Thanks. Now I have two Arthurian movies to watch this weekend.
I still think "Snatch" was Ritchie's best movie. The characters were so much fun especially Mickey. Introduced me to Irish Gypsies and where not to buy a caravan.
I think, like Ritchie’s movie, that they tried hard to do something different. Their strategy of having a lower budget was a good idea as well; their discipline made the film profitable. I can’t say I really liked it thst much, but I’m still glad it got made.
It had a good visual feel, some intriguing paradoxes of plot--some of these are its own, and some from the poem--and most of all, it got me to read the original. For a more thorough take, see that of my friend Titus Techera: https://lawliberty.org/rediscovering-honor-with-the-green-knight/
Great trailer! Cool explanation for how the sword got into the stone, too. How does this film compare to John Boorman’s “Excalibur”? There were some great scenes in that movie- the knights in armour riding through the orchard, with the apple blossoms falling like snow, for one.
Did Hounsou need to be Bedivere? Why not cast him as Palomedes? That poor guy could use a chance to shine in an Arthurian adaptation away from Tristan and Iseult, honestly. He gets a little lost in those stories....
Casting him as Feirfiz, Percival's half brother, probably wouldn't have worked, but there were a couple of other Saracen knights he could have played. Morien would need to be younger, since he appears in *The Romance of Morien* at fourteen, but he's another option for filmmakers to consider if they want to try their hand at Arthurian stories. Palomedes is probably the most famous and underrated Saracen knight because he gets caught up in the Tristan/Iseult stories. Why not use him without attaching him to those two (who are as tiresome in their own way as Lancelot/Guinevere)?
Nolan's Odyssey has this feeling of him phoning it in. There was a fake trailer of Nolan's Odyssey that featured Tom Holland in his many different roles, implying an Odysseus that had to time travel to get home, that feels more Nolan-esque than what we're seeing officially so far.
Thanks for affording me the honour of working with you Celaeno. This review was interesting, I have to admit I heard a lot of strange rumours when this movie came out, and chose not to watch it having been disgusted by what I heard and yet now that I've read your thoughts on it I'm thinking of going ahead and watching it. I mean your review is a great one and one that warrants it being given a chance I think.
I especially like the part about Arthur having to build himself up. Usually in the stories like in the TH White stories it is Sir Kay and Ector and Merlin who get this miserable job (and it is immediately glossed over save perhaps to an extent in a few adaptations). So this is a really interesting and relevant theme. I'm glad I read this post, going to post up my thoughts on this one when I watch it (and definitely link to your essay).
Then I must watch it and recommend it to my movie club (my friend has a pretty large twitch and Rumble set of channels) since you like it that much mon ami. Je te garantis que nous allons gagner plus d'admirateurs pour ce film.
Which is why I keep pointing to that if anybody wants to explain why people react so loudly to Star Wars and Harry Potter (and other stuff) being "taken away." They're people losing their last bit of language.
(oh and yeah, I've also written on cargo cult style writing)
How much better it is to try to retell old stories in a new context, even if it strains credulity, then to try to pretend comic books are our cultural equivalent.
And you’re absolutely right about their love of exotic ‘ethnic’ figures to give variety and universality.
Gerusalemme Liberata in the right director’s hands would be incredible. Highly unlikely it will ever get made, but fun to think about.
Absolutely. I think if there was ever a really good run of Arthuriana there would be a secondary audience, smaller more informed, who would love to see more obscure stories come to the screen. I’ve thought for the longest about a modern retelling of Sir Orfeo.
My husband loves all things Guy Ritchie and so we watched this together. I thought it was solidly okay. But The Once and Future King is one of my favorite books and I’m a bit of an Arthur snob so that’s probably why I didn’t enjoy it more.
Thanks. Now I have two Arthurian movies to watch this weekend.
I still think "Snatch" was Ritchie's best movie. The characters were so much fun especially Mickey. Introduced me to Irish Gypsies and where not to buy a caravan.
Great essay, as usual, Librarian! What are your thoughts about the 2021 movie, The Green Knight?
I think, like Ritchie’s movie, that they tried hard to do something different. Their strategy of having a lower budget was a good idea as well; their discipline made the film profitable. I can’t say I really liked it thst much, but I’m still glad it got made.
It had a good visual feel, some intriguing paradoxes of plot--some of these are its own, and some from the poem--and most of all, it got me to read the original. For a more thorough take, see that of my friend Titus Techera: https://lawliberty.org/rediscovering-honor-with-the-green-knight/
Great trailer! Cool explanation for how the sword got into the stone, too. How does this film compare to John Boorman’s “Excalibur”? There were some great scenes in that movie- the knights in armour riding through the orchard, with the apple blossoms falling like snow, for one.
