STAND BACK! Be silent! Be still!… That’s it… and look upon this moment. Savor it! Rejoice with great gladness! Great gladness! Remember it always, for you are joined by it. You are One, under the stars. Remember it well, then… this night, this great victory. So that in the years ahead, you can say, ‘I was there that night, with Arthur, the King!’ For it is the doom of men that they forget. ~Merlin
The legend has never been brought to the big screen so definitively, not before, not since. This is a land of dreams and fantasy brought to light without rose tinted glasses. Medieval times shown in all its muck and gory brutality, surrounding the pomp and glory that is the court of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Merlin has chosen Uther Pendragon to carry Excalibur, the sword of kings. Shortly after uniting England, he makes a pact with Merlin and wastes everything to spend one night with Igrayne, the wife of his (recently befriended) rival. Their union gives birth to Arthur, who Merlin takes just after coming into his world. Giving chase to Merlin, Uther is cut down by his enemies but, doesnt fall before driving Excalibur into a stone.
The Man who can draw the Sword from the Stone, he shall be King ~Merlin
Years later, a tournament is held, to the victor, the right to attempt to free Excalibur and claim Kingship over the land. Young Arthur comes across the stone while chasing down a boy who has stolen his brother’s sword.. and pulls Excalibur free. The lords of the land turn on eachother and do battle over the validity of Arthurs Kingship, until he proves his worth in battle and unites all under one banner.
The years that follow are bountiful and peace gives way to discontent and wild accusation of the Queen and Sir Lancelot. The legend continues with a tale of betrayal, death, incest and the quest to find the mythical Holy Grail.
All the love, adventure, combat, betrayal, incest and crows that you Game of Thrones fans could ever want! (Sorry, there are no wolves to be had)
I can not say enough to do this film justice. The acting, by virtual unknowns, is just unforgettable.
- Liam Neeson’s first film role
- Patrick Stewarts first big film, he mostly did TV at that time.
