The Best King Arthur Movie?
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- čas přidán 7. 04. 2017
- Guy Ritchie 's new movie, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, starring Charlie Hunnam in the title role, will drop next month. So, I thought this would be a good time to review and compare all of the best films to adapt Arthurian Legend so far, that way we can see how Legend of the Sword stacks up to the rest, when it hits theatres. Will Hunnam's Arthur measure up to Nigel Terry's Arthur in Excalibur, Disney's animated Arthur in the Sword in the Stone, or even Graham Chapman's Arthur in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? In this video I breakdown, review and rate those and other great King Arthur movies to prepare for Legend of the Sword. There are a few exceptions I cut out for time, and because they didn't rate as highly as the other for me (Sorry Sean Connery), but If I missed one of your favourite King Arthur movies, TV series or other dramatizations of Arthurian Legend, let me know what it is in the comments below.
Also, participate in the "Best film King Arthur" poll, posted at the end of the video.
If you want to purchase any of the movies in this video, and would also like to support this channel, please use the links below:
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) Blu-ray amzn.to/2tri09n
Excalibur (1981) Blu-Ray amzn.to/2trzdPW
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Blu0Ray amzn.to/2trDwum
Disney's The Sword in the Stone (1963) Blu-Ray amzn.to/2t2lm3e
Camelot (1967) Blu-Ray amzn.to/2vopP0S
King Arthur (2004) Blu-Ray amzn.to/2t2cBpC
All of the footage used in this video is credited, in accordance with CZcams's Fair Use guidelines.
Check out my analysis of real history vs 2004 King Arthur film staring Clive Owen! czcams.com/video/jaEhjMWaSv8/video.html
Guy with arms and legs cut off would be in excruciating pain not acting like nothing happened. I changed channel after movie got to this part. I would rate it zero or less if an option.
This video Should've been titled "What is the 2nd best King Arthur story behind Excalibur"...there's no question.
Crunch Buttsteak Dirk Hardpec
Thick mc run fast
Agreed. Crunch.
Hard to argue here.. Excalibur 1981 was John Boorman's dream project.. and the one that got me interested in the whole legend (but must admit that Holy Grail is a close runner up 'cause of the hand grenade scene).
I came here solely to say this
Excalibur is not only the best version of King Arthur, it's a magnificent movie in its own right. The score, the acting, the sets. That final ride of Arthur and his Knights is simply masterful. Its breath taking
I saw this movie as a child. When I did, it became my favorite movie for years. To this day, it is still one of my all time favorites. They don't make movies like that, anymore.
In my top 10 movies of all time.
Excalibur and the TV Mini series "Merlin" with Sam Neil are my favorites.
Nigel Terry hands down. His Arthur had this special quality that if he were a real person, I'd follow him to the death. You just can't help but believe in him.
Steven Green guards, knights, squires...prepare for battle!
Steven Green “One cannot gaze too long at the sun” -Guinevere
…And the usage of Wagner’s compositions is absolutely brilliant!
@@thomasfitzsimmons897 it really is a brilliant movie. You look at a screenshot and it looks cheesy as shit, but once you see it in motion. The colors, costumes, set design, music, it all comes alive and the cheesiness gives way to an elegant masterpiece of a film. Its absolutely magical, its like watching a living painting.
He was amazing in the role. He was a cheerful ambitious young squire to a humble king who goes mad and becomes an epic king once more. The rollercoaster of different emotions he used was amazing. Best told Arthurian tale in a film by far
If you could put liquid epic in a bottle, the label would read "Excalibur."
Roy Batty
Thats a fact.
lmfao
EXCALIBUR HANDS DOWN. It is a perfect film.
Excalibur bruh. Excalibur all the way. Fantastic fantasy film.
Agreed, I've watched the movie dozens of times and it has YET to lose its splendor in my eyes
It's so dense. Every single image has so many things going on...
But this time for real.
I agree, Excalibur is the Grail of King Arthur movies. I applaud you Sir.....
Excalibur is the best, no doubt.
Alwayyys...when ya least expect it.
