More than four decades after its release, “Excalibur” remains a pinnacle of the fantasy genre. Let’s revisit this magical, brutal, and unforgettable film without delay!
The fantasy genre is filled with forgettable films, some mediocre or even downright bad. However, certain films transcend time and trends to become absolute classics. Such is the case with John Boorman’s film “Excalibur,” which, more than forty years after its release, still stands as a high point in the genre.
The story recounts the legend of King Arthur: after Uther Pendragon receives the magical sword Excalibur from Merlin the Magician, the sword remains embedded in a stone following Uther’s death. Only Arthur, his illegitimate son, manages to remove it, thus becoming the King of England. Years later, he marries Guinevere and gathers the Knights of the Round Table. But betrayal comes from his half-sister Morgana, whose son threatens the king’s future…
A Timeless and Unforgettable Work
Unlike most fantasy films of its time, which often rode the coattails of “Conan the Barbarian,” “Excalibur” established its uniqueness and left a lasting mark. Ironically, John Boorman was never able to adapt “The Lord of the Rings,” but this very impossibility led him to direct a film set in the Arthurian universe. Drawing inspiration from Thomas Malory’s compilation of novels “Le Morte d’Arthur” (1485), the director recreated a world that is enchanting, dreamlike, and brutal, where fates are decided through bloody battles. Certain scenes, like Arthur’s ride to his final battle set to Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” have become iconic.
While some special effects and sets may seem dated, the work of cinematographer Alex Thomson remains impressive and earned him his only Oscar nomination. The casting shines with performances by Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne, who were then at the beginnings of their careers, creating a memorable ensemble. However, it is Nicol Williamson as Merlin who leaves the deepest impression, and his subsequent film career never quite reached this pinnacle of talent again.
Today, despite the constant stream of new adaptations of the Arthurian legend in film and television, “Excalibur” remains an essential reference. Forty-four years after its release, Boorman’s film continues to be a model of what fantasy can offer at its most grandiose.
“Excalibur” is now available to rediscover on VOD.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.