Excalibur [HD DVD] Movie by Warner Brothers Product Tags: dvd warner, excalibur, excalibur hd, excalibur hd dvd, hd dvd	Rating:  Read Reviews (310) Write Comments/Review Price Drop Alert Add to my Wish List Tag This Product

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3 of 5 people found the following review helpful: The Final Battle 9/2/2006 Bernard Cornwell is one of that rare breed of authors who are able to write convincingly on a broad range of subjects. Present day thrillers, the Sharpe novels about riflemen in the days of the Duke of Wellington, even an ancient historical novel about Stonehenge and it doesn't come much more ancient than that. His more recent novels have been about the Saxons and very good they are too. But I think that the trilogy he has written about the Arthurian legends are certainly among the best, if not the best of his novels. Having visited the authors website he also believes they are the best books he has written. The legends of King Arthur hold a magical attraction for many people, myself included and I enjoy reading about them very much. The tales of Arthur and his knights of the round table riding about in full and shining armour are of course a total nonsense and a more or less modern day depiction of Arthur. Suits of armour were not even invented until several hundred years after Arthur's death, if indeed he existed at all. But if he did it would be more around the time in which the Winter King is set. Mr. Cornwell puts a more realistic slant on the existence of Arthur in or around the sixth century, and the author himself believes that Arthur was some sort of war chief rather than a king. The last book of the trilogy is the continuing story of war. It begins with the failure of Lancelot's rebellion and the ruination of Arthur's marriage to Guinevere. The Saxon hordes, although subdued have never been completely defeated and sensing unrest they gather their war bands together for one final assault on Arthur and all he stands for. However, Arthur gains victory at Mount Badon, but all of the promises he made are coming back to haunt him, after many years of peace and contentment. Thank You. Was this review helpful?
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful: exceptional 8/23/2006 awesome script actors and special effects. one of my top ten movies.thank-you for having it available Thank You. Was this review helpful?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Love this movie 8/16/2006 (4.5/5 stars) I bought the DVD recently and watched it for the first time ever. I found it to be extraordinary. I cannot speak from any position of authority about Arthurian legend and, as such, cannot attest to its authenticity. As a film, however, this is fantastic entertainment. It has a great story, plenty of action, well-developed characters and perfect pacing. Furthermore, it is an elaborate and quality film that isn't afraid to include elements, such as sex and violence, which might limit its audience. I rather find this surprising, given the magnitude of the film. Here we have a film about a legendary English hero, which would most certainly appeal to the patriotic senses of the country's citizenry; yet, the filmmakers deemed it necessary to tell the tale graphically, thereby all but ensuring it would not be shown in classrooms. They are to be applauded for this decision because it brings the characters to life in a way they would otherwise not be. (In the end, everyone wins because edited versions have in classrooms for years) Anyway, the acting is first-rate, the costumes (especially the armor) look authentic, the stunts are unbelievable and the direction judicial. The only gripe I have is the DVD quality, which could be a little better. Scenes are jumpy in places and there aren't any worthwhile extras, though overall the picture is decent, it is presented widescreen and the movie is all on one side of the disc. (An unpleasant surprise on some Warner Brothers DVDs has been part one of a movie is on one side and part two on the other, even though the movie itself isn't terribly long. See Amadeus and Goodfellas for examples) 5 stars for the movie, 4 for the DVD. Thank You. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: Nicol Williams saves the day - and the film 8/16/2006 I must have watched this film a few dozen times after seeing it in 1981. The worst setting I ever saw it was in Palo Alto in 1981 when a group of Stanford frats kept laughing at everything they saw and heard. I guess they thought they were viewing the Monty Python version. (Which I saw in 1975 and laughed my head off at too). But I digress. If this film were made today, I am would be happier with it because today, films are just longer. And that is what this film needed, more time in development. While I sucked up every bit of imagery and word, I was painfully aware of great jumps in tale telling that left the viewer with too many "how did we get here." And the corniest moment of all is the "tah dah" music when Authur pulls the sword from the stone. With all its faults, this is the best film on the subject made yet. Nicol Williams saves the day with his very Tolkienish rendering of Merlin. As an actual friend of the late J.R.R. Tolkein (a name that inspires other so-called fantasy authors names - J. K... something) Williams uses a lot of Middle Earth vision in his role so that I felt as if perhaps Tolkien himself was playing the part as he might have. "It is a time for men and their ways," and other Gandlaf like speech is peppered throughout his dialogue. No doubt, Tolkien was thinking of Merlin when he gave Gandalf his voice. The intertwining that Williams brings to this film is not a mistake in any way; Tolkien's tale was his own "other than Authurian" epoch in the medieval style by intention. That Nicol Willliams was a friend of the venerable old professor who once recorded a four volume lp spoken word version of "The Hobbit" long before "Books on Tape" was ever thought of adds to his credentials for this role rather than takes away from it. I can't imagine any other actor ever playing Merlin. But that helmet was a little confusing. I would have loved to see the film go an hour longer and show why the Grail was vital to the plot. I am sure Boorman has the intellectual capacity to do it. I would have really enjoyed seeing some of the battles and negotiations that led to the union of the land under a just king. This and other things would have shown us why the sword was important and why the three queen/goddesses would carry Authur away to Avalon. To do this would have necessitated a journey into the very Pagan roots of Christian thinking - especially in medieval times. The public was not ready for it then, and perhaps never will be, but with a new version of the Wicker Man coming out soon, there will perhaps be a new interest in more serious investigations via film of some of the deeper aspects of European Culture. (But in the case of the Wicker Man, one hopes the filmgoer will dig up a copy of the genuine 1973 film, not this honker!) Excalibur inspired me to actually read Mallory. I became a collector and reader of history and lore until now almost 30 years later I have a deep and still growning interest in all of the history, legends and myths of Europe. One of the most fascinating is the question of Mary Magdalene's possible presence in Europe. I have been in those regions including visits to Rennes-le-Chateau and Montsegur. And one of the greatest moments for me was when my wife and I drove through a series of Aude River gorges in the Pyrennes named "The Gorges of Saint George." I could blame this film at least in part for my own quest that took me there. Yet these are the kind of things that make a meaningful life. At least in my opinion. The illumination of knoweldge with the living presence of historical evidence is a thrill for some. Espescially when you are exploring the lesser treaded histories. I write all of this for the young reader to show how all of these things can connect. A film can be an inspiration. Excalibur was like LOTR a great inspiration to me. I think this film is at least a minor classic. Thank You. Was this review helpful?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Not a movie. A film crew was taken back in time to capture the events 8/10/2006 Coleridge is alleged to have envisioned Kubla Khan in a dream. this is an extraordinary thing that may happen to a gifted artist once in a lifetime and I propose that this movie is John Boorman's Kubla Khan. The whole thing unfolds before your eyes as if you are in a dream. And I don't mean this in a non-real sense. I mean this in the sense that it borders on that place where dream becomes a religious epiphany. This is a very powerful movie. There are images and moments in this movie that will ingrain themselves on you forever. Scenes like Uthur Pendragon (Arthur's father) in full armor clinking wounded through mud and forcing Excalibur into a stone. Or a long shot of two knights battling with maces, or a race through an apple blossom field. And of course there is the lady in the lake and the Round Table itself. Yet through all of this you get the ring of truth around the people and the setting. There are no elaborate sets designed in Hollywood. (Except maybe for Merlin's Lair) Everything feels as if it were filmed right where the legend supposedly happens. This is one of those movies that everyone has to see. But it is not a popcorn movie. Put the kids to bed then wait an hour for the worries of the world to fade then go into it with an open mind. Thank You. Was this review helpful?
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