Arthur the King (1985)

Truly Dreadful Film

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

OK, I maybe the only one to say this, but this was a great movie for it's time. It's a great Classic movie in my opinion. I've watched this movie since I first saw it on TV in 1985. I copied it with our first VCR at that time, and have since worn out that tape from watching it. Since then I have had two other copies of this movie. I think I've watched it about 30-40 times and shown it to countless friends, who agree that it was well done considering that it was made in the 80's. But, it goes to prove that the classics do live on with those who love them. I have to admit though that some will like the movie and others will hate it because they think it's to old and out dated. But, for those who like Arthurian stories it's good and also different. I have always thought this movies was better than Excalibur by far. I became a big fan of Malcolm MacDowell after I first saw this movie. The only problem that I had with it was the actress who played Guinavere was really not that good of an actress in my eyes. She didn't seem real to me at all. Ah, but Rupert Everette as Lancelot, was hot!

There is very little of the story of Arthur and Guinevere in this movie. Rather, it is focuses on the touching story of Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell (Ann Thornton) who is under a spell that turned her face into that of a pig. What would free her from the evil spell is if someone would love her as she is, a lady with the face of a pig. Her kindness and virtue wins the sympathy and love of Sir Gawain and her true visage is revealed, that of an outstandingly beautiful woman. It was not made clear, however, who placed the curse on Lady Ragnell and why. This episode should have been another movie altogether as I find it more interesting than Gawain's encounter with the Green Knight which was made into a movie with Sean Connery.Ann Thornton is a beautiful and effective actress. It's a pity she was active only on TV and only for six years at that.

I saw this movie years ago on the late show - was switching channels and came across Dyan Cannon in Stonehenge... that piqued my interest... and then there was Malcolm McDowell and Liam Neeson... and Edward Woodward as the great wizard Merlin... this movie is Grade Z, but the cast is fantastic... this is one to invite friends over, crack the six-pack and heckle. I'd love to get a copy for this reason alone. I'm surprise MS3K hasn't picked on it yet!

Probably the worst movie ever inspired by or blamed on Arthurian myth, this features some talented actors struggling valiantly with terrible miscasting (only Dyan Cannon as an American tourist seems comfortable in her role) and an awful script. The sets look cheap and stagey, and the only entertaining thing about the whole film is how laughably bad the special effects are. This is so utterly without redeeming features that I can't recommend this to anyone - fantasy fans, fans of any of the actors, not even lovers of bad movies.