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Actors: Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Excalibur |
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EXCALIBUR is John Boorman's masterful synthesis of the Myths of King Arthur, The Round Table, and The Search for the HOLY GRAIL. Nigel Terry is Arthur, the idealistic
"Once-and-Future" King, who under the tuteladge of Druidic Master Magician, Merlin (adroitly played by Nicol Williamson) attempts to promote Order & Justice over against Powers...both natural and supernatual...of greed and lawless might. A very tall order! But Boorman is able to visually and thematically blend elements of magic, mysticism and human reality to create what may be the definitive cinematic exploration. Here, cosmic forces of Good are arrayed against cosmic evil incarnated in the persons of the Temptress Morgana (Helen Mirren) and her son the Black Adept, Mordred. The final battle on the Salisbury Plains... accompanied to majestic strains of Orff's CARMENA BURENA... brings Apocalypse Then! to the screen with a mesmerizing vision of Triumph for The Good Guys. "EXCALIBUR: Sword of Power" is a film triumph for viewers, Once-and-Future......
--Arthur F. McVarish, Resident Scholar
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A very cool melding of the different versions of the Arthurian Mythology. The screen writer took some very creative pains to tie the neater bits together and it works rather nicely. Combining the great themes of love & betrayal, loyaltly & honor, magic, swordfighting, knights and the Quest how could you not have a good time watching this great escapist film.
--Carolyn Leshock, Resident Scholar
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The story of King Arthur's sword from Uther, to the sword in the stone, to the lady of the lake, to Lancelot/Guenevere, to Merlin and Morgana, to Mordred, to the quest for the holy grail, the the final batle and returning the w\sword to the waters. The most magical and ambitious adaptation of the King Arthur legends.
--Zorikh Lequidre, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Excalibur |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- a King Arthur story
Coming of age
Yes
he'll/she'll become:
- ruler
- great warrior
- guardian of justice
Romance
Yes
Romance Plotlets:
- falling in love with the unattainable
- destined love (predicted in dream/text)
Mental/Magical powers focus
Yes
Inner Struggle
Yes
War and Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- sword fights
- magical battles
Clones/duplicates?
- bad clones/duplicates
Clones/Duplicates?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- average (man)
Unclothed?
- Chest
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
- introspective
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Physique
- Very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- red
Hair style
- bald (man)
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- can change shapes
- clairvoyant
- can see into the future
- can cast all sorts of spells
- can read emotions
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn, straight
Body type
- skinny (female)
unclothed?
- partially transparent clothes
Ethnicity
- White
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physical condition
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Water?
Yes
Forests?
Yes
Style
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- major character impregnated against her will
Any profanity?
- None
Kinds of F/X
- exotic big cities
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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