Excalibur [DVD] [1981]

Brilliant film! I first saw this at the cinema when it first came out in 1981 and have loved it ever since. Of course, Nicol Williamson steals the show as Merlin ('That's it!') and the real love story here in my opinion is not the one between Arthur and Guinevere or even Lancelot and Guinevere but the one between Arthur and Merlin. As an early reviewer points out the film is diminished every time Merlin is off the screen. I liked Nigel Terry's understated but moving portrayal of Arthur and the final meeting with Guinevere, in a nunnery, is rather moving 'we are the stuff of future memories'. I communicated with Paul Geoffrey (Perceval) and he sent a charming reply stating that those weeks in Ireland, filming 'Excalibur' were amongst the highlights of his career (he was originally considered for the role of Arthur). I was so sad to read that he had died at the age of 68 recently. The music was well chosen (Wagner and Trevor Jones mainly). The soundtrack was never easy to get hold off and I found the comments by another reviewer suggesting that it was deliberately 'held back' by the 'cabal who control Hollywood' to be deeply dispiriting and motivated more by antisemitism than anything else. I was surprised that Amazon allowed it to be published - a pity as otherwise it's a good review.

It is now been 32 years since the release of John Boorman`s Excalibur, one of the finest films ever made. It features a host of famous actors such as Nicol Williamson[Merlin], Liam Neeson[Gawain], Patrick Stewart as Leondegrance, Helen Mirren as Morgana and Ciaran Hinds as King Lot. The music is primarily Wagnerian. The main them of the film is Siegfrieds Trauermarsch[Siegfried`s Funeral March] from Goetterdaemmerung and the preludes to Parsifal and Tristan und Isolde. The first piece emphasises the tragic and heroic nature of King Ar-Thor. The second is the theme for the quest for the Graal which is a major part of the film and the third relates to the love theme of Lancelot and Guenevere. Also featured is O Fortuna! from Carl Orff`s Carmina Burana. The original film score is by Trevor Jones. Unaccountably the stunning film soundtrack has not been available for a number of years which leads me to question is this because the overly Germanic nature of the music is felt to be an embarrassment to the clan who controls Hollywood and the record industry? The film is now largely ignored and can be purchased on DVD very cheaply. Apart from its largely Wagnerian soundtrack the film is devoid of any non-Aryans, another reason perhaps why it is so hated by that international tribe? The film portrays Ar-Thor as the wounded king of[Amfortas] Parsifal. He is therefore no longer human but God-like in nature for he never was an historical human figure. He is the lost Sun God of northern Europe, the Ar-Thor of L.A. Waddell`s British Edda. Much of what is contained in Arthurian literature relates to the northern Indo-European Gods and Germanic Europa. The Celts as those who are initiated know, are really Germanics-a theme that I intend to explore elsewhere. Purchase the film for yourself and enjoy 2 hours of unspoilt Aryan mythology. A note for my American readers-this is myth not history!!

This is one of the weirdest films you're likely to see in a long time. A version of the Arthur story that it would seem everyone involved had a different take on. There is a lot of over the top a ting, some great acting, some great ideas, and one of the strangest acting performances of all time by Nicol Williamson as Merlin. I personally love the way he plays it, but I'm sure it will have others throwing things at the screen. I can't agree with others complaining about it being 'historically inaccurate'! This is King Arthur for goodness sake, how can it be historically accurate?! Overall, a great film to experience if you take it as it is.

I love most things Arthurian and remember this from when it came out at the cinema. I had a DVD copy, loaned it out and never had it back, so with the current three for £12 offer simply had to replace it. Jon Boormans visual masterpiece starring Nigel Terry as Arthur and a host of futur stars such as Patrick Stewart and Liam Neesom, this film is high quality and not to be missed. Gruesom at times, it tells the story of Arthur based largely on Le Morte Darthur but focuses on only some parts of the tale; namely the begetting of Arthur, Artgurs rise to King, his winning of the country and Guinever, Guinevere's adultery with Lancelot, Merlins fall, the seeking of the Cauldron and Arthurs demise at Camlan. Theres a stunning OTT performance from Nicol Williamson as Merlin, costumes that if real could not have been worn and faught in (plate armour so massive and shinning), and a very scheming Morgan with son Mordred played partly by Charlie Boorman in his early years. Filmed in Southern Ireland tha landscapes are magnificent and the whole film is accompanied by a magnificent classical score that fits the images exceedingly well. Well worth getting and spending several wet afternoons watching and re watching.

Epic Arthurian fantasy. The film covers the story using the book by Sir Thomas Malory entitled 'Le Morte D'Arthur'. The music is dramatic and heightens the battle sequences through Carmina Burana's 'O Fortuna'. The sets are expensive and colourful. Nicol Williamson makes a perfect Merlin. Nigel Terry is perfectly cast as King Arthur. It must be the best film, in my opinion, on the subject and a classic of modern cinema. The plot follows the story of King Arthur, his rise and fall and his ultimate battle at the end.

La película es una maravilla, pero ojo con esta edición: no contiene el comentario del director (ni ningún otro extra) y el audio solo viene en inglés, francés e italiano.

Its for a blue ray player only

One of my favorite films, I'd say my favorite. I love this work immensely, its radiance, the characters, and the atmosphere it creates. But the physical product itself leaves much to be desired; it's very cheap, soulless, and poor. I wish it were better.

Bellissimo e poetico, ispirante a cercare il Graal dentro noi stessi, ad avere Coraggio e ad impegnarsi per una vita degna di un Essere Umano

Nach den enttaeschenden Rezensionen der diversen deutschen Versionen diese Ikone des britischen Fims habe ich mir doch lieber die UK-Fassung gekauft. Die Bild- und Tonqualitaet ist hervorragend und es ist sogar eine deutsche Untertitelspur verfuegbar. Beste Fassung dieses Genremeilensteins.