Excalibur DVD > Reviews > The best Arthurian movie..

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Satisfactory
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	The best version so far .   Great soundtrack .
Disadvantages:	Half expected John Cleese to  suddenly  appear and start taunting .  .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

There have been surpisingly few films based on the tales of King Arthur and Knights of Camelot, and this has to be the best version so far. I say so far because I feel sure the definitive version has yet to be made, possibly by the same director (John Boorman). Even so it is at times a great movie and has the right combination of gritty violence and mythical fantasy. Nicol Williamsons' performance as Merlin has been often critisised but I think it's one of the best thing in it, but i also think some of the acting seems over cooked (check out the cameo from Patrick Stewart)- there's a hell of a lot of shouting going at times. A great selection of Wagner perfectly suits the film as well. Most memorable scene - Arthur and his trusty knights riding through the cherry blossom to the strains of Carmina Burana.