Excalibur was one of the films that made me love movies as a child, it will always have a special place in my heart. Today I love it most for the eerie, mythical atmosphere throughout.
Maik Kellerhals Same. How old were you when you first saw it?
Not to mention Helen mirren melted my heart. I'm still in love with her till this day.
Same!
@@themig71 I was born in 1985; thus, I was only a baby when this came out
@@sadlobster1 umm not to sound like a jackass but it came out in 1981...so umm you were not born yet
Excalibur is so good that it breaks my heart. Everything is beautiful and the music is like a dream.
Thanks to Wagner
Music was Trevor Jones. Lovely work, especially A Challenge To Honourr
Hells yeah.
@@sarahwade6720 the film includes Wagners Preludes to Tristan and Isolde & to Parsifal as well as Siegfried's Funeral Music as leitmotif for Excalibur and King Arthur.
For me it's Excalibur hands-down it has my favorite version of King Arthur and my favorite version of merlin
Ouais, c'est pas faux !
Karl Mueller the lady if the lake used to scare the Shit out of me as a kid
totally
How could The Lady of The Lake scare you? She was so gentle and beautiful.
Not to mention Helen Merrian is the best portrays of Morgana le Fay.
Excalibur! One of my fav Merlin quotes, “looking at the future is Iike looking at the cake. What do you really know until you take a bite....and then, of course.....it’s too late.”
The haunting, atmospheric and dreamlike Excalibur hands down. It can't be beat. Nigel terry is the definitive King Arthur.
Exactly! I like the way you worded your comment. So true.
“EXCALIBUR” had the best film version of King Arthur. There is no comparison.
I agree, Excalibur 1981, the best.
Script, Visuals, Cast, and Wagner are you kidding me. John Boorman's version is KING!
1981 Excalibur... Hands down bar none the best version of the sword and the man Arthur.
Legends say Williamson took Nigel Terry to Avalon, and there he waits for when we need a new King Arthur movie to be made.
NOT EVEN A QUESTION.
Excalibur is not only the best Camelot movie ever made it's the best medieval era movie ever made by far. There's not even a close second. (Edit: except to The Simpsons comic book nerd clones below in some of these comments.)
You're not only an idiot, you're the biggest idiot by far
@@tylermcneeley3136 Fuck you tyler. Ronnie is right.
uh, I don't think so. Excalibur may be the best screen telling of the Arthur legends but its representation of the middle ages is bat shit insane. As a film in that period Braveheart was far superior although it was not the Arthurian tale and is in no way meant to be historically accurate. Still a great film.
@@theutonic001 No he isn't.
@@kennethfharkin Any idiot can tell Excalibur is not to be historically accurate, but Braveheart is very bad when it comes to being historically accurate. Sure it looks more accurate but the Scots in that movie are wearing kilts for one, the main love interest is supposed to be 9 years old by the time the movie takes place, and William Wallace was already a knight when he started his rebellion and was supposed to be a minor noble, not some dirt poor farmer. And the Scots wouldn't have shown off their asses in a field unless they liked the feelings of arrows up their rectums. The Braveheart movie is terrible, not just from being historically inaccurate, but also from how bad the writing is by making the villains irredeemable sociopaths with no nuance, and portraying William Wallace as a blood thirsty psycho that thinks revenge is a worthy cause instead of trying to save Scotland and continue fighting a rebellion, but it's ok cause he shouts FREEDOM. And no, Excalibur is bad as well, the best adaptation of King Arthur is Camelot.
Excalibur. The end.
Excalibur was just before my time, I saw it in the late 90s when I was 14 after borrowing it from the public library. It looked like a cheesy fantasy movie at first, but I was blown away by it. The original print of that movie should be put in The Smithsonian. I will never forget that movie, masterpiece.
It is essentially all British (if filmed mainly in Ireland), so it might belong in the British Museum or the Wallace Collection, but not the Smithsonian.
Im 25 years old and even i know EXCALIBUR is by far the best King Arthur movie..... BY FAR.
True dat.
I'm 26 years old and I don't know why we're stating our ages
And now you're 29 and if you live for another 100 years you'll still be right.
It would be difficult to beat Excalibur even by today's standards.
