Thoughts on the 1981 Film Excalibur and other King Arthur Films

[BAYLOR]

And no discussion about Excalur would be comlpete without a motion of Monty Python and The Holy Grail .

 

[BAYLOR]

I was disappointed in Excalibur the first time I saw it, which was when it first came out. There were things about it that I quite admired, but other things that I found rather ludicrous. However, it has grown on me with subsequent viewings over the years, with the result that I now think rather highly of it. More to the point, I don't think that anyone has come up with anything better, or even as good, before or since. So while I am still waiting for something I could truly regard as the definitive King Arthur film, Excalibur comes closer than anything else I have seen. (I do, however, have a soft spot for Camelot, which I watched when it first came out and quite swept me away back in 1967.)

The 67 version had Richard Harrison who was actual quite good in the role of Arthur.

 

[BAYLOR]

So , it's Impossible for a European Swallow to have carried coconut from the tropics all the way to Britain because of weight and aerodynamic issues. Hm, I muct say Monty Python and Holy Grail something to consider. Hm, must think about this some more.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Camelot was, in my opinion, the best when it first came out and for years afterward. Excalibur just squeezes it out as my favorite. But comparing a musical with something more serious is probably not even fair. And I liked The Sword in the Stone, too, but again I think not a fair comparison, because apples and oranges.

 

[BAYLOR]

The could be no " and thye lived Happily ever after " in this story .

 

[svalbard]

I would love to see a TV series version of The Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell's fabulous and epic Arthurian trilogy.

Which reminds me, I'm overdue to read the novels again...

Season 1 is screening on MGM. Where The Last Kingdom series got it right, this is more of a miss. Fans of the book will be disappointed. The actors are all good, just miscast, except for the actor playing Arthur. Personally I think is dreadful and a missed opportunity.

 

[Steve Harrison]

Season 1 is screening on MGM. Where The Last Kingdom series got it right, this is more of a miss. Fans of the book will be disappointed. The actors are all good, just miscast, except for the actor playing Arthur. Personally I think is dreadful and a missed opportunity.

Sorry to hear that, but I'll binge it when all the episodes are out. I'll probably like it now my expectation aren't so high

 

[Le Panda du Mal]

I agree with those who say Excalibur and Monty Python's Holy Grail are the best of the Arthurian films. Both movies, in their own way, show a deep engagement with the source material and the sense of myth. Excalibur shows it in dreamy solemnity, Monty Python in playfulness and parody (I do believe that to parody something really well you need to drink deeply of it, if not love it). I haven't seen the Green Knight film yet, I have hopes it is wonderful.

 

[BAYLOR]

I agree with those who say Excalibur and Monty Python's Holy Grail are the best of the Arthurian films. Both movies, in their own way, show a deep engagement with the source material and the sense of myth. Excalibur shows it in dreamy solemnity, Monty Python in playfulness and parody (I do believe that to parody something really well you need to drink deeply of it, if not love it). I haven't seen the Green Knight film yet, I have hopes it is wonderful.

And neither film answers the question about the coconut and what type of Sparrow.

 

[HareBrain]

I've found the 1991 TV version of Gawain and the Green Knight on YouTube (though you have to watch it there).

As I said a couple of pages back, I really like this version. It has a great script by David Rudkin that uses authentic-sounding alliterative verse. It is a bit slow, but not that long.

 

[Berlyn]

My favourite adaption of Merlin and King Arthur is the 1998 television mini-series with Sam Neil. I know it's probably not the best, but I remember watching it on TV when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it. It was some of the first fantasy I watched growing up.

Merlin (TV Mini Series 1998) ⭐ 7.1 | Action, Adventure, Drama

3h 2m | PG

www.imdb.com

 

[Judderman]

I notice there is a recent French movie called Kaamelott. Though more of a comedy, and it is the first part of a trilogy. Also there is a series prior to it which has high review scores. Not sure if this is poking fun at the English, but probably!

 

[Phyrebrat]

There was also a recent Chronscast on Excalibur …

 

[BAYLOR]

I notice there is a recent French movie called Kaamelott. Though more of a comedy, and it is the first part of a trilogy. Also there is a series prior to it which has high review scores. Not sure if this is poking fun at the English, but probably!

There nothing wrong making fun of King Arthur and Camelot , Monty Python raised it to an art form.

 

[BAYLOR]

Arthur the King 1953 Had Dyan Cannon, Cadice Bergen Malcome McDoowell and Liam Neeson . Originally saw and ad for it. is upcoming in the tV guide and then, for some reason , the networked pulled it . I finally got see it years later. It was pretty wretched stuff but it was entertaining it is own way . It had two cheesy monsters, one the was an Undead Knight , And there was a intend to be menacing dragon that wasn't which looked vaguely like an evil skinny version of H R Puffen Stuff .

 

[BAYLOR]

Arthur the King 1953 Had Dyan Cannon, Cadice Bergen Malcome McDoowell and Liam Neeson . Originally saw and ad for it. is upcoming in the tV guide and then, for some reason , the networked pulled it . I finally got see it years later. It was pretty wretched stuff but it was entertaining it is own way . It had two cheesy monsters, one the was an Undead Knight , And there was a intend to be menacing dragon that wasn't which looked vaguely like an evil skinny version of H R Puffen Stuff .

Slight typo , the date should not be 1953 , it should be 1983 .

 

[KiraAnn]

Slight typo , the date should not be 1953 , it should be 1983 .

I was thinking that Dyan Cannon was the only one of that group who wasn't a baby or gleam in someone's eyes in 1953. And I'm not sure about her!

 

[Judderman]

Arthur the King 1953 Had Dyan Cannon, Cadice Bergen Malcome McDoowell and Liam Neeson . Originally saw and ad for it. is upcoming in the tV guide and then, for some reason , the networked pulled it . I finally got see it years later. It was pretty wretched stuff but it was entertaining it is own way . It had two cheesy monsters, one the was an Undead Knight , And there was a intend to be menacing dragon that wasn't which looked vaguely like an evil skinny version of H R Puffen Stuff .

Liam Neeson in both this and Excalibur. In the days before he was typecast as an aging action hero rescuing daughters.

 

[BAYLOR]

Liam Neeson in both this and Excalibur. In the days before he was typecast as an aging action hero rescuing daughters.

He's do several of those films.

 

[paeng]

It was also the first time I encountered Orff.