Excalibur

Forged by a God. Foretold by a Wizard. Found by a King.

EXCALIBUR (15)

D: John Boorman

Warner Bros./Orion (John Boorman)

UK/USA 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 1981

140 mins

Adventure/Fantasy

W: Rospo Pallenberg & John Boorman [based on the book "Le Morte d'Arthur" by Thomas Malory]

DP: Alex Thomson

Ed: John Merritt

Mus: Trevor Jones

PD: Anthony Pratt

Cos: Bob Ringwood

Nigel Terry (King Arthur), Nicol Williamson (Merlin), Helen Mirren (Morgana Le Fay), Nicholas Clay (Sir Lancelot), Cherie Lunghi (Queen Guinevere), Liam Neeson (Sir Gawain), Patrick Stewart (King Leondegrance)

Handsomely photographed and impeccably made version of the Arthurian legend of the magical sword with all the usual fabled characters and plotlines, Merlin, Uther Pendragon, the Holy Grail and King Arthur himself.

Though it's a visual treat, a long running time and slightly miscast performances lessen the impact it could have had, despite its technical brilliance. Bigger name actors in the lead roles could have made this a real cinema classic, but it's still a fine return to form for director John Boorman after his incredibly disappointing sequel to The Exorcist.

8/10