You can do it, the question is: Do we have competent writers to do such thing?
It's not possible by today's "standards".
They wouldn't even get the Standards right. get it?
@@Nothing2CHere4U Today standards are pretty bad, only early 2000 on LOTR days was possible to try and do something better.
But Excalibur cast was the type of cast of one of a lifetime type, would be very hard to get the right people again back then.
@@CommanderTato No. Standards. Get it?
Why am I conversing with a bot account?
Oh, nevermind.
@@Nothing2CHere4U Are you having a bad day bro? Why the agressiveness.
Excalibur is the greatest motion picture film ever made. That's a rock fact.
Meh !!!
lol
Ouais, c'est pas faux !
Nice Sifl and Olly reference with the Rock Fact.
But more to the point; to this day, Excalibur stands as the definitive version of Arthur put on film.
At least, that's what I and others think
2nd only to the original star wars I'd say, but what do i know?...
Second. Second greatest.
The road warrior stands, at least in my opinion, as the first.
Excalibur is my fave King Authur movie and one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time!
Word!
Excalibur is the true exposition of our once and future king.
There is no comparison. Excalibur, thanks to Nicole Williamson's Merlin is Unique.
It's been 38 years since Excalibur has been released. It's been 38 years others have tried and failed to match it. Excalibur was a perfect storm of directing, acting, artistic vision, poetry, music and storytelling. Yes it has aged in some parts. But the epicness and the world building are still what makes it a unique masterpiece that is still as beautiful and enthralling today as it was back then. We can only hope we get such a good arthurian movie ever again! Also - could anyone play a better Merlin than Nicol Williamson? :)
Peter Jackson could offer some ability but in WOKE world be stupid.
@@chasam1234 Old Pete maybe, but current Jackson could not
This is an older comment but I wanted to say how much I agree with you about Nicol Williamson. I love Nigel Terry as Arthur; I think his warm and empathetic performance would make anyone want to follow him anywhere. But Nicol gives my favorite performance in the film. He's wise, knowing, loyal to Arthur, mysterious, occasionally manipulative and slippery but in the end with a true vision that guides his actions. He's also occasionally used for some delightfully hammy comic relief, which he plays with just the right light touch. In fact when he's "captured" by Morgana and leaves the film for a while it noticeably loses some energy.
Best Merlin, hands down. I haven't seen anyone else play the part balancing these complexities while still clearly having such fun.
Excaiblur is probably one of my favorite takes on the Arthurian legends
"You're right. I'm not yet a knight! You Uryens, will knight me and as knight to knight, I care to offer you Mercy!" Excalibur all the way!!!
One of the most powerful scenes I've seen on film.
Actually the line was “As Knight to Knight I carried out for your mercy”. Just saying.
@@charlesquillen35 No, thats even better!!! Carried it on his shoulders...Thx
@@charlesquillen35 "as Knight to Knight I CAN OFFER YOU MERCY (It's difficult to hear it...especially the word CAN)".
Oh cool, I always thought it was "...that is knight to knight, I carry put at your mercy!" Whatever the line, I always end up with manly tears
There can only be one... true king. Excalibur is still the standard. Nicol Williams is awesome as Merlin
"Excalibur" My intro to Wagner -- WOW!Amazing in a big sound theater.
Boorman's Excalibur, hands-down.
Excalibur blew my mind when I saw it in '81...and I'm still waiting for a worthy contender.
Excalibur is the best, when Arthur and his knights are riding through the cherry blossoms and Wagner is blasting. It just doesn't get better.
I m sorry, in tat particular part director Jhon Boorman used "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff.
Excalibur is and will forever be THE ONLY FILM THAT DEPICTS THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR. It is one of the few films that brings me to tears no matter how many times I may watch it. This movie touches your soul and transports you back to a time when men were MEN and a man's word meant something. There was a MORAL CODE OF HONOR to be upheld among all men that is rooted in righteousness which is something that's seriously lacking in this world today...
1981 Excalibur
Excalibur. One of my all time favs. Stunning cinematography. A legend in itself.
John Boorman’s Excalibur of course. One of my favorite movies, period.
