best arthurian film?

nj1

monkey is magic
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Just read spiritdragons thread on best arthurian novel and was wondering what people think is the best film?

I would say that my personal fave was EXCALIBUR by Jon Boorman. I,ve watched it about ten times and still don't tire of it.
There's even early roles from Patrick Steward and Gabriel Byrne.
 
For as much as I enjoy reading books about King Arthur, I realized I haven't seen very many movies. I have only seen First Knight, and I wasn't all that impressed. I think that no movie on the topic has really looked that impressive to me. But maybe if there are some good recommendations on this thread I'll check them out.
 
I always wished someone would make a movie out of Thomas Berger's Arthur Rex. I love Berger's style, and we already know his work translates extremely well to the screen. But my favorite film to date has to be Excalibur. That was the film that really got me interested in the Arthurian tale.
 
Excalibur, mainly for Nicol Williamsons brilliant portrayal of Merlin.
 
True, but why has he got a metal plate on his head? Perhaps to hide his receeding hairline:D

For whatever reason I watched the movie once listening to the director's commentary, anywho, I remember them mentioning that he was originally supposed to shave his head for the roll of merlin but when it came time to shoot he changed his mind and wouldn't do it. So they talked to the guys on set working with the armor, worked out the skull cap and were very happy how it turned out.
 
Nicol Willliamson was brilliant as Merlin. He was the star turn of Excalibur.
 
i just watched Guy Ritchie's "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" and actually really enjoyed it. It seems to be borrowing from all sorts of Arthurian Myth and Literature, the original Welsh and the Medieval Romances. It is also a total fantasy film set in some alternate reality - Magic is real - Mordred is a Mage, and his assault on Camelot at the start of the movie is absolutely incredible, if a bit Lord of the Rings ;)

Other than Arthur, Uther, Mordred & Vortigern, all the named characters are created for the film - the people who will become Arthur's Knights have names like "Goose Fat Bill"
It was all filmed in north Wales, and looks incredible, Londinium looks real.
 
Excalibur is truly a memorable film.

But how about Quest for the Holy Grail? One of the funniest films I've ever seen.
 
Excalibur is truly a memorable film.

But how about Quest for the Holy Grail? One of the funniest films I've ever seen.

“Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!”

It's funny, given the popularity of the Arthurian stories, that there aren't really many films.
I really would like to see one where he is finally played by a Welshman, preferably either fighting to save Britain from the English & Irish invaders, or simply as a British King fighting British & Saxon Tyrants alike ;), , not as a King of England like he normally is. If real, he was Welsh afterall :p

There is an interesting theory about Excalibur that I read a few years ago now. Modern Welsh for an Englishman is variations of Sais, Saes, Saesneg, Saesnegwr, modern versions of British words such as Saisson, Saecson literally meaning Saxon.

There is already a metaphoric connection with the Sword in the Stone - Briton Blacksmiths used Stone Moulds when creating Swords, which they would pour the liquid metal in. But there may be another, according to the theory, perhaps due to mis-translation or misunderstanding by Monks translating between British, Old Welsh and Latin etc, not to mention that stories passed down via aural traditions will tend to alter, as people along the way try to improve or put their mark onto the story they are telling.
The Latin for Stone is Saxum.
And it's not out of the realms of possibility, that someone got confused between Saxum and Saecson for example. So, by this possibility, the Arthur gained Excalibur, not by pulling it out of a Stone, a feat no other man was able to do, and thus something we know is scientifically impossible. However, if there is some mistranslation going on, then Arthur may well have taken the sword from a Saecson - literally, perhaps a personal Duel with a mighty Saxon King or Chieftain, having defeated the Chap, he takes the chap's marvellous sword, and enters legend.
 
Excalibur is the one and only Arthurian film know to me, so it wins by default, if nothing else. On top of that, it's a first class movie.
 
I only saw Excalibur once, in the theatre, in 1981. I remember being fond of The Sword in the Stone. Of course Monty Python and The Holy Grail cracks me up. I did enjoy Camelot because I love Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet.

On the other hand, even though I have a soft spot for Sean Connery, I cannot stand First Knight. I understand a need to go with current scientific knowledge, but even that could not save King Arthur with Clive Owen and Kiera Knightley. I know I saw The Lost Legion with Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley, but it was so memorable that I cannot remember it.

But my favorite Arthurian movie is..... Bruce Campbell vs. Army of Darkness (this is the name of the video that I viewed).
 
Excalibur is the one and only Arthurian film know to me, so it wins by default, if nothing else. On top of that, it's a first class movie.

In the category of Arthurian films. Its the greatest of all :cool:
 
Is that a Arthurian movie? Great flick but not too sure if there is an Arthur connection.
Well, the leader of the English is named Arthur... and the basic plot is that of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
 

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