Released Date: 15 July 2004

Synopsis (Courtesy from Buena Vista International) :

Historians have thought for centuries that King Arthur was only a myth, but the legend was based on a real hero, torn between his private ambitions and his public sense of duty. A reluctant leader, Arthur (Clive Owen) wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table - Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, and Gawain - to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain will need a leader to fill the vacuum - someone not only to defend against the current threat of invading Saxons, but to lead the isle into a new age. Under the guidance of Merlin, a former enemy, and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Keira Knightley) by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history. Thrilling adventure, edge-of-your-seat action and historical grandeur come together in this unique look at the origins of one of the greatest legends ever told.

Review:

Film Producer Jerry Bruckheimer latest offering, King Arthur, was a fine display of a modern days action-pack in spite of the story mythical background.

Set in somewhere near 5th century where the mights of Rome was fading, Moah, a Barbarian army expert in camouflaging, attack the empire from it’s fringes whereas in Britain, the Saxons, which comprises of fearless warriors, attack the empire from the north. On the fringes of the Roman Empire exist the Samartians, expert horsemen and Professional soldiers who had been patrolling the Roman’s outpost for years. Survivors of a key battle against the Romans, these Samartian had chosen to serve Rome, with fathers handing down their roles to sons, in exchange for peace with the ruler.

Arthur, leader of a Sarmatian cavalry unit, which includes Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, and Dagonet, embarked on one final search-and-rescue mission before they could return to the safety of their own homeland; the mission that requires these formidable knights to travel through the Moah’s stronghold and by-passing the Saxon’s forces, to rescue Marius, a Roman nobleman and his family. Arthur and his Knight ended up not only having to protect Marius and his family, but also the human convoy, including Guinevere and a number of villagers, with the pursuing Saxons hot on their heels...

The screenwriter had wittily cut-short what could be a trilogy without compromising the essence of history. Unfortunately, the short runtime had failed to develop key characters like King Arthur, the double blade Lancelot, the Queen warrior Guinevere, the dangerously-stylish Tristan and the mysterious sorcerer Merlin. There is also little mentioned of Arthur’s younger years where he had pulled out the Excalibur from the stone; a fairy tale that had once been so fascinating to kids. Instead, Arthur and his Knights are unjustly rank as unwilling soldiers fighting a battle not out of their own cause. Arthur was also portrayed as a struggled leader, torn between religion and politics instead of a knight of purpose and vision that most of us used to know.

However, with Jerry Bruckheimer mastery in action-pack film, nobody will forget the seat-gripping battle scene where Arthur, his Knights and the beautiful Guinevere standing against 100 over Saxons on the ice-surface. Not forgetting the ending scene of the ferocious and bloody battle that change the course of Britain; the Battle of Badon Hill. There were many different tales of King Arthur and his Knights; however, Jerry Bruckheimer had adopted an historical approach to depict the legend. Whether what had been portrayed on this movie were facts or fiction shall be left to the historians.

Courageous attempt it is. But it could have been better.

Movie Rating: B-