KING ARTHUR

REVIEWED BY STEPHANIE VALE

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: a scene of sexual content, violence

Rated:

FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, IOAN GRUFFUD.

King Arthur is definitely an action film.  An action film with a bit of romance, a smattering of comedy, and a whole lot of drama, yes, but an action film nonetheless. I wasn’t quite expecting that, but came out liking it: from the moment the movie starts until the credit rolls, there is barely a break in the battle scenes or the intense moments where characters are running or fighting for their lives and their “respective” countries. Reminiscent of Braveheart in many ways, this film is worth the watch if only to consider the story of King Arthur from a new angle: with a realistic slant rather than as a mystical “fairy tale” legend. 

In the early Dark Ages, a band of Sarmatian knights led by half British, half Roman Lucius Artorius Castus or “Arthur” (Clive Owen) meet with Roman Bishop Germanius to receive their release papers after 15 years of forced service in the Roman army. They are (understandably) upset to discover that they must forego their freedom awhile longer: Rome has decided to pull out of defeating/defending the island, leaving the country and its natives vulnerable to an invasion by the Saxons. Arthur and his knights are sent on one last “most dangerous of all” suicide mission: to rescue a Roman family from the bloodthirsty Saxons by crossing through the perilous Woad’s territory (enemy natives led by mystical woodsman Merlin) and bringing them back to safety. Only when they succeed in this trial will Arthur and his knights be given their papers and allowed to return home as free men.   

The honorable Arthur must do a little convincing to get his knights to agree to this last most perilous mission: after all, this band of real men is weary of fighting and ready to return home. Soon his loyal yet rough-and-tumble knights agree, and Arthur and his band (including Lancelot played by Ioan Gruffud and Galahad played by Hugh Dancy) begin their perilous journey across Britain. Along the way they encounter Merlin and his crew, who for some unknown reason let them live and pass through the “haunted” forest alive. After rescuing the Roman family (along with some natives in dire need), Arthur and his knights are forced to turn and fight the Saxons (who outnumber them by the handful!). They are helped by a native warrior woman Guinevere (Kiera Knightley), who ends up forcing a confrontation between Merlin and Arthur. Arthur is finally faced with the choice to return to Rome or stay and fight for Britain alongside Merlin and the lovely Guinevere.

The overall tone and feel of this film is dark, with lots of smoke and fog used in the battle scenes: although this film centers around battles and fight scenes, there is an underlying storyline that makes it entrancing and interesting. The knights are not “larger-than-life” heroes, chivalrous and pure legend not reality: they are real men. You can’t help but cheer for Arthur and his knights as they fight against the odds to defeat the enemies of Britain and gain their own release: but when the time comes for this band of men to go home, will they go or will they stay? For those of you thinking of taking young children, I’d say don’t.  Although the storyline is well done and there is little language, the entire film is basically one big bloody battlefield: a few years ago, this film may have acquired an “R” rating, but with some editing of the worst fight scenes, the studio managed a PG13. 

There is a lot of violence (what do you expect from a film about war?), very little language (I recall about 2 d*mn’s, a few uses of bastard, several of a** and a few references to God, although most of those done either in a discussion or by calling out to Him); there is a coarse joke about a man’s penis and an instance of a man trying to rape a woman (he struggles with her on the ground but is stopped). One character is portrayed as having a bunch of children outside of wedlock. There's also one scene where a man and woman end up having premarital sex (foreplay is intimated with a fair amount of skin but no clear nudity before the camera pans out). There is one point at the beginning where prayer is mocked a bit, and “the Roman church” and its leaders are doubted some throughout, but Arthur does have a strong faith in God, which comes across very well, although his knights are mostly portrayed as atheists.

Regardless of what any of the critics say, if you are ok with a PG13 rating for “intense battle sequences, a scene of sensuality and some language,” then you probably will really like this film: I did! In fact, I will probably go to see it again in the theatre: the new setting for the King Arthur story and the realism made for a great story. Clive Owen did a phenomenal job as King Arthur and has gained respect in my eyes: Kiera Knightley was great, as always, as the “Britain-warrior-woman” Guinevere (although a completely different aspect of this legendary character, it never was so over the top as to annoy me), and Ioan Gruffud as Lancelot and Hugh Dancy as Galahad were wonderful as well: in fact, I think all the actors did a good job. If you like the story of King Arthur, you will like this: from the beginning to the end, you are taken on a real-life adventure with “King” Arthur and the knights of the round table.