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Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor
Feb 7 2013, 8:15pm
Post #1 of 37
(1047 views)
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What is your favourite film/TV adaptation of the King Arthur legend?
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There have been many attempts to bring the legendary King to life, some of which have been brilliant, and some of which have been...well cringe-worthy to say the least. Which one is your favourite?
My personal favourite is Excalibur, mostly because of the performance given by Nicol Williamson in the role of Merlin, who gives us a very different wizard: no white-bearded angelic figure, rather that of a mysterious and occasionally humorous riddler who always seems to be playing a deeper game. He is perfectly matched by Helen Mirren's Morgana, and their real-life dislike for one another turns into a gripping on-screen rivalry.
I have listed some of the more well-known films/series made on the subject, but as always there is an "other" option if you prefer one not listed.
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arithmancer
Grey Havens
Feb 7 2013, 8:22pm
Post #2 of 37
(732 views)
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I have seen only two of the above, Excalibur and Monty Python (which are both excellent for wildly different reasons).
However, in the category I would vote "Other", specifically, the 2001 TNT miniseries "The Mists of Avalon", an adaptation of Marion Zimmer Bradley's novel of the same name. The book is a long-time favorite, and the miniseries was a creditable adaptation.
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The White Wizard
The Shire
Feb 7 2013, 8:47pm
Post #3 of 37
(710 views)
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What do you mean when you say Merlin(TV series)? Do you mean the show on the Sci-Fi channel with Colin Morgan, Bradley Cooper, Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath, and Richard Wilson or do you mean another TV series called Merlin?
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Ardamírë
Valinor
Feb 7 2013, 8:48pm
Post #4 of 37
(717 views)
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Is it even possible to vote for anything other than Monty Python!? ;)
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Completely cringe-worthy through and through, but absolutely hilarious nonetheless! Probably one of the most ridiculous and dumb films I've seen, but enjoyable and definitely memorable 
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Angharad73
Rohan
Feb 7 2013, 8:55pm
Post #5 of 37
(716 views)
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Because I don't really like any of the adaptations that I know. I find the King Arthur legend immensely fascinating, but I haven't found any kind of movie/TV series yet that would do it justice.
Now, the Monty Python version is something else though
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Aragalen the Green
Gondor
Feb 7 2013, 9:14pm
Post #7 of 37
(690 views)
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I don't know if it's the best, but it is my favorite--even if the armor isn't from the correct time period. I love Nicol Williamson as Merlin, and of course Patrick Stewart as King Leondegrance! I admit, whenever I see Nigel Terry as Arthur I'm reminded of his role as Prince John in The Lion in Winter. And the main reason it's my favorite is it came out in 1981 (my senior year in High School), and a very nice young man took me on a date to see it--the same man who I'm now married to :) 
He also took me to see Dragonslayer--another one of my favorite movies :) Memories...
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Radagast-Aiwendil
Gondor
Feb 7 2013, 9:18pm
Post #8 of 37
(724 views)
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Yes I remember Nigel Terry from that film as well
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Brilliant film with great acting. I liked the way it seemed to follow on from the (also brilliant) Beckett film, as Peter O'Toole played the same character in both (if memory serves me correctly, it's been a long time).
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sevilodorf
Tol Eressea
Feb 8 2013, 4:18am
Post #10 of 37
(675 views)
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There's no movie version that measures up to my internal vision which leans heavily to Stewart's Crystal Cave version
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 8 2013, 6:46am
Post #11 of 37
(711 views)
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King Arthur (2004) and A Knight's Tale
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What's not to like about King Arthur (2004)? It features Ken Stott (hello), Ray Winstone, Stellan Skarsgard, Mads Mikkelsen, Til Schweiger, Ray Stevenson, Joel Edgerton and not a horrible performance by Keira Knightley. Actually I adore Mikkelsen's Tristan -- and he wields one of the sweetest looking swords I've ever seen on screen.
A Knight's Tale... sigh... I know it's even more loosely based on the legends than King Arthur (2004) was, but it's still one of my favourites. I think it was the first Heath Ledger film my love and I ever saw... we became instant fans... even the kids fell in love with him in that role.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 8 2013, 7:25am
Post #12 of 37
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None of the others do much for me one way or the other. As for the Merlin series on Sci-Fi (which started on BBC, I think?) I just couldn't get past the guy who plays young Merlin's mentor. It's the same guy who played the irascible Victor Meldrew on One Foot In The Grave. Every time he was on screen, I just imagined Victor Meldrew exclaiming grumpily, "I don't believe it!" 
