KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD movie review

Almost everyone knows the Arthurian legend. Regardless of what kind of interpretation of the legend is, there are similarities to all references.  The Arthurian myth or legend was born around 5^th or 6^th Century but there was no historical record of his existence.  But the legend is popular in the British Isles and the neighboring lands.

Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

In popular culture, there have been many interpretations of the Arthurian legend and the popular was an old time-classic musical Camelot. To the anime fans, it is Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Zero where one of the Servants, Saber is Arthuria Pendragon. But the only existing documented story of the legend is from Le Morte D’ Arthur or “The Death of Arthur” by Sir Thomas Malory. This is the original source where all adaptations are based.

The version of Guy Ritchie also referenced the Arthurian legend as it was popularized. The story is made like an origin story on how Arthur was forced to be the prophesied Born-King. Ritchie interpreted Arthur as nothing more than a street-smart ruffian than a nobleman. The general audiences like rags-to-riches type of stories.

Because Malory’s story was published in the 1400’s, it was given an image that Arthur was a medieval king which is not true. His story is recalled from 5^th to 6^th Century when the Romans were still occupying the British Isles of this era.

What I like about this origin story was that it also made to look like an action pack fantasy in the tradition of the likes of Tolkien. This is the first time I heard the term mage in an Arthurian movie. The movie also pay tribute to old classic fantasy stories like The Magic Sword(1962) minus the Claymation made monsters.

Guy Ritchie also applied his movie style like he did in Sherlock Holmes when the characters describe their next plan of action as it is already being done. Since this is an origin story of King Arthur, it may also lead to the next story when Arthur is already a King.

Unlike the old classic fantasy adventure stories, this Arthurian story has inclusive characters. It has a diverse characters like an Asian, a black and a woman which far different from the original source but it was done well.

You can say Jude Law is Guy Ritchie's favorite not just because he is also in Sherlock Holmes but he is a good actor whether he play a villain or the hero. Charles Hunnam is a dedicated actor. When he auditioned, he was too thin for 

I have watched and read all Arthurian adaptations and I consider Guy Ritchie’s version as another original material. Boasting aside, I may say I am an authority of Arthurian legend and other knightly and medieval tales. The other I considered original was Knight’s Tale, and the Merlin mini-series. King Arthur: Legend of The Sword opens May 17 in the Philippines. I rate this movie as 4 out of 5 Swords in a Stone.

King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword is released and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.For more geeky reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.