King Arthur as an action hero like Captain America, with the camerawork of Ritches Sherlock Holmes films.
That could have been the pitch for the movie.
I also have never heard of this film and I am the ground zero target market for it. Marketing: FAIL!
Did Hounsou need to be Bedivere? Why not cast him as Palomedes? That poor guy could use a chance to shine in an Arthurian adaptation away from Tristan and Iseult, honestly. He gets a little lost in those stories....
Casting him as Feirfiz, Percival's half brother, probably wouldn't have worked, but there were a couple of other Saracen knights he could have played. Morien would need to be younger, since he appears in *The Romance of Morien* at fourteen, but he's another option for filmmakers to consider if they want to try their hand at Arthurian stories. Palomedes is probably the most famous and underrated Saracen knight because he gets caught up in the Tristan/Iseult stories. Why not use him without attaching him to those two (who are as tiresome in their own way as Lancelot/Guinevere)?
He wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I wouldn’t say he was bad. It legitimately might have been a good role for Jason Statham.
I never understood why that King Arthur movie didn't perform better; also that soundtrack was an absolute banger.
Nolan's Odyssey has this feeling of him phoning it in. There was a fake trailer of Nolan's Odyssey that featured Tom Holland in his many different roles, implying an Odysseus that had to time travel to get home, that feels more Nolan-esque than what we're seeing officially so far.
Thanks for affording me the honour of working with you Celaeno. This review was interesting, I have to admit I heard a lot of strange rumours when this movie came out, and chose not to watch it having been disgusted by what I heard and yet now that I've read your thoughts on it I'm thinking of going ahead and watching it. I mean your review is a great one and one that warrants it being given a chance I think.
I especially like the part about Arthur having to build himself up. Usually in the stories like in the TH White stories it is Sir Kay and Ector and Merlin who get this miserable job (and it is immediately glossed over save perhaps to an extent in a few adaptations). So this is a really interesting and relevant theme. I'm glad I read this post, going to post up my thoughts on this one when I watch it (and definitely link to your essay).
It’s a solid film. I really think it deserves a bigger audience.
Then I must watch it and recommend it to my movie club (my friend has a pretty large twitch and Rumble set of channels) since you like it that much mon ami. Je te garantis que nous allons gagner plus d'admirateurs pour ce film.
Well, I know what I’m watching tonight.
Fun film. And its ok for a film to just be fun
Fun, imaginative, competent. Traits often lacking in even low entertainment today.
I absolutely enjoyed Ritchie's take on the Arthur legend. Thanks for the great review.
Thank you for reading.
I'd also suggest 'A Knights Tale' for medieval fun shenanigans. Very English.
Posted this same day the new Guy Ritchie trailer dropped…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WocIcqDT8UM
Coincidence????
(also I’m curious how Guy is going to handle National Treasure here)
Of note, I heard it described once as "speaking western."
https://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/2017/02/harry-potter-and-way-millennial.html
Which is why I keep pointing to that if anybody wants to explain why people react so loudly to Star Wars and Harry Potter (and other stuff) being "taken away." They're people losing their last bit of language.
(oh and yeah, I've also written on cargo cult style writing)
https://natewinchester.wordpress.com/2025/01/11/cargo-cult-writing/
I happen to be a seriously obsessed Arthurian fanatic. Even have an Arthurian Tale I wrote.
As for the Guy Ritchie interpretation.
I enjoy Guy Ritchie movies. Snatch is an all time favorite.
I was entertained by Ritchie's interpretation.
After all, it is a Guy Ritchie movie, not a documentary on all the medieval variations and possibly historic basis for the myth.
I did really enjoy the idea of Arthur, rising from the streets.
I enjoyed the movie.
Thank you for your review!
How much better it is to try to retell old stories in a new context, even if it strains credulity, then to try to pretend comic books are our cultural equivalent.
And you’re absolutely right about their love of exotic ‘ethnic’ figures to give variety and universality.
Gerusalemme Liberata in the right director’s hands would be incredible. Highly unlikely it will ever get made, but fun to think about.
Absolutely. I think if there was ever a really good run of Arthuriana there would be a secondary audience, smaller more informed, who would love to see more obscure stories come to the screen. I’ve thought for the longest about a modern retelling of Sir Orfeo.
My husband loves all things Guy Ritchie and so we watched this together. I thought it was solidly okay. But The Once and Future King is one of my favorite books and I’m a bit of an Arthur snob so that’s probably why I didn’t enjoy it more.