07-11-2004, 08:18 AM
Just saw the movie today and it is clear that the writer, Franzoni, is just being provocative for it's own sake.<br>
<br>
In his LA Times interview he stated that he did not buy into the idea of the knights riding around the countryside in plate armor and that he purposely stripped away all elements of magic that usually inhabit the films about King Arthur.<br>
<br>
And yet...<br>
<br>
As Arthur awaits the Saxons for the final battle at the wall the horses of his 'knights,' who are heading south with the retreating Romans, suddenly stop and will go no further, as if they know that Arthur needs them. Of course they know, because we are told in the first scene that the spirits of knights killed in battle are reborn as noble steads. But that's not magic, it's a well established fact isn't it?<br>
<br>
Then in the next scene we see the knights ride up all decked out in a wide selection of fantasy armor. True, it is not shinning plate armor like Boorman's Excalibur<br>
but it is oddly out of place all the same.<br>
<br>
Or is it?<br>
<br>
Actually, this was not as bad a film as I had feared, but it played more like a Samurai film, particularly in some of their fighting styles. Perhaps they should have set the story in Japan. If one ignores all the nonsense about this film depicting the "truth" behind the legend it is an amusing diversion for a hot afternoon.<br>
<br>
Have I seen better films -- yes.<br>
<br>
Have I seen worse films -- yes, and no doubt will see more before the year is over. But the air con was cold and the popcorn was fresh so I had a good time.<br>
<br>
However, we are still waiting for a good film about Rome and my previous statement still stands -- Franzoni's take on the Punic Wars...the gods look down and laugh.<br>
<br>
Narukami <p></p><i></i>
<br>
In his LA Times interview he stated that he did not buy into the idea of the knights riding around the countryside in plate armor and that he purposely stripped away all elements of magic that usually inhabit the films about King Arthur.<br>
<br>
And yet...<br>
<br>
As Arthur awaits the Saxons for the final battle at the wall the horses of his 'knights,' who are heading south with the retreating Romans, suddenly stop and will go no further, as if they know that Arthur needs them. Of course they know, because we are told in the first scene that the spirits of knights killed in battle are reborn as noble steads. But that's not magic, it's a well established fact isn't it?<br>
<br>
Then in the next scene we see the knights ride up all decked out in a wide selection of fantasy armor. True, it is not shinning plate armor like Boorman's Excalibur<br>
but it is oddly out of place all the same.<br>
<br>
Or is it?<br>
<br>
Actually, this was not as bad a film as I had feared, but it played more like a Samurai film, particularly in some of their fighting styles. Perhaps they should have set the story in Japan. If one ignores all the nonsense about this film depicting the "truth" behind the legend it is an amusing diversion for a hot afternoon.<br>
<br>
Have I seen better films -- yes.<br>
<br>
Have I seen worse films -- yes, and no doubt will see more before the year is over. But the air con was cold and the popcorn was fresh so I had a good time.<br>
<br>
However, we are still waiting for a good film about Rome and my previous statement still stands -- Franzoni's take on the Punic Wars...the gods look down and laugh.<br>
<br>
Narukami <p></p><i></i>