...(come father, let us embrace at last).....Excalibur was the best!.
Yup! Nigel Terry, hands down! I have it on DVD too! Just plain the best, with the deepest character development.
Excalibur hands down none of the others come close.
The Knighting of Arthur in Excalibur is a fantastic scene
EXCALIBUR, The best !! Epic !!
Excalibur 1981... no comparison (other than in books)
Excalibur, Excalibur, Excalibur.
Love, live this movie.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
No doubt touched my mind... EXCALIBUR was the clear Winner, the story and actors were awesome...!
Agreed. Excalibur is the best by a mile. I loved it!
excalibur from 1981 hands down
It’s EXCALIBUR. No question. It replayed last week at one of the cineplexes and I made sure I took my fifteen year old son to see it.
1981Excalibur 👍👍👍👍
Excalibur. No question. Saw it when I was 14 and have watched it about 50 times since. One of those movies that just gets better the more you watch it.
EXCALIBUR
"..while it's not perfect.." HERESY!
EXCALIBUR!
EXCALIBUR is a legend itself
Ouais, c'est pas faux !
Anal nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do che'l de'nmha
EXCALIBUR!!!!! And as a bonus, NO COMPUTERS.
Excalibur, forever Excalibur! For me the best film on King Arthur ever!
Excalibur is my all time favorite. First time i saw it, as a child, i fell in love w/ the movie
Excalibur hands down, what a great film, great acting all around, has emotion, is very grounded and has depth. The new Guy Ritchie was a fun watch and comes in second place, would be great if Guy has a chance for a trilogy, If I was Netflix or Amazon I would found his endeavor ;-)
Rich B guy ritchie‘s movie was crap. Come on
@@spartanwarrior1 From the trailer alone, I saw nothing I would consider "fun"
For me, it was the 1981 version. I loved this as a kid. It was so romantic and exciting.
Excalibur is by far the best. Its not even close lol. Excalibur is a work of art that will always be with humanity. The others are shit that have been and will be forgotten to media.
Hands down, Excalibur! Action, Visuals, Mystery, Story. Loved it when I was a kid and still to this day.
I always liked Sean Connery’s King Arthur speech before he dies and I liked him in first knight, but I gotta give my vote to King Arthur of 2004, the decline and fall of Rome is my favorite historical topic and this movie’s treatment of the subject as well as the historical figure behind the legend is best for me. I have yet to see Excalibur, it looks really good
The knighting of Arthur by Uryens is certainly one of the greatest and most moving scenes in motion picture history -- in the greatest telling of the story of King Arthur, hands down.
I sorta like the scene when Perceval returns with the grail and wakes Arthur , and the speech thereafter.
EXCALIBUR !!! EXCALIBUR !!! EXCALIBUR ..... no doubt, no questions, no discussion !!!!!
Enjoyed this movie a lot, more than I expected.
Charlie kicked ass a a young, unrefined Arthur just starting his journey. And good lord, when he went into Excalibur mode he was a fucking BEAST!
Excalibur is a masterpiece! It stands the test of time. Nigel Terry brought the role of King Arthur to life! I loved Merlin as well. My 20 yr old son barely watched it a couple of days ago and he agrees. He loved it!
I have to say EXCALIBUR is the best of all but for Arthur and Merlin in a TV show Im a huge fan of the MERLIN series. Yes it has its own story but when the historical moments happen its so good. The parts mentioned in the Arthurian Legend.
I think this if nothing else is a great opportunity for anyone who hasn't watched Excalibur, to go watch it. One of the greatest films ever made, it manages the incredible feat of bringing to life the mysticism, paganism and mythology surrounding Arthurian legend. One of the few other things I've watched that manages this is the tv series Robin of Sherwood from 1983-1985. Which unsurprisingly also had a 'lord of the trees, Herne the Hunter' angle to it
excalibur by far..carl orf's carmina burana alone is worth the admission...boorman nailed the entire scope from merlin to arthur to the torment of lancelot and guinevere, to the holy grail...stirring beyond imagining..incredible job...second would be the musical camelot with harris and redgrave and third, monty python and the holy grail because it's hilarious...the latest one by ritchie sucked...big time
My favourite retelling is actually the Merlin TV show. I know, it derives in many places but it has so many beautiful character and emotional moments. Plus, spanning over 5 seasons gave it the necessary time to develop character relationships.
literally. 100%. yes. Merlin is amazing
People seem to be underestimating the 2004 Clive Owens version of King Arthur it's actually very good and tells a much different story about Arthur.
