'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword' A Review

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a fantasy film, a loose adaptation of the Arthurian legend. The film opens on King Uther Pendragon(Eric Bana) defending his people from evil wizard Morderd and while trying to get his wife and child to safety he and his wife are killed leaving their son and heir to float down the river. He is taken in by a brothel and through a quick but engaging montage grows up to be Arthur(Charlie Hunnam). After getting taken in by the city guard he is forced to attempt to pull the sword from the stone(and of course succeeds). Sword-in-hand Arthur is set on a path to overthrow his usurping uncle Vortigern(Jude Law).

Overall the cast is excellent, Hunnam is tough and funny, Law is liquid simpering evil, Djimon Hounsou and Aidan Gillen are good as the grizzled rebels. Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey billed simply as 'The Mage' is good although oddly underdeveloped as if additional scenes of her's were cut or the filmmakers were waiting on the sequel to dole out her backstory. They're all fun and match the tone of the film which is action first, humor second, emotion third. For what it is it works just fine.

Visually the film is pleasing but not terribly original, dark brooding fantasy CGI like a dozen other films but even so as a summer blockbuster is more than enough to please and entertain. There are a couple typical Guy Richie flourishes, a number of clipped montages, that are incredibly effective and give the adaption the freshness and fun its going for.

The film was almost immediately panned by critics and labeled a flop which is kind of mystifying to this reviewer. It begs the question- what was the expectation? From the directer/writer of the frenetic and funny Sherlock Holmes updates this is absolutely no surprise. The film is clearly going for something more contemporary and playful while providing some cool action- it succeeds period. Is it an amazing movie? No, of course not. Any movie title with a colon isn't. But to quote the man himself Roger Ebert "it's not what its about, its how its about it" and by this measure it succeeds.

Fast, funny, with some decent action.

See It.