Movies-TV

Best King Arthur Movie

After watching this movie many years ago I was awestruck by it. Wonderful acting, brilliant action and storylines, and beautiful locales make this movie a must-see. Do yourself a favor and at least rent it.

One of the most finely crafted productions I have ever seen

I cannot get through the entire of "Excalibur" without crying. No other movie of this genre will quite as beautifully depict what John Boorman has done here. Everything was just so well thrown together...the scenery, the soundtrack, the convincing cast and the storyline. I have watched this movie over and over again all my life and even now it is still as powerful as it was when I first saw it as a child. I think it is one of Boorman's crowning glories. Definitely a film to be remembered and shared with all.

Well stagged King Arthur movie

This movie presents the Arthur movie in terms of the magic sword legend.
It modifies Vivian into Morgan Le Fey and takes several other liberties with the traditional plot, but it is well written , played and fun to watch!
If you likes knights in armor, sorcery and mythical mystical
legend, you'll love this movie.

A real stinker ...

I absolutely love the Arthurian myth and all the tales, but this movie is bad. I don't know how a respected director like Boorman and a fairly decent cast combined to create this stinker, but they did. I couldn't sit through it all, sorry!

KING ARTHUR LIVES!

Film adaptations of Malory's "Le Morte Darthur" have never been scarce, and several of them are indeed classics of their kind. But ultimately, in the field of Arthurian movies, there is "Excalibur," and then there is everything else. From the opening night-and-blood veiled battlefield to the closing shot of the mythic Avalon-bound barge, "Excalibur" is a feast for eye and soul alike. Though no movie could ever hope to encapsulate the full scope or grandeur of Arthurian lore, "Excalibur" comes reasonably close, encompassing Arthur's conception, birth, rise to power, and climactic war with enchantress Morgana and illegitimate son Mordred, with many of the legend's highpoints well hit in between. Particularly powerful is director Boorman's portrayal of the Grail Quest, sobering yet inspiring. Some raised on Disney's "Sword in the Stone" and T.H. White's classic books may find Boorman's vision strong meat, but in fact it is a mostly faithful adaptation of Malory supplemented by an awareness of other Athrurian writers as well. One thing in Boorman's heavy favor is that he realizes Arthur himself is indeed the central figure of these myths--not Lancelot, not Merlin, not Guinevere or Perceval. Into this demanding role Boorman thrust little-known Nigel Terry, who meets and exceeds all expectations as the best Arthur ever on screen, a man bound by ideals he cannot fulfill but determined to see them through to the bitter end. Helen Mirren is a glorious and elfin Morgana, and above all Nicol Williamson nearly steals the show as Merlin personified. Half Solomon, half Loki, Williamson's Merlin is an almost unfathomable creature not of this earth, but even he consistently underestimates the inner strength of the young protege he sets on the throne. For Arthur's greatest strength is not his magical sword, but his commitment, his honor, and his faith--and while the walls of Camelot itself may crumble in the grip of Time, these worthy things are eternal. One quarter each romance, fairy tale, Christian allegory and Shakesperean tragedy, "Excalibur" is nothing short of a poem written on celluloid. And, so far at least, the "Le Mortre Darthur's" ultimate cinematic avatar.

Must have on DVD for any fan of Excalibur

You haven't really seen this film if the only version you saw was VHS. Thank God for widescreen and the picture is absolutely sparkling. Its like somebody went back in time and reshot the film on modern equipment. Well no, but the film is finally presented the way John Boorman intended sans the big screen. If you know somebody with a DVD player (S-video input/stereo loudspeaker minimum) see what I mean.

An interpretation not a mirror of the legend.

As an ardent and well-read fan of the legends about King Arthur, I looked forward to watching this movie because it came with glowing credential of being the best retelling of the Arthurian legends. I was very disappointed. Certainly the main lines of the Arthurian legends of Malory are there - the sword in the stone, Arthur's rise and fall, the wizard Merlin and the sorceress Morgana, Lancelot's affection for Queen Guinevere, the arrival of Percival, and the quest for the holy grail. That's the good part.

Now for the bad part. The producer has woven these aspects together in a way that departs from the original legend (for instance, he suggests a different origin for the round table). Arthur is presented as arrogant and at times foolish, and his pride and rage are more dominant than his virtues. Merlin and Morgana are presented as fellow necromancers, and Merlin in particular is presented as a very dark figure with dark magic. Unlike the original legends, where the lines between good and evil are very distinct, the lines are blurred: The movie serves up a darker Arthur and Merlin and a brighter Morgana than Malory. In the original legend, the notion of the grail is completely religious, but the Christian symbolism of the grail which dominates in Malory is clinically excised from the movie, and replaced with the dominance of Merlin's sinister dark magic and his dragon. The charming chivalry and virtues of Malory's knights are largely absent.