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 8 2013, 7:33am
Post #13 of 37
(665 views)
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The writer really seems to have studied that time period, then just threw all that out the window and played. There were so many wonderful details that brought that era to life combined with all the silly but clever anachronisms. Lots of fun!
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Magpie
Immortal
Feb 8 2013, 2:52pm
Post #14 of 37
(677 views)
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I would never have put A Knight's Tale as an Arthur tale
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but I won't argue with your doing so.
AKT is one of the movies I'll watch over and over and over again. I really do love it. I have both versions (one has the deleted scenes in the extras and the other has them inserted back into the movie). And the commentary is just as entertaining as the movie. I will put it on while I clean, sometimes.
AKT is the only movie where I've hung out at the imdb boards besides LOTR as well. I don't anymore, but I did for awhile. That tells you how much I loved it.
I've always liked James Purefoy in that movie and wanted to see him in something else. Now he's in a tv show playing a serial killer... one of the few story lines I really can't deal with.
For the hot mess it is, I kind of like the 2004 Arthur. Isn't it funny what we can overlook when we have some affection for something... Woads? Really? You list of actors was missing pretty Welsh boy, Ioan Gruffudd. Never bad on the eyes. And I like Keira Knightley in quite a few movies.
I saw Excaliber when it was first released and although I had an interest in Arthur stories, I don't remember falling in love with it.
I tried to rewatch it recently and I'm struck - when pulling up older movies - how fast I want things to get rolling these days. Older movies were content to have really slow starts. Excaliber starts with some harem type girl dancing. The costuming and definitely the dancing (and maybe the music? can't remember) seemed heavily influence by the times by which I mean: hippie! And this hippie dancing went on and on and on. I couldn't bear it and found something else to watch. I suspect I will never rewatch Excaliber.
The Wackiest Arthur stories I've read: King Arthur in space, the Keltiad series by Patricia Kennealy who is kind of wacky herself. It was an interesting premise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keltiad
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 8 2013, 5:22pm
Post #15 of 37
(667 views)
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AKT is a long treatise on what it means to be supposedly low born but the only one who can pull the fabled sword from the stone -- to be the truest knight in the land. About the closest it strays to specifics from the Arthur legends though, is he was given to a Sir Ector, to be raised by him, in his youth (Arthur was given to Sir Hector by Merlin as a babe.) Come to think of it, I haven't read any Chaucer on King Arthur, so maybe there are more nods than I'm aware of.
I liked James Purefoy as the Black Prince too. Did you know he was a top contender to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond? But then Daniel Craig got the job (to everyone's surprise)... now he, apparently, wants to pass on the mantle to Robert Pattinson soon.
(Further aside, it's surprising how key actors from both AKT and King Arthur have kind of fallen off, while the supporting actors, almost to a man, have nice little careers going presently. The star that shines brightest etc I guess.)
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Feb 8 2013, 5:25pm)
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Magpie
Immortal
Feb 8 2013, 5:36pm
Post #16 of 37
(680 views)
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I was thinking about this recently.
I think studios want someone to sell the movie. A well known name that is popular or proven. (not always the same thing)
Those people tend to be slightly older actors. (and I'm using 'older' in a way a studio would use it) But then they need that fresh, young face that will cause people to sit up and take notice.
It's interesting to see actors (M & F) go through the fresh, young face stage and then, perhaps onto the established, known, proven face stage.
Unfortunately, roles past this slightly older, proven stage drop off and it's only the cream of the crop that find work once they reach a certain age. So we just don't see lots of people once they get older. (and, I think some of them move to the other side of the camera)
And those in the fresh, young face stage move up (if they're lucky and/or talented) to the featured, established role.
So it looks like they are 'doing better' while the name stars might look like they're falling off. But I think a lot of it is how the industry works.
The movie (trailer) that got me thinking this? Jack the Giant Slayer.
Established, proven name that is slightly older: Ewan McGregor (he's promoting the movie)
Young, fresh face: Nicholas Hoult (from Warm Bodies and About a Boy)
Even older, recognizable faces that won't necessarily sell a movie anymore but familiar and comforting nonetheless: Stanley Tucci and Bill Nighy
This movie has a lot of people I'm ready to watch including Ian McShane. It looks really, really geared to be a 3D ride extravaganza, though. I hope there's some amount of enjoyable plot otherwise since I wouldn't be watching it in 3D.
