Charlie Hunman Jude Law Djimon Hounsou Eric Bana Astrid
Berges-Frisbey
Aiden Gillen
Do we need another movie about the Arthurian
Legend? Apparently, Guy Ritchie
thinks so, because he has helped write and has directed this movie about the
origins of King Arthur. After
opening scenes of intrigue and murder (which are only clear much later in the
film), we see Arthur as a street kid brought up in a brothel, unaware of his
lineage. When his father, King
Uther (Bana) realizes that he is in mortal danger from Uther’s brother,
Vortigan (Law), who covets the crown, he secrets the child away in a boat,
covered with furs. When the boat
arrives to its destination, the women in the brothel scurrying for furs find
him underneath, and adopt him as their own.
Arthur is a scrappy street kid, bullied but
never bowed, and eventually gets in enough trouble that he is confronted by a
sword in a stone near the palace of King Vortigan. Unbeknownst to him, Vortigan, knowing he has a nephew who is
heir to the crown, has done two things.
He conscripts all young boys to serve in his army so he can gain their
ultimate loyalty. He also knows
that the Excalibur sword, lodged between two large stones, can only be
withdrawn by the heir to the British throne, e.g., his nephew. All young men visiting his castle are
required try to pull out the sword so Vortigan can identify his potential
challenger.
Mixed into the story is a mage (Berges-Frisbey)
who guides the reluctant Arthur to his rightful place. She has special powers that can bring on
a host of crows to attack the enemy, snakes that can prove the worthiness of
Arthur for royalty, and so on. But
Arthur is probably the most reluctant hero in the history of literature. Even after he successfully pulls
Excalibur out of the stone he eschews being lauded for it and must be reminded
continually by the mage that he has a calling that cannot be denied. She has considerable powers, but in the
end, she has to say that only until Arthur sees its importance to him on his
own, will the sword be viable.
Ritchie has produced an extravaganza that is
redolent with medieval history and lore, and the special effects used to
enhance the mythological experience are achieved by John Mathieson,
cinematographer, production designer Gemma Jackson, and other technological
specialists. Some aspects of the
film are not apparent in their value/meaning, such as the firings into the air
that produce black clouds, and the mage not being able to save herself when a
knife is on her throat, yet is able to overcome huge attacking armies. She doesn’t have the power simply to
fly away?
If you’re comfortable with the Arthur character
looking and sounding like a regular American good guy, you are likely going to
praise Hunman’s performance as Arthur.
And I certainly laud his acting ability, but I think the role called for
a more British kind of hero who does not look/sound so American. That kept taking me out of the medieval
mood of the film. I also thought
Jude Law was miscast as the villain Vortigan; he doesn’t convey sufficient evil
for that character. He is much
more effective in the recent TV production, “The Young Pope”, where he is a bit
devilish and unconventional.
Astrid Berges-Frisbey is spot-on as the mage, an occult seer to guide
the naïve Arthur toward his destiny.
Aiden Gillen, Eric Bana, and Djimon Hounsou are first-rate actors who
add considerably to the vision of this film.
Of interest to those who do not tire of
Arthurian tales.
Grade: C By
Donna R. Copeland
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