King Arthur

ASUADPi · #1 07-11-2004, 11:25 PM

So I saw King Arthur today and I was wondering who else has seen this movie (or wants to see the movie).

I really enjoyed it. I pretty much love all Jerry Bruckheimer movies. I swear I think in my mind he can do no wrong with making good movies and tv shows.

Plus, I really thought the guys who played Arthur and Lancelot were kind of cute. LOL.

Thoughts? Opinions?

rainbowbrightCS · #2 07-11-2004, 11:31 PM

I thought it was really good. I like the jokes in it. Even though it was a giant battle field, it was not gory. A major plus for me.

ASUADPi · #3 07-12-2004, 12:00 AM

You are so right. I have seen far worse gore in movies but this was extrememly well done. No extreme close ups when the men were fighting.

Plus, I have to say I thought the love scene between Arthur and Gwenivere (spelling issues with her name, sorry) was well done. It was a "classy" love scene. I've again seen far worse.

Lady Pi Phi · #4 07-12-2004, 09:17 AM

I haven't seen, but my parents have and they said it was silly.
I also read a review and they didn't give it much praise. They had issues with the fact that this was supposed to be an historical account of "Arthur" yet the movie was intertwined with "historical accounts" and the ledgend.

But I still want to see it. It still looks pretty good to me and Clive Owen is a little bit of alright

Rio_Kohitsuji · #5 07-12-2004, 09:32 AM

Ack, sorry about the 2nd thread!!!

Mods, can you delete my thread??

Anyway, loved it also!

Kevin · #6 07-12-2004, 10:00 AM

Saw the preview. Thought it looked cheesy. Maybe I'll see it then if y'all say it's not so bad.

Peaches-n-Cream · #7 07-12-2004, 10:49 AM

Keira Knightley looks like Winona Ryder to me.

I haven't seen the movie and don't plan to see it.

ASUADPi · #8 07-12-2004, 11:40 AM

It's a good movie. I'm sure it will be nominated for a few Academy Awards (like sound effects & maybe score). But for me, I don't go see movies based on what critics say because that is their opinion. I want to see a movie because it looks interesting. Which is why I wanted to see King Arthur. I thought it looked good and I have, so far, loved all of Jerry Bruckheimer movies.

Let's put it this way, it's not Academy Award winning movie on the Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress level (IMPO, doesn't mean that in Feb 05 it might not get nominated), but it is GOOD entertainment.

The script is good. It has a few laughs.

[hijack] As for the "history" or "legend" factor. One thing people need to remember that Historians have found proof that their was an Arthur during the Dark Ages but this proof was "written" in the Middle Ages. As a person who has a BA History, I have to mention that the reason they have no record in the Dark Ages, was because there is pretty much LIMITED written records for the Dark Ages, that is why it is called the Dark Ages. Like I said there is "proof" that an Arthur existed but if he became king and if he had a round table with knights, we will never know. [end of History lesson hijack]

(If someone out there has more than just a BA History and has more collegiate knowledge on the Dark Ages, please feel free to correct me. I'm basing this off of all I learned in my History courses)

Lady Pi Phi · #9 07-12-2004, 11:47 AM

I agree. I never take the criticts word for anything. Most of the time I feel they are wrong about the movies they review, so if it interests me I'll go see it.

However, for the history lesson. I am aware that there is some historical fact in the Arthur ledgend. The problem that I have read about (as I have not seen the film so I am going on reviews and also my parents reviews, who I trust more than the critics) is that the film didn't stay true to the historical fact. For instance, "Arthur" should not have been called "Arthur", he should have been called "Arturius" or something along those lines.

While I don't have a BA in History, it seems to me that the problem here is that the film was poorly researched.

But like I said before, I still want to see it. If nothing else, it does look entertaining, and isn't that what movies are really about?

LeslieAGD · #10 07-12-2004, 11:47 AM

I saw it Wednesday, opening night. I say that unless you are dying to see the battle scenes on the big screen, wait until it comes out on video.