In the end, the brightness of Arthur's kingdom and his virtuous knights has been exchanged for a more realistic picture and dark magic. The costumes look like space-suits, and the size of Arthur's army and his battles lacks the scope and grandeur of the original tales. Although the language is decent, the gratuitous violence and sex which gave the movie its R rating are not described as graphically in the original legends as they are portrayed in the movie. Of course, if you enjoy all of this, it's great. But if you're looking for something that captures the essence and glory of the original legends, you'll be sadly disappointed. Despite its high billing, true fans of the Arthurian legends will probably want to give this one a miss. - GODLY GADFLY

The DVD is not up to current-release standards.

This is a review of the DVD version of the movie, Excalibur. I will not repeat the already voluminous and accurate reviews of the movie. This is one of the older (1981) movies recently released on DVD at an attractive price. The sound track is listed as "Digital Dolby 5.1" but in reality it is almost a "mono" soundtrack. There is virtually no sound on the surround channels, plus there is very little stereo, even in scenes where surround sound obviously existed during filming.Still, the soundtrack is very nice, however not up to the standards we expect from current-release DVD movies. Also, the picture quality is perhaps B- at best. It is pleasing, although somewhat muted, and not as sharp as we've come to expect on DVD.However, I am pleased to have this fine movie on DVD, but for all the prospective purchasers, do not buy it with your expectations too high.

the pain! the pain!

This is among the worst movies I have seen. I once read that the Monty Python boys (having made the hilarious and very clever Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975) were amazed to see this movie; it contains essentially everything that they parodied in their own film, but it is so terribly earnest about everything. The dialogue is pretty awful but nothing compared to the shocking performances of all the actors involved. And WHY OH WHY must they wear plate armour all the time? apart from being historically inaccurate its just stupid from a common sense point of view. All in all I can see nothing good about Excaliber, except possibly for the unintentional giggles at its awfulness.

Dated, but still greaat to watch.

I had forgotten how interesting this movie was -- a little frustrating with its mixing of the legends, but a good watch and a fun reminder of how film styles have evolved in recent years.

Good film.

Excalibur was a good movie but flawed. Some of the acting was very average as well as the screenplay itself. Never the less, John Boorman did a spectacular jod directing. Several scenes for very powerful.Including the final battle with Mordred. I also thought that the scoring was effective. This film may seem visualy dated now, but it does not matter. If you are a big fan of the Arthurian legend, this is a must see.

Not the Once and Future King..., but it will do

This movie does not follow the original telling of the King Arthur legend very well, but, it is one of the most visually stunning movies since Blade Runner, and the music (by Wagner) is wonderful. If you enjoy fantasy or romance then this movie is for you.

Sleep in the Arms of the Dragon

This is one of my favorite movies of this genre. From the strong performances of the cast, notably Nicol Williamson as Merlin and Helen Mirren as Morgana, to the sensational soundtrack including the music of Wagner and Orff (Carmina Burana), this film has a magic all its own as it spins the tale of King Arthur. Director John Boorman blends several variations of the legend together, combining some characters to fit the needs of the story, with strong battle sequences (not for the squeamish) and a compelling (and infamous) love triangle (Cherie Lunghi is gorgeous- what was she doing in the video of Level 42's hit Something About You, though?). Look for soon-to-be-famous actors (in small roles), including Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne- and sleep in the arms of the dragon.

Amazing

While I know virtually nothing about the whole Arthur legend, this movie was fascinating a captivating nonetheless.

It's got amazing battle and siege scenes with plenty of swordfighting and gore to please anyone, but it also keeps to relevant areas of the plot. Even so, it takes 2.5 hours, but it's succinctly told, so you don't feel like you're drudging through a never-ending bore.

I feel that one of the most important aspects of any movie is the music. This one does an amazing job. From the eerie frightening music when the Lady of the Lake appears to the renderings of the epic "O Fortuna" when they are riding off to battle, this movie has an absolutely grand score.

The acting is good, if a little awkward at times, as are the character development and the humor. I also noticed a lot of familiar faces looking a lot younger. There was Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart with some hair, and I'm not sure but I think I recognized Gabriel Byrne.

Although not terribly historically accurate in terms, this is a very good movie. The only other King Arthur movie which is this good is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Very Highly Recommended, and at a great price.

A timeless story and truly epic movie , most epic of all.

The most epic story of all epic's this is one of the best DVD's you will come across.This movie has everything a true epic should have but most of all it's a noble telling of this timeless story.You know the charachters the most powerful and noble king Aurther , his trusted first knight Sir Lance A Lot, and his savior Percival.His true friend and father figure and respected wizard the great Merlin , His sinful father Uther and mother egraine , Aurther's evil sister morgana.

Aurther's godlike son mordrid a land gone a kingdom at war , a land without a king.Where sin meets lust , where flesh meets steel and one man shall weild the sword of power one last time in battle.

This movie is incredible and if your only 24 like me it was a big treat to see the trailer of this masterpeice.This movie was copied so much and chewd up by it but this movie will forever be the best version period it dosen't leave out anything. You'll be thrilled by it's amazing battle scenes a incredible and timeless classic.

And for the many who have seen this powerful film it will be a treat when you see it with Jhon Boorman's commentary put your aurmor on saddle up and prepare for fantasy at it's most awsome and best.

