King Arthur

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Miguel R One of my favorite movies Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/17/25 Full Review Glafira Regina O King Arthur is the central figure of British epic tradition. Tales and legends were woven about his deeds and the exploits of the Knights of the Round Table, and novels were written in his honor. His name became a household word, symbolizing the greatness of the English lands. The cycle of legends—more commonly referred to as the Arthurian cycle—formed the foundation for much of popular culture. Countless books, films, and TV series have been made about him. Many historians believe that there was a real historical prototype for Arthur, which has fueled numerous theories and interpretations of who the British national hero truly was. Director Antoine Fuqua is a talented creator of fast-paced thrillers and crime action films, but it seems the revival of medieval-themed cinema influenced him as well. This time, he decided to work in the historical genre for the first time. To his credit, he approached the project with an unusual concept, basing the story on the theory that King Arthur was not a Celtic knight, but the Roman military commander Lucius Artorius Castus. This is a bold interpretation that upends the traditional image of the national hero. Critics and seasoned viewers tend to appreciate originality, but in this case, the filmmakers may have outsmarted themselves. In terms of genre, this is a standard historical action-adventure, an epic journey rolled into one. However, it falls far short of the genre’s best works and the great epic films of the past. The issue lies not in historical inaccuracies, but in creative execution. First, it’s a rather dull and dreary watch, lacking in large-scale battle scenes. Second, it’s drenched in a crushing, overbearing pathos that permeates every minute. The main characters speak in stilted, unnatural language, delivering awkward moralizing lines. While the filmmakers radically altered the traditional concept of the historical epic, they failed to come up with anything fresh or unconventional to replace it. That said, the film isn’t a complete disaster. From a technical standpoint, it’s hard to fault. The cinematography is top-notch, and Hans Zimmer’s score—as always—delivers the appropriate grandeur (in fact, there’s too much of it) while skillfully setting the tone. There are nods to classic films of the past—the frozen lake battle scene is an obvious homage to the Battle on the Ice. Unfortunately, these touches aren’t enough to save the overall experience. The casting is particularly weak, with many actors poorly matched to their roles. Clive Owen is passable as Arthur, but Ioan Gruffudd is completely out of place as Lancelot. Merlin, such a pivotal character in the lore, is portrayed in a surprisingly clumsy and unimpressive way. Even with a roster of A-list actors, Fuqua fails to use their talents to the fullest, leaving many in glorified background roles. King Arthur ultimately comes across as a failed attempt to reinterpret the legendary tales of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The creators took a calculated risk but fell short of being true innovators in the historical genre. Despite having first-rate actors, a huge budget, and the necessary resources, the director could not use them effectively. The result is a solid, visually striking, yet hollow historical action film. Still, it’s worth watching once. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/15/25 Full Review Pat M Excellent cast, quite entertaining. Loved this movie. If you’re into historical stories this is a great choice. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Frans B I loved it, very good cinematography, amazing cast that excels in character, great writing and very nice locations. Great classic story and this iteration is most entertaining. Clive and Keira brings a ton of capable talent with them, very enjoyable to watch, notwithstanding the overall consensus here, that does not make any sense. Each to their own I guess, different strokes for different blokes. Watch it and decide then ... Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/29/25 Full Review Mike D This is one of my all time favorite movies! The cast, the scenes, the story, everything was epic. Rotten tomatoes and anyone saying otherwise is nuts and have horrible taste. This is one of the greats. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/28/25 Full Review Audience Member Amazing cast, great cinematography. This is a fantastic movie, and also very fun. I quote it with my dad all the time, since I was 10. Watch this movie and enjoy it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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