I quite like it; it's my favorite movie about Arthur after "Excalibur." It does tell a very different story about Arthur but it fascinates me by calling up how many different "tribes" of people roamed over that land. I like Clive Owen's take on Arthur; it's a little darker and realistic in tone. It's definitely worth checking out.
Excalibur is a 5 star Masterpiece! The union between God and the mythical Dragon (Red and Green Celtic and Anglo saxon). The king and the land. The Sword and the the people. Blood and the righteous crusade for the Grail found only with clean spirit at the end of despair. Gotterdammerung the circle of death and rebirth in the struggle for life. Ultimately the battle between good and evil. The movie I first watched at the age of 10. The movie captured me with fascination captivating me into the mist of folk law so much so that it was an awakening for me unlike anything before or since.
I have adopted into my spirit its inner meaning that I have carried throughout my life.
No other movie has the same impact as the knights riding with King Arthur to the tune of Carmina Burana in Excalibur. The story is a bit wonky at times but it makes up for it with the sheer incredible acting. I've seen other King Arthur films but Excalibur is the only one that I keep going back to. The fact that the title of the movie is the name of the sword itself makes it even more powerful.
Ask a stupid question and you'll get an obvious answer.
Answer: *EXCALIBUR*
Nigel Terry as Arthur. Excalibur is one of the best films ever made. It has some of the best quotes I’ve ever heard in a film. With my favorite being:
Arthur - Merlin, have we finally defeated evil?
Merlin- Good & evil, one can’t exist without the other
Arthur- So where hides evil in my Kingdom?
Merlin- (glancing at Guinevere) Always..where you never expect it....always
I love the revised Guy Ritchie version of Arthur in the Legend of the Sword. I am yet to watch Excalibur but based on these comments, the movie is a must watch.
I saw Excalibur the first time in 1981, and it has not been replaced by any other movie on the subject, in fact, it is one of the best movies ever made.
Nigel Terry is the best Arthur on film...But the best Arthur of all is a Blond girl, clad in blue, yelling Excalibur like no other :D
fate stay night
Yes saber is the best
Saber is the best King Arthur
Yup. Saber is much better than any of these.
exsu-CALIBAA!!!!
saber is best arthur!
Excalibur was a master piece. I never get tired of watching it.
I’d watched n rewatched Excalibur so much when i was a kid that I’d memorised the dialogue till today. And im 46 years old.
“I…am..merlin” - Epic
Excalibur and Nigel Terry, I have honestly not read anything in the books, and only watched a few of the movies..but I rank..
1. Excalibur with Nigel Terry by john Boorman..Epic, mystic, dreamy and felt like a knight movie that glowed.
Excaliburs music, costumes and camera photo and lighting was simply brilliant put together, Nigel Terry sounded a bit silly as a young arthur, but as an older Arthur, he delivers some epic monologs.
2. Artur..with Clive Owen, well. I guess I liked the way the incorporated a story of romans and the veda people that may actually depict a more true to that time story, though how much reality in the myth there is is highly dubious, though I am not that fond of clive owens acting, which seem to be a little stiff and when not..it feels like over acting, some scenes were okay though that he did, so he was not a complete disaster.
3
I just couldn´t stand the artur movie with Sean Connery ( love him in other movies) and richard gere..that one was horrible.
We ALL know it's Excalibur!
None are even in the same category with the incomparable Excalibur! You failed to mention the powerful music, O Fortuna from the Carmina Burana by Carl Orff - accompanying Uther riding into battle at the movie beginning. Right there, from the start, the viewer knows that he is being presented with unsurpassed storytelling. I have seen many other attempts to use Carl Orff's masterpiece, to give weight to an unworthy scene in movies since - without success.
