I'd heard a lot about John Boorman's Excalibur but had never seen it before. I knew of Boorman through his masterwork Deliverance but not much more of his ouvre.
Being British, the Arthurian myth is a huge part of our national identity. Myth, legend or based on some part of history, the tale of a boy who draws the sword from the stone to become king is a potent one. I had seen Disney's The Sword in the Stone but had also read a lot about the daring-dos of the knights of the round table in my youth. The animated show Prince Valiant was a firm favourite of my youth and I learned a lot of the lore and mythos from that alongside reading Mallory's Mort d'Arthur.
Excalibur covers the birth, rise and fall of King Arthur. Merlin is a more complex figure in this retelling, rather than a benevolent old father figure, he is sometimes an agent of change who makes some really poor choices for someone who is apparently so intelligent. The actor, Nicol Williamson, plays Merlin straight for the most part but there are flourishes of melodrama and humour. Whether this is a good or bad thing depends upon your tolerance for this broad acting style. Nigel Terry gives a solid performance as King Arthur, a man who dreams big but is betrayed by his greatest knight.
The rest of the cast of the film is impressive and features many actors who would go on to achieve acclaim and success later in their careers including- Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, Helen Mirren and Gabriel Byrne. There are also many actors who you will probably recognise from various TV shows from the 80s and 90s, including Hyacinth's Bucket's long suffering husband, Clive Swift.
One of the things I appreciate most about this film is the set and costume design. This film uses practical effects which, when combined with effective cinematography, created a cohesive whole. True, it is messy in places and does feel like a Cliffs Notes of the long and complex Arthurian story but the grime on the faces and costumes, purposeful lack of polish, and general lived-in atmosphere created adds a level of authenticity that many modern fantasy films lack. When Perceval goes on the Grail Quest, the story becomes more cohesive and focussed. The final battle with O Fortuna/ Carmana Burana playing as the knights ride through a recovering landscape with cherry blossoms falling is spectacular.
Overall, I liked the film just fine and, having never seen it before, my opinion is not based on nostalgia. I am nuanced enough to overlook its 40 plus year old production values in order to appreciate its sheer exuberance and elegance. There are scenes in the film that are true spectacle and I am glad that Boorman reached for the stars. Whilst not achieving the success he would have liked, it is a singular film that is well worth a watch.