Library News

Hi there! Welcome to the first Film Club blog of the year! As students new and returning settle into life at College, they will also find enrichment and downtime is essential to a healthy balanced mind (see the display in the Library for more on student well-being) while studying. This is where the Film Club comes in – the blog provides a look into the fantastic film resources we have available to loan/watch in the library and they don’t have to be just for you, they can be to distract your children too! All for no price at all. So, back to this month’s blog and the subject for September is… Swashbucklers! Swashbucklers are films that specialize in showing off a sword fighting protagonist with romantic endeavour's. All of the below entries feature extensive sword fighting and a little romance.

 

First up is the historical biographic Rob Roy (1995), directed by Michael Caton-Jones (The Jackal). It stars Liam Neeson (Taken, The Chronicles of Narnia franchise) as Roy, with John Hurt (The Elephant Man, Alien) and Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction). Rob Roy MacGregor was an 18th Century Scottish outlaw and folk-hero, this film is based on the true story of his life. In the Scottish Highlands in 1713, MacGregor is an aspiring cattle raiser and trader who borrows money from nobleman James Graham (Hurt). After a later dispute over the owed money, Graham sets swordsman Archibald Cunningham (Roth, who wants the money for himself) on a collision course to find and apprehend the now outlawed Rob Roy.

 

“A splendid, rousing historical adventure” is how renowned critic Roger Ebert described the film, with Tim Roth’s performance and the sword fighting scenes getting particular praise in a set of generally positive reviews. In fact, Roth won a BAFTA and was even nominated for a Best Supporting Actor for his role. Rob Roy is available to watch anywhere, anytime only on Planet e-stream [see the end of the blog if unsure how to access] and you can catch a glimpse through watching the trailer by clicking the link below:

 

 

 

 

Our second entry is the ever-divisive Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), directed by Kevin Reynolds (Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo 2002). Set in the 12th Century it tells the story of the British folklore hero Robin Hood, who may or may not have been a real-person. An American production, it’s cast boasts the likes of Kevin Costner (Field of Dreams, The Bodyguard), Alan Rickman (Harry Potter, Love Actually) and Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty, Driving Miss Daisy).

 

In 1194, English nobleman Robin of Locksley (Costner) has been in a Jerusalem prison for years having fought for King Richard I in the 3rd Crusade [1189-1192]. Upon finally escaping, he saves the life of a moor (Muslim) named Akeem (Freeman) who then vows to stay with him until he has the chance to return the favour. Returning home, Robin finds an England in disarray, the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham (Rickman) making the peasant’s life hell as he plots to seize the throne. Robin pledges to fight back and preserve England for King Richard until he returns. Gathering and training a small peasant army within Sherwood Forest, Robin battles both injustice and his growing feelings for a certain Lady Marian (the King’s cousin, whom he swore to protect).

 

While similar in story to many other adaptations of this man’s tale, the film certainly leaves its own imprint. Costner’s mostly non-existent English accent is distracting but he still makes for a heroic & dashing Robin. Desson Thomson [The Washington Post] called it, “a state-of-the-art retelling of a classic”. It’s accompanied by a great score and an award-winning theme song by Canadian superstar Bryan Adams. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is available to watch now on both DVD & e-stream, get an introduction to the idyllic Sherwood Forest and its people by clicking the link below:

 

 

 

 

From the reality based to the completely fantastical, next up we have the timeless classic The Princess Bride (1987). Directed & co-produced by Rob Reiner (Stand by Me, When Harry Met Sally…), the cast includes Cary Elwes (Saw, Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1), Mandy Patinkin (Yentl), Robin Wright (Wonder Woman, Forrest Gump) and Chris Sarandon (Child’s Play, The Nightmare Before Christmas). This movie is based on a 1973 novel by William Goldman, which focuses on a young woman named Buttercup (Wright). Buttercup falls in love with the farmhand, Westley (Elwes), who subsequently leaves to gain a fortune so they can be wed. However, he is later presumed dead after his ship is attacked by an infamous pirate.

 

Five years later, Buttercup is forcibly betrothed to Florin’s Crown Prince Humperdinck (Sarandon). But before the wedding can happen, she is kidnapped by three outlaws led by Spanish swordsman Inigo (Patinkin). What ensues is an epic adventure as both Humperdinck and a mysterious masked man in black pursue them in an effort to rescue the Princess Bride. The Princess Bride is the most perfect example of a ‘Swashbuckler’ in this blog, and its no surprise it was very well received by critics and audiences alike. Critic Dalton Mullins exclaimed it as the “…greatest romantic, fantasy, adventure, story. It flawlessly represents love…”. You can watch the full film on e-stream, and a small clip of one of the funniest scenes now by clicking the link below:

 

 

We close out with the ‘Author’s Choice’ if you will, Martin Campbell’s (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) The Mask of Zorro (1998). The latest in a long-line of works based on Zorro, a fictional Spanish-American vigilante created by Johnston McCulley in 1919 who defends the commoners and indigenous people of Alta California (comprised of a region of US states, back when they were owned by Spain). The talented cast are led by Antonio Banderas (Spy Kids, Shrek 2), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, The Terminal0 and Sir Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, Thor).

 

Set in 1821, nobleman Don Diego de la Vega (Hopkins) fights oppression and corrupt officials as Zorro – his main adversary is the governor of California Rafael Montero (Wilson) - on the cusp of retirement, he foils one last execution by Montero with the aid of two young brothers, Alejandro and Joaquín Murrieta. However, de la Vega finds himself outed and arrested in the midst of great personal tragedy including losing his infant daughter Elena. 20 years later, Montero returns to California with a now adult Elena (Zeta-Jones) who believes he is her father. Noticing her at a public event with other prisoners, de la Vega escapes custody and encountering an adult Alejandro (Banderas), hatches a plan to train him to be the new Zorro and fight both their battles against Montero and his associates.

 

Roger Ebert summed this film up nicely when calling it, “probably the best Zorro movie ever made.” Its biggest praise gained being for its fight sequences with Richard Schickel (TIME) adding, “The action in this movie… takes the form of spectacular stunt work performed by real, as opposed to digitized, people.” A sequel, The Legend of Zorro was released in 2005 with Banderas and Zeta-Jones reprising their roles. Watch the film on e-stream whenever you like, and take a look at the new Zorro’s first foray (and some of the best fight scenes in the movie) by clicking the link below:

 

 

 

Swashbuckler’s may be a genre more of the past, but they are still highly enjoyable in the present and will be for generations to come. So, as you settle into college life, don’t forget to have some downtime intertwined with your studies, and use it watch a film of two from our collection if you like. Check out everything the library has to offer [including Minecraft Club] on our website Library Online. Also, we will be looking to re-introduce monthly film showings connected the blog in the immersive room! Look out for more details on that in the coming months.

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how to access e-stream? Then simply click on the link below…

 

Bradford College Planet Estream.