautiful story, that captures the selkie legend with a touch of innocence. 5 Golden Stars from CelticRadio.net:
Picture Gallery from the Movie: The Secret of Roan Inish
The Canon Powershot ELPH 320 HS is a camera that can do it all. From gorgeous pictures to HD video, this little camera packs a big punch when it comes to features and ease of use.
Some key features of this camera include:
• 16.1 Megapixels • Wi-Fi Enabled • 5x Zoom, 24 mm Wide-Angle Lens • Full 1080p HD Video • 3.2 Inch Touch Panel LCD
What interested us the most in this camera was the HD video capacity and the wide angle lens. Having been disappointed in the past with other digital cameras only offering lower resolutions for video, we were excited to see that the 320 had 1080p HD along with a wide-angle lens to boot! The Wi-Fi feature was also a draw to this camera and we will get into that later.
The HD Video has a built in stabilizer that provides for a shake free recording of videos. This feature is a must as it really helps create professional looking videos. The wide angle lens is another professional recording feature, so that you can include more in your videos – especially up close. All of the features can be customized right from the built in touch screen and menu system. We found the learning curve to be about an hour to discover all of the features and make changes confidently on the fly.
In picture mode this camera can strut its stuff. Beautiful 16.1 megapixel photographs that have all of the rich details of the moment captured. The optical image stabilizer is a feature that creates professional looking photographs and the PureColor LCD system allows you to view and frame your shots in high resolution. An interesting feature of this camera is Face ID which allows your camera to learn the faces of your family members or friends. Simply take a picture of up to 12 faces you would like the camera to register, then enter names and ages. Once a person is registered, the camera will pick him or her out of a group (even against a busy background) and adjust focus and exposure to his or her face, even recognizing faces in profile.
This camera has so many features that we could not possible list all of them in this article. However, what struck us the most was that even with all of the features packed into this little photographers dream, it was still very easy to learn and use. Check out the full list of features by visiting the Amazon.com product page on this camera.
Finally we have to tell you about the Wi-Fi enabled features. The built in Wi-Fi wireless technology makes capturing images and HD videos easy to transfer to smart phones, computers and tablets. Compatible with Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n wireless standard), this camera can connect with compatible home networks or to wireless access points. No need to pull out that USB cable, now you can transfer photographs and videos easily. The setup process is not exactly easy, but the supplied manual has detailed instructions that worked for us. Once you setup on your computer or tablet, connecting to your device is automatic.
The Canon Powershot ELPH 320 HS is a dream come true for us. It combines the best of a digital camera with a HD video camera, all in a small hand held device. The features of this camera will have us taking videos and pictures for a long time to come and will be the perfect camera for sharing YouTube videos and more. We highly suggest a compatible small case for storage and the 32 GB SDHC card for external storage. An extra battery or two is also a good idea if you plan on taking a lot of videos!
So you want to YouTube? If your like alot of people you've been using YouTube for a while now and your tempted to start your own YouTube video channel. But you don't want to break the bank with the high cost of a digital camera or perhaps you don't know exactly what you need in a digital camera to YouTube. Let us introduce you to the Fujifilm Fine Z70 12 Megapixel Digital Camera. This camera is definitely a friend of YouTube!
The Fuji Fine Z70 takes the best of the former Z-series cameras and combines it with an affordable price and HD movie capability. A key feature that we love about this camera is that unlike other digital cameras, you can zoom in and out while recording in HD video in a 5X optical zoom lense (most cameras have a 3X zoom lense). Another plus about this camera, which is different than most video cameras, is it records in native AVI instead of the standard MP4/MOV. This makes it much easier to edit your video using Microsoft's free Movie Maker software. A great feature of this camera is it comes with a rechargable battery with charger - no more buying expensive batteries everytime you are ready to start shooting! The camera takes both SD or SDHC memory cards and a USB cable to directly connect to your PC or MAC. Our favorite feature of this camera is that it can take 2 pictures at a time, one
with the flash and then one without so you can pick which one is better.
In terms of weight and feel, it is solid and well built with parts of the outside constructed of high quality metal. It has a
port on the bottom for a standard tripod. On this camera you can take many many pictures and HD Video with power to spare.
The battery can recharge to maximum capacity in about
2 hours.
Included with the Fuji Fine Z70 is a software package that contains tons of features along with a single button to upload your selected videos or pictures to YouTube or Facebook. Definitely a plus in our books.
So, if you are looking for a full-featured digital camera to take videos for YouTube at an affordable cost, then go with the Fuji Fine Z70 12 Megapixel Digital Camera. You will not be disappointed. Care for a video response? :-)
FinePix Z70 Highlights:
Chic New Design
Debuting a sleek new look, the FinePix Z70 features a sophisticated metal body
and a chic horizontal sliding lens barrier. At a mere 17.9mm thin, the FinePix
Z70 is ultra-portable and can be slipped into a handbag or jean-pocket with
ease. It is available in a choice of Black, Silver Blue and Berry Red, and
features LED illuminated keys that allow users to easily navigate the camera's
functions in dark conditions.
HD Capability
With 720p HD movie recording and a high 12-megapixel resolution, the FinePix Z70
can capture stunning, detailed images that can be played back in beautiful
detail on your HDTV. In addition, the FinePix Z70's one-touch movie button it is
simple to create your own video clips. The newly added Movie Edit feature allows
users to add personalized finishing touches to footage by editing videos and
incorporating various effects including B&W, Sepia or dynamic lighting settings.
Along the same theme, Blog Mode lets users add special effects to their photos
including color tones, contrasts and brightness changes, Diagonal Crop and Face
Mosaic.
Easy Web Uploads
As sharing photos online has become an everyday activity for many young people
worldwide, Fujifilm has developed a new Facebook/YouTube Automatic Upload
feature that makes for quicker and easier modes of posting photos/videos on
social networking sites. Featured in both the FinePix Z70 and FinePix XP10
digital cameras, the one-touch easy web upload button allows users to mark a
photo for Facebook or YouTube upload. Once the camera is connected to a PC and
MyFinePix Studio software is launched, all marked photos or movies will upload
directly to Facebook or YouTube at the press of a button.
Additional Features
Target Focus: Target Focus tracks fast moving subjects so
they don't escape from the frame in a blur. Target Focus tracks a subject
automatically for as long as the shutter is half-pressed, and once users fully
press the shutter, the picture is taken with the subject in the centre of the
frame in perfect focus.
Digital Image Stabilization: Digital Image Stabilization
reduces image blur and offers creative adaptability and excellent picture
quality.
Scene Recognition Auto (SR AUTO): This mode intelligently
detects the scene-type and shooting conditions and optimises the camera
settings accordingly.
Face Detection and Automatic Red-eye Removal: To provide
perfectly exposed and focused portrait shots, the FinePix Z70 is fitted with
Fujifilm's latest Face Detection technology which is able to track up to 10
faces simultaneously, at almost any angle to the camera. The system instantly
corrects red-eye and then saves both the original and the corrected image file
automatically.
Product Description
Fujifilm FinePix Z70- 12MP, Fujinon 5x Periscopic Optical Zoom, 2.7" LCD.
Other features include: Face Detection w/ Red Eye Removal, Tracking Auto
Focus, Digital Image Stabilization, Upload Function to YouTube & Facebook,
High Sensitivity 1600 ISO, 6 Scene - SR Auto Automatic Scene Recognition, One
Touch HD Movie 720p w/ Sound, Successive Movie Mode, Blog Mode w/ 7 In-Camera
Editing Options, Couple and Group Timers, LED Illuminated Buttons, Thin Metal
Body 17.9mm, Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery.