Excalibur

Excalibur is considered by my generation as the first contact with the fantasy genre, and its influence on shaping the ideas of Western cinema fans was undeniable and very strong. This can reliably be traced in nostalgic comments made by others. During my youth, questioning the quality of Excalibur was unthinkable, but it's 2019 and everything is different now. Anachronisms in weaponry and attire leave me unfazed this time, as it is after all a fairy tale and not a historical story. The omnipresent clumsiness, whether it concerns the way the Arthurian legend is told, the theatrical performances of the actors led by Nigel Terry, or the movements of the extras in shiny metal imitations of armor, is undeniable and at times truly painful. Where the film strives to be enchanting and mystical, it now appears kitschy and unintentionally funny. The music has withstood the test of time, and the camera can leave a decent impression, but otherwise, there are few reasons to revisit Excalibur. Within the genre, not only the adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have convincingly surpassed it, but also a number of other lesser-known projects. Overall impression: 55%. The lackadaisical nature of Boorman's direction is evidenced by a scene where two running knights have lit cigarettes in their mouths... (12/11/2019)

Borefest. The narrative is somewhat disjointed and uninteresting in the spoken sequences, while the action scenes are shot in a confused manner and it’s difficult to navigate them. On the other hand, great praise should be given to the impressive fantasy atmosphere, the wonderful music by Trevor Jones and the cast, which saves everything. Otherwise, this famous film is probably a legend only for those who rode it back in the 80s, nowadays is nothing but a faded trophy. (02/05/2013)

Few people know that Boorman was originally going to make a Lord of the Rings film, but changed his mind at the last minute and ended up using some of the costumes and armour for the Tolkien adaptation in Excalibur. For the viewers, that’s great. The Arthurian legend could not have been filmed better than Boorman did, and it is unlikely to be surpassed in the future. Also thanks to the music, starting with Wagner and ending with Orff, the perfect production design and the overall magical atmosphere. (11/05/2003)

A classic fantasy of the highest possible level. Nowadays, it might feel a little silly, but it had to be pretty epic back then. Especially the war scenes were flawless. Sure, it had a greater impact on me when I was a kid, but I still think that as far as fantasy goes, Excalibur is unparalleled. (24/04/2018)

For me, this isn't the ultimate version of the Arthurian legend, but it's pretty close. I can't help it, I always preferred this legend with a greater amount of fantasy elements. It just works for me. And probably less God, but it's clear that the topic will simply belong to the Holy Grail. Still excellent after all these years. (16/11/2016)