Look into the eyes of the dragon and learn--quickly!

I have read, and studied Malory's "Le Morte Darthur" by Rospo Pallenberg. I also read Tennyson's The Coming of Arthur, The Holy Grail and Lancelot and Elaine. Once I saw John Boorman's movie, it is an understatement to say I was a captive audience. I was swept away by his complete detail and dedication to the original sources which I just provided. He captured the legend. Dare I say better than any person could. Every word, every action and even the backdrop, was perfect (a word I do not find applied often in life) in this movie.
If you want to know who Arthur was, who Merlin was (which no one can portray better than Nicol Williamson) The Holy Grail or a plain reasoning to the meaning of life: watch this DVD. Mankinds nature is captured in this movie. Then, if you really want to be frightened, look for those situations and people in your life, with family, work and friends. Wisdom will be discovered if you do that, so don't be too disipointed if no magic is found though. Perhaps, just perhaps in this world if wisdom is learned, that is magic enough for all. And that is the meaning of Excalibur; the many forms wisdom needs to take, in order to make life whole.

The greatest Arthurian movie ever made

This movie comes the closest of any theatrical rendition to capturing the grandeur and pageantry of Mallory's Le Mortre De Arthur. From opening scene to closing credits, this is one of the most well-done movies ever made. Boorman is at his best in its direction & the soundtrack is all Wagner. Who could ask for anything more? Also, unlike many other Arthur films (Such as First Knight) Excalibur addresses the entire scope of the legend instead of just one aspect. Fans will furthermore delight in seeing a young Liam Neason and a performance of Patrick Stewart from his mid-life years. This film is, quite simply, excellent.

big on atmosphere, short on plot

The problem with this movie may well be the source material. I've never read the original stories, but I gather (from other comments) this movie was quite true to them, both in the micro as well as the macro sense. To the viewer, however, it comes across as totally disjointed, a bunch of pieces that don't add up to very much together. At the end (and at several points along the way), I felt dissatisfied with the way the tensions between characters were (or were not) being resolved. And in the end, (nearly) everyone is killed, Arthur sails away to the great beyond, and we have no idea what the point of this whole exercise was? What did these knights ever accomplish? How did the country ever benefit from their services and sacrifices? Again, I strongly suspect these are the same issues with the literary sources and not unique to the movie, but all the same, it leaves the viewer grasping for something to hang on to.The film is very well made, though. Lots of good action and fight scenes, and the overall medieval feel comes through very well. The cinematography is excellent and well thought out. Some of the scenic views as the knights are out searching for the grail, those are awesome. The acting is top notch, especially Merlin and Arthur who were very convincing. Arthur's transition from youth to old man was surprisingly credible.I also couldn't help comparing to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. At first I thought MP copied/borrowed/parodied this movie, but then I saw that MP preceded this one by a few years. In light of that, I'm surprised the makers of Excalibur kept as many obvious tie-ins as they did; little things, like limbs getting slashed off with blood spurting out (cf. the Black Knight), or the ghostly music when the grail appears, that sort of thing; or even the rabbit roasting on the spit.And speaking of music, the soundtrack for Excalibur is often pathetic. It careens back and forth from a really cool, convincing medieval sound (including Carmina Burana to great effect) to this sappy string and flute orchestra sound that was just awful.Oh, and the horrid font for the credits: what *were* they thinking? It looks like an ad for ice cream, not medieval dark ages with knights in armor.Overall, worth viewing, but far from flawless.

Which is the best Arthurian Legend filmatization?

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As for the film "King Arthur", for being a Jerry Bruckenheimer-production, it actually wasn't too bad. The theory that inspired the story was serious and interesting (and very probable in my opinion), but the script itself was pretty thin, sure Kiera Knightley (or however you spell it) was great, and Stellan was cool as the Saxon chief, and they actually tried to make it authentic with the Woads speaking their old toungue etc. but it has nothing on the original!

I mean....
It's MAJESTIC, MAGIC, EPIC, DARK, TERRIFYING and BEAUTIFUL.
It probably has some of the most beautiful frames in movie history - you just wanna pause the film and look at the pictures!
And the score is THE all-time best -without a doubt- now isn't that enough to put it on the top-100 list?! In my opinion YES!

(...)

"Be silent! Be still! Now, look upon this movie... savour it! So you can say: I was there, that day, with Arthur, the King! For it's the doom of men, that they forget..." that's what Merlin would've told you (not an exact quote though, sorry bout that)

Entertaining and Pure.

Very operatic and stylish in its presentation. It strikes one as an direct interpretation from a book of legends complete with the syntax. I am not totally familiar with the legend of King Arthur and the sword Excalibur but I truly enjoyed watching this movie. The excellent usage of Richard Wagner's operatic classic Gotterdammerung. This ovature added to the pathos of the story. It magnified the mystical glory of the death of Arthur at the end with his body being born away into the west by the three spirits (graces?) as Perceval watched from the shore. That scene in itself sent chills through me.A very enjoyable film.