Arthur, the once and future King

The legend of King Arthur has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. Hollywood has dabbled with the story on numerous occasions and all of them, with one exception, have been a complete disaster. Now, the biggest budget retelling of King Arthur is about to be unleashed. I have my doubts. Clive Owen as Arthur? Hmm.... I've seen the trailers and to say his acting style is wooden and voice monotonous would be to put it very kindly. Keria Knightley is present as Guinevere... we like Keria, but I don't think her charm will change my opinion. The first reviews seem positive but then they're paid to be that way. Will I go and see it? Probably, for I am Arthur.

For me the greatest telling of Arthurian Legend is John Boorman's Excalibur. How I love this film. Based on Sir Thomas Malory's 15th Century novel, Le Morte d'Arthur it is a cracking film with all the classic elements of the legend included. Yes, it's relatively low budget, yes it's as historically inaccurate as you could possibly get, yes Nicol Williamson "hams" it up outrageously as Merlin... trust me, it is just fantastic.

If you want a more historically accurate and seemingly well researched version you could do a lot worse than check out Bernard Cornwell's trilogy of novels, The Warlord Chronicles beginning with The Winter King, Enemy of God and finally Excalibur.

Category:

• King+Arthur
• Excalibur