2004 King Arthur movie is so Good... 💐🙏
This was a fun trip through a number of movies I haven’t seen. I’m glad to see so many love Excalibur as much as I do. And of course as a kid I felt The Sword In the Stone was a cool movie too.
Excalibur hands down. I had the privilege of meeting and seeing much of that cast perform live for the RSC. I must admit though Mads Mikkelsen's Tristan in King Arthur broke my heart when he died at the end. Loved his character. He embodied my idea of a knight no armour needed. If you really want to break it down asks who was the actor that played each character the best.
King Arthur is the only film that gives insight to the times of the real Arthur lived. There is very little fantasy in the story, and it shows how corrupt Rome had become when they pulled their troops from Britain. The other stories were fantasy from start to finish. I liked Excalibur much like the superhero movies of today, but the source of story was a fantasy created by a monk centuries after Arthur lived, and your premise was the best King Arthur film.
Totally agree, Excalibur was the best Arthur movie ever
King Arthur 2004 is my Fave as it comes closest to the real King Arthur. However, from a fantasy standpoint, Excalibur wins!
Excalibur all the way.
Absolutely awe inspiring.
End of.
Merlin is my favorite adaptation it was such a good show even tho it had a terrible ending and Ik it doesn’t follow le Morte d Arthur, it was a still a great show
The 2004 Clive Owen film is my favourite. The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer was outstanding, as was the armour and setting of the film. It is also the most historically accurate, from my perspective. The other Arthur-based films and series, including the BBC series Merlin, are remarkable for their storytelling and spellbinding qualities.
IF EXCALIBUR IS MY FAVORITE THEN IT IS THE GREATEST! ( draws sword and salutes Excalibur) lol I was goofing the quote Patrick Steward says.
It was only relatively recently that I found out that I found out that Disney's "Sword in the Stone" was based on the book by T.H.White and that it even follows it relatively closely. Not word for word by any means but the tone is pretty close and many scenes are lifted from it.
Camelot also follows that book pretty closely with Sword in the Stone tackling the first half and Camelot tackling the later half.
Anders Enggaard J K Rowling based Harry potter of King Arthur from the Sword in the Stone true look it up
Oh yeah. My copy of the book even has a quote from her citing T.H. White as an inspiration.
T.H. White's novel is awesome. Very weird too at a lot of places but a great adaptation of the lore.
Excalibur is also my favorite of them. BUT the Clive Owen one is the most historically accurate. There is really a theory that "King" Arthur could have been or was most likely a roman and that he became sort of a big leader.
The best King Arthur movie was the Clive Owen from 2004, most realistic story of Ambrosius Aurelianus & the Battle of Badon against the Angles & Saxons invaders.
Excalibur 1981 without a doubt
I loved Legend of the Stone ,Charlie Hunnam is great and funny love the special effects Guy did a super job of taking an old worn out story and giving a new birth the music was super
Excalibur. No contest. They also used Karl Orff's "Carmina Burana" for some of the music. It was used for so many films and commercials after that, it's gone into hiding again. Monty Python's movie version gets an honorable mention from me. It'll always have a place in my heart.
2004 King Arthur is my favorite due to cast and story.
81' Excaliber is the greatest imo. Anyone who hasn't watched it give a try. 🏰
Excalibur, hands down. I have a soft spot for The Sword in the Stone, though. If it feels like a prequal, that's because it kind of is one. It's an adaptation of part one of T. H. White's "The Once and Future King." I think it stands pretty well on it's own, but if you know the rest of the story, it's also really sad at the same time.
I know we're talking about movies here, but I remember the novel version of the 2004 King Arthur movie was really good. It stands head and shoulders over the movie.
The novel versions of movies are often dismissed as a money grab, but every now and then, they're a real gem!
Nothing beats Boorman's Arthur. Excalibur is the Citizen Kane of King Arthur movies. Nigel Terry was perfect as Arthur, and Nicol Williamson stole the show as Merlin. Helen Mirren was the hottest Morgan Le Fay ever. I saw Excalibur in a theater in Los Angeles the day it was released and absolutely loved it. One of my best moviegoing experiences. Pure magic.