Few movies this summer looked as positively dumb as A Knight's Tale. With it's Camelot look bombarded by contemorary music from the likes of Queen and War, this picture looked like a disaster. In the lead, dashing young Heath Ledger who last appeared in the overbloated The Patriot. If this movie taught me anything, it's never underestimate the power of writer- director Brian Helgeland. True, the guy did co-write the screenplay to the disasterous The Postman, but he also won an Acadamy Award for his brilliant work on L.A. Confidential and made a big splash directing Payback. His new film A Knight's Tale is nothing more than a fun time at the movies.

In A Knight's Tale, Ledger plays a peasant who assumes the role of royalty so that he may be allowed to participate in jousting competitions. After winning several matches, Ledger begins to make a little money and becomes smitten with a young woman who's heart he hopes to win.

As stated earlier, the film uses contemporary music, modern dance and some present day dialogue. But rather then becoming intrusive, these elements actually make A Knight's Tale thouroughly enjoyable. Credit Helgeland with taking some interesting chances. He's fashioned a picture that's reminiscent of George Romero's creative Knightriders, a film in which biker gangs engage in jousting tournaments while atop of their motorcycles.

Ledger is terrific here. In fact, he does everything in A Knight's Tale that he was unable to pull off in The Patriot. Although he put forth a valiant effort in that picture, he seems much more comfortable in this role and really seems be having a good time as is the rest of the cast. Mark Addy and Alan Tudyk are hilarious as Ledger's right hand men. Newcomer Shannyn Sossamon (who greatly resembles Angelina Jolie) is graceful as the woman of Heath's affection. Rufus Sewell is understated as the viallain. It is Paul Bettany as Geoff Chaucer, however, that steals the show as the writer who beomes Ledger's warm up act before jousting tournaments.

The last time we saw director Helgeland, he was at the reigns of Payback (a film in which he was mysteriously replaced towards the end of production), a brilliantly dark and calleous crime thriller starring Mel Gibson. With A Knight's Tale, Helgeland shows a softer side. He also shows an incredibly creative side for as great as some of his previous films were, they were'nt quite as off the wall as this.

A Knight's Tale isn't exactly huge in scope. It's not Braveheart, or Gone With the Wind. But it is extremely well directed and full of terrific performances. It's a movie full of action, humor, romance, and a certain magical quality that really makes it worth seeing. A Knight's Tale is the first really fun film of the summer. Lets hope there's more to come.