While I liked that it dealt with Arthur in his likely-historial context, Anton Fuqua's directing/storytelling stunk! He did a terrible job of explaining who Arthur really was (aka - why he ended up fighting for/with the Woads). Also, some of the dialog was mumbled and certain important pieces were not clear.

I happened to see the History Channel's special about the history of Arthur and it was a large part of why I was interested and understood what was going on.

ASUADPi · #11 07-12-2004, 12:46 PM

Lady Pi Phi, they did call him "Arturius", but not often. It was like the supporting cast of the movie called him that but his "friends" called him Arthur. Does that make sense?

LeslieAGD: I saw that History Channel presentation too, which I guess in part helped me to understand the movie better.

But then again I have seen soooo many TV movies and movies and taken classes on Arthurian legend that I was pretty up to speed.

Lady Pi Phi · #12 07-12-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ASUADPi
Lady Pi Phi, they did call him "Arturius", but not often. It was like the supporting cast of the movie called him that but his "friends" called him Arthur. Does that make sense?

Ahhh...I see now. That does make sense. Thanks.

MysticCat · #13 07-14-2004, 02:52 PM

I enjoyed it. Cinematically, I thought it was really good. The battle scenes were great, especially the scene on the frozen river. I didn't regret the money I shelled out at all.

Historically -- eh. I think that most historians agree that the Arthur legend started from two or three actual historical figures whose stories got blurred and jumbled together with a good dose of Christianized Celtic/British myth thrown in, and with some French romance legends being added later. The movie focused on the figure of Ambrosius Aurelius (who was named Arturius in this movie, and who, according to some medieval sources, was the brother of Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father) and on the battle of Baden Hill (where Roman commanders supposedly led British tribesmen to repel, at least for a while, the Saxon invasion, but which the movie somehow moved from near the Thames to Hadrian's Wall). But while they used some of these historical nuggets, they mixed them all up with parts of legend -- Lancelot, Gawain and all. Oh well. Movies is magic.

And I am impressed with any movie script that can work in the pelagian heresy, even if they were a bit predictable in making Pelagius out to be the voice of reason against the supposedly evil Roman pope.

The two things that distracted me throughout, historically speaking, was that they kept calling Arthur's men "knights" rather than "warriors" or "soldiers," when the concept of knighthood didn't develop until centuries later, and that the "knights" were sometimes seen wearing chain mail, which wasn't invented until centuries later. Oh well. Movies is still magic.

Kevin · #14 07-14-2004, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MysticCat81
I enjoyed it. Cinematically, I thought it was really good. The battle scenes were great, especially the scene on the frozen river. I didn't regret the money I shelled out at all.

Historically -- eh. I think that most historians agree that the Arthur legend started from two or three actual historical figures whose stories got blurred and jumbled together with a good dose of Christianized Celtic/British myth thrown in, and with some French romance legends being added later. The movie focused on the figure of Ambrosius Aurelius (who was named Arturius in this movie, and who, according to some medieval sources, was the brother of Uther Pendragon, Arthur's father) and on the battle of Baden Hill (where Roman commanders supposedly led British tribesmen to repel, at least for a while, the Saxon invasion, but which the movie somehow moved from near the Thames to Hadrian's Wall). But while they used some of these historical nuggets, they mixed them all up with parts of legend -- Lancelot, Gawain and all. Oh well. Movies is magic.

And I am impressed with any movie script that can work in the pelagian heresy, even if they were a bit predictable in making Pelagius out to be the voice of reason against the supposedly evil Roman pope.

The two things that distracted me throughout, historically speaking, was that they kept calling Arthur's men "knights" rather than "warriors" or "soldiers," when the concept of knighthood didn't develop until centuries later, and that the "knights" were sometimes seen wearing chain mail, which wasn't invented until centuries later. Oh well. Movies is still magic.

Sounds like you watched he History Channel special as well

MysticCat · #15 07-14-2004, 03:19 PM

I did, although it is a subject I have read a fair amount on over the years, having simultaneous interests in Arthurian legend, Welsh/Celtic myth and British history.

Seemed to me that they missed a chance with Merlin. Instead of just showing him as a tribal leader, they could have used him as a "conduit" if you will to show how British myth came into the story.