Excalibur | | Cast : | Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren | | Director : | John Boorman | | Studio : | Warner Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | April 10, 1981 | | DVD Released Date : | February 08, 2005 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 03, 2005 | | Summary | Excalibur--a feast for the eye | Content
 | Excalibur is a beautifully filmed version of the Legend of King Arthur and Merlin. Boorman produced the film on a limited budget and without the use of a wide variety of digital effects--few of which were available in 1980. Nigel Terry gives a remarkable performance as Arthur. He effectively portrays Arthur from a gawkey bumbling teenager to the mature Arthut with in a very convincing manner. I had some reservations about this transformation as we met the young Arthur, but was very comfortable with his maturity as the film progressed. In the end, he produced a portrait of King Arthur worthy of the legend. Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay and Nichole Williamson were supurb in their supporting roles. Paul Geoffrey was especially effective in his portrayal of Sir Percival; again showing his acting ability in growing into a brave but caring Knight of thr Round Table. Patrick Stewart(of Star Trek fame) and Clive Swift (of Keeping Up Appearances fame) were well cast in their roles. Boorman's choice of misic was particularly interesting since some of it was drawn from such composers as Wagner and Carl Orff in addition to original music by Trevor Jones. All in all it was a delightful feast for the eyes. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 20, 2005 | | Summary | FORMAT ERRORS | Content
| I have admired this film since it came out in 1981 and under normal circumstances would give it a four or five star rating. However, unfortunately the DVD issued this year is not in the correct widescreen format. It appears to have been made by matting a "pan and scan" TV master tape. I wrote the distributor on this and they simply indicated that I could return it for credit. If you want to see the film in its original full widescreen format you should check out the laser disc. Hopefully, eventually Warners will release a correctly formatted dvd. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 09, 2005 | | Summary | Idylls Of The King! | Content
| John Boorman's epic classic of the "Dark Ages" needs no more accolades, but in serving repetition, his "EXCALIBUR" remains the supreme enactment of the Arthurian legend!
Tennyson wrote in "Idylls of the King, The Passing of Arthur":
"...To whom replied King Arthur, much in wrath:
Ah miserable, and unkind, untrue,
Unknightly, traitor-heated! Woe is me!
Authority forgets a dying king,
Laid widow'd of the power in his eye
That bowed the will. I see thee what thou art,
For thou, the latest left of all my knights,
In whom should meet the offices of all,
Thou woudst betray me for the precious hilt;
Either lust of gold, or like a girl
Valuing the giddy pleasures of the eyes."
For all medieval romantics, this movie captures the intent of
"Le Morte d'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Malory. I rate it at five stars, but would give it six if I could! Superb.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 27, 2005 | | Summary | Fantasy Done This Good Equals a MASTERPIECE | Content
| My Dad has loved this film since he first saw it in theaters back in 1981. I wouldn't even be born for another 3 years, but this film easily stands the test of time. The atmosphere, music (of course!), set design/costumes, and acting are all top notch. I am glad my father told me the wonders of this flick, because I watch my DVD copy about twice a year and love it more each time I enter the world this magical film conveys. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 18, 2005 | | Summary | A Human's Tale. | Content
| Well, we all know the plot of this one, but Boorman's sets and creative zeal make this telling of Camelot stand the test of time. It has to be one of the most beautiful and enchanting movies that I've ever seen. My father took me to it when I was a boy and it was the first R rated movie I ever saw--legally that is, we used to sneak in to the Rs after we would buy tickets for the PG ones. The characters of Merlin and Arthur could not be cast any better. Indeed, this particular Arthur is so kind, loyal, and true that it makes the Gueneviere/ Lancelot love affair quite painful. What this Arthur lacks in appearance he makes up for in countenance. As for Lancelot, I did not particularly like this version of him as the knights' locks painfully remind one of Tom Jones. Another incidental, the soundtrack...even more heavenly than the sets. A must see for a boy on the verge of manhood. |
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