KING ARTHUR AND THE LEGEND OF THE SWORD

UK/US, 2017, 126 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Astrid Berges- Frisbey, Eric Banner, Djimon Housou, Aidan Gillen, Freddie Fox, Tom Wu, Neil Maskell, Geoff Bell, Peter Ferdinando.
Directed by Guy Ritchie.

An example of the differing ways of film reviews. Within a few hours of its publication, two friends quoted the review of King Arthur and its mere one and a half stars. Obviously, not a film to go to see. However, the decision was based not on the contents of the review and its reasoning but, rather, on the prestige of the newspaper in which it appeared.

On reading the reasons for such dislike for the film, it seemed that these were the very reasons that this review would praise the film!

There has been a King Arthur the film for almost every decade for the last 100 years, the 30s and 40s with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, the 50s and Knights of the Round Table, the 60s and Camelot and the Sword in the Stone, the 70s and Monty Python and the Holy Grail,, the 80s and what is considered a classic, Excalibur, First Knight in the 90s, King Arthur in 2005 and now telling for this decade.

This film has been criticised by some as being “laddish� with comment on previous British gangster films by the director, Guy Ritchie. If one were facetious, one might say that this King Arthur film is “Lock, Stock and one Smoking Sword�! Actually, the point is that the film ends with the coronation of Arthur King and his, literal, building of the Round Table. This is a story, rather, of the young Arthur, the fate of his father Uther, his exile in Londinium and his not knowing his ancestry, growing up in a brothel, on the wharves, the victim of his jealous uncle, Vortigern, who belatedly discovers that his nephew is still living and rounds up every young man of that age to try to draw Excalibur from the rock.

Already, the screenplay has hints of Macbeth (including three sea witches) with overtones of the kingly murders of Hamlet, with the young Arthur somewhat bewildered by his destiny and reluctant to follow it.

Author, Joseph Campbell, who explored the hero with 1000 faces, would probably be very interested in the screenplay, especially in the sequences where Arthur has to go into the dark woods, experience his own demons as well his monsters, in order to emerge as an authentic hero.

Audiences who are fond of Game of Thrones, the films of Tolkien’s novels and other realms of fantasy will enjoy many aspects of this King Arthur film.

As regards the “laddishness�, that is some of the point, the young man growing up in the slums, a collage of him learning how to box and fight, doing deals to build up his box of coins, alleging Viking sailors, pals with the young men on the wharves, an origin story of Arthur which then is transformed into his becoming king and ruling in Camelot.

The film has a big budget but is so spectacular in the first 10 minutes or so that it looks it as if it has already spent its budget. There are monsters in Camelot, massive destruction, scenes of battle, King Uther confronting Mordred, the exteriors and the interiors of the palaces and the kingdom. And, the special effects do not really let up and there are many, many battle sequences, leading to the ultimate confrontation between Arthur and his uncle.

Charlie Hunnam portrays Arthur, a short somewhat stocky lad, on the wharves of Londinium, struggling to find his regal identity and, ultimately succeeding. Jude Law enjoys himself as the villainous Vortigern. Astrid Berges Frisbey is the Mage who is delegated by Merlin to protect Arthur. Eric Bana is a heroic Uthor. The rest of the cast is generally made up of vintage British character actors.

Obviously, this interpretation of Arthur would not suit everyone, especially if there is a conception of Arthur as a king of great dignity and prowess. But, as in imagining of pre-Camelot Arthur, this interpretation has a great deal going for it.

1. The popularity of King Arthur? The legions, Knights of the Round Table, Camelot, the Warrior King?

2. This film as pre—Knights and Camelot? The Pendragon family? The battles, the Mages, the role of magicians, battles, power struggles?

3. The special effects, the sets and the terrain, the creatures, the destruction? The dark places, Londinium, the brothel and the wharves? The palace, the dark woods, the atmosphere? The musical score? Its vibrant and contemporary style?

4. Action sequences, fights and battles?

5. The work of Guy Ritchie, his work with British gangster films? His style? “Laddish�, male focus, less female? Contemporary attitudes, slang?

6. Overtones of Macbeth? Hamlet? The murder of kings? The hesitant son? The initial saving of Arthur and the Moses and bulrushes overtones?

7. The opening, the creatures, Mordred, the battles and destruction, Uther and his heroics, killing Mordred? His family, the people, the court? The place of Vortigern? His envy,
usurping power, killing his wife for the sea creatures? The death of Uther?

8. The boy, remembering the death of his mother, the dark night, Vortigern watching? The replay of the sequences? The sword in the air, falling into Uther? His turning to stone, the sword falling into his back? Arthur’s dreams and this recurrence? Seeing it more clearly?

9. Arthur being saved, the boat, Londinium, the brothel, the women, his growing up, his range of friends, their life on the wharves, the girls in the brothel, George and the training to fight, Arthur skills, the collage of his growing up and fighting, the jobs, collecting the money, confronting the Vikings?

10. The interrogation about the Vikings, the edited story, the flashbacks and the joking tone?

11. Excalibur, Vortigern rounding up young men of Arthur’s age? The search, the various attempts, Arthur going to the head of the queue, using both hands, drawing out this sword, the vibrations within him? Vortigern’s reaction? Confronting Arthur? Arthur reluctant, remembering his life on the wharves? Vortigern and his attempt to kill Arthur, in front of all the people, his head to be chopped off? The intervention of the Mage? On behalf of Merlin? The presence of the symbolic Hawk?

12. Arthur, the range of friends, the young men, their life and style, helping one another, their distinctive characters? The role of the young boy, Blue?

13. Vortigern as a character, the horror of killing his wife, the encounter with the sea creatures like Macbeth switches? The ultimate confrontation, his wanting power, killing his daughter and floating her in the water? The role of his troops, the Black Legs? His commanders and their loyalty, Earl of Mercea, mischief John?

14. The many fight sequences, the action? The revolt against Vortigern and his ordering it to be suppressed?

15. The information about the Mage, her commission by Merlin? Her interventions, the magic, the Hawk? Taking Arthur to the island, meeting the allies from the past, Bevidere, Bill? The dark places, the details of his quest, climbing the mountain, the task, the monsters, confront his past? Arthur maturing as a person? And the power of Excalibur?

16. The revenge on Vortigern, the group, Bevidere and his role, Bill and his role, the young boy? The tests, Arthur fighting Bill?
17. The plan, Maggie and her persuasion, her role as a servant? Vortigern and his trust, distrust? The visit to the city, sending out the substitute to be killed? Bill and the arrows,
killing Mercia? The pursuit? Back Lack and his being wounded, Blue and the return? Vortigern and the threat, the boy keeping quiet, taking his father’s ear? Mischief John, the
headquarters, the message from Vortigern? Arthur and the rescue and the escape?

18. The people, the response, Vortigern killing his daughter? Arthur confronting him, the memories of his father, avenging his father?

19. The building of the Round Table, the motley group of knights and their being knighted – Arthur crowned and a new era in Camelot?