RE: just to re-acquaint myself.......

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

Posted by user510 on September 29, 2013 at 11:19:24

In Reply to: RE: casting... posted by user510 on September 22, 2013 at 16:25:09:

I watched the dvd of Excaliber last night. Or at least 3/4ths of it. And, having refreshed my memory of the film, I must now amend some of my criticisms of it.

re: set design. Merlin's "crystal cave" was nicely imagined in this movie. A very elaborate, extravagant and beautiful set was provided for the scenes in the movie. Particularly in the scene where Morgan Le Fay traps Merlin in the cave.

The Lancelot/Guinnevere scenes were not as badly done as I had previously remembered. It seemed as if these star-crossed lovers were drawn to one another like magnets. No matter how well they knew the consequences of this betrayal to the King, they simply could not prevent themselves from a lustful calamity.

Then Morgan gets her lair, a castle in parts of the country where brave men go to be hung by the neck, slowly, while the crows pick out their eyeballs. But this is where Morgan Le Fay, Arthur's half sister, raises Arthur's illegitimate son, her son, Mordred. Mordred grows up thinking it is his mission in life to replace his father as the 'great king'.

There are more scenes after this worth recounting, but I probably should not spoil all the main bits of this movie.

Anyway, acting by the entire cast is stiffly borne and shouted out. The demeanor of most of the knights in this movie is savage and animal-like. True barbarians, the entire lot. I'd have thought that in consideration of the times, the Roman occupation that had just ended a generation or two previously -would have / might have- taught at least some of these Brits a bit of culture. Plus, even the Celtic tribes that preceded the Roman occupation would have had more dignity and civilized bearing than do these brutes. Oh well. It's just one vision of the myth.

Then again, it does follow closely the fantasy retelling by Malory*. A book I read in my adolescence with great interest. And on reflection it has much in common with some of the comic books I also read. Pure fantasy.

-Steve

*.... Le Morte D' Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Boorman's Excalibur, very polarized reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, what do you think? - PhilJ 08:58:23 09/22/13 (12)

Beautiful cinematography, sets and costumes... - SF tech 08:47:45 09/23/13 (1)

RE: Monty Python....maybe they got it........ - user510 15:17:46 09/23/13 (0)

you guys are not polarized at all! mostly negative, thanks for the great responses - PhilJ 16:47:15 09/22/13 (0)

RE: casting... - user510 16:25:09 09/22/13 (2)

RE: just to re-acquaint myself....... - user510 11:19:24 09/29/13 (0)

I also wished for different Arthur - Jon L 16:24:43 09/23/13 (0)

Saw it several times in the theater when it was released . . . - Billy Wonka 14:45:55 09/22/13 (0)

ridiculously bad - mbnx01 13:57:16 09/22/13 (0)

I liked it, if for no other reason - Road Warrior 12:34:55 09/22/13 (0)

Big influence on my kids when they were growing up - Chris from Lafayette 12:25:37 09/22/13 (0)

RE: Boorman's Excalibur, very polarized reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, what do you think? - geoffkait 11:13:09 09/22/13 (1)

I noticed the flowers blooming and lots of other details, an ambitious effort that failed on many levels - PhilJ 11:50:43 09/22/13 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: just to re-acquaint myself....... - user510 11:19:24 09/29/13 (0)

Post a Message!