God help the boy but Robert Pattinson just makes me shudder. He would have a huge hurdle to jump for me to buy him as James Bond.
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Kassandros
Rohan
Feb 8 2013, 9:54pm
Post #17 of 37
(692 views)
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Those are two words I'd never used to describe Holy Grail. I can't ever remember cringing while watching it.
I do find Holy Grail to be the best example of a work that was ruined by its own popularity, though. It is so thoroughly over-quoted in geek circles that is nearly impossible to watch or reference because every last joke from it has been overdone about a thousand times over. And yet, taken on its own, it's one of the funniest movies of all time. So funny that it became one of the most popular comedies ever and so all of its jokes are now completely stale. I know people who never got to properly enjoy the movie because they had already heard all of the jokes dozens of times over beforehand.
If you like the Monty Python brand of humor, it's far fresher to quote Flying Circus or one of their other movies, though Life of Brian suffers some of the same problems. But, for example, if someone says "No 1, the Larch" in an appropriate context, that's going to be much funnier than someone saying "That's merely a flesh wound!" Similarly, watching the appropriate epsidoe of MPFC and hearing the original Larch jokes will be much more enjoyable than watching MPHG and seeing the Black Knight scene.
Regardless, I still consider MPHG one of the greatest of all comedies and selected it here.
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Ardamírë
Valinor
Feb 8 2013, 10:32pm
Post #18 of 37
(696 views)
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that the cringing isn't in a bad way. And I certainly find it dumb, though humorously so. I must admit, though, that I'm one of those who had heard most of the jokes before seeing it.
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JWPlatt
Grey Havens
Feb 8 2013, 11:23pm
Post #19 of 37
(665 views)
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My vote is for Excalibur also.
Despite its own appeal, I would disqualify Monthy Python and the Holy Grail for not being a serious treatment. It's a better fit for "favorite parody" of the Camelot tale - a different question.
You mentioned going to see Excalibur on a date with your to-be husband. The only reason I do not show Excalibur to my younger children, no matter how much I'd like to, is because of what is essentially a rape scene with Uther taking Igraine (for all intents regardless of who Igraine believed he was). Offhand, I don't recall anything else terribly objectionable - not the violence nor even Lancelot lying naked in the forest with Guinevere, because that was loving and beautiful. But it makes me wonder if Uther taking Igraine perhaps caused a bit of squirming for you and your boyfriend on a date in your youth? I would have been self-conscious.
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Aragalen the Green
Gondor
Feb 8 2013, 11:37pm
Post #20 of 37
(649 views)
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I was raised in a religious household, and yes, I blushed a lot (luckily the theater was dark) and just waited until those bits were over--I think he did the same thing! He hadn't seen it before either so I don't think he was expecting those scenes. 
We didn't get a DVD copy until quite recently, so when we watched it again my children were grown. And actually I still get embarrassed.
I agree with you about Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I absolutely love it, but consider it more of a parody, as you said. However, I do enjoy watching it with Subtitles for People Who Don't Like the Film (taken from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part II).
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 8 2013, 11:40pm
Post #21 of 37
(765 views)
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Camelot (2011-) is an HBO-style prime-time-serial-drama of which I've managed to miss every episode (currently in its second season I think.) I plan to check it out the next time I get a chance, and if it's not bad shell for a season on DVD to catch up.
I mention it at all in case anyone is interested. (Here is the IMDb listing.) What I have seen in previews and promotional material looks top shelf, though it seems made for a younger audience. I always think of Arthur and his knights as my elders, and likely will for all of my remaining years, if I can help it. 
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Feb 8 2013, 11:45pm)
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 10 2013, 4:37am
Post #22 of 37
(655 views)
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Episode 1 is not bad. The sets and costumes are convincing, though the actors will take some getting used to. I can tell already that Morgan le Fay (Eva Green) has a more prominent role than in the romances, but so far hasn't done anything one wouldn't expect of her, knowing her history.
Magpie may be interested to learn that James Purefoy is in this series as well (there's a coincidence for you), playing King Lot.
It seems the series has been or is under threat of being cancelled. Too rebooty I guess... I'll judge for myself.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 10 2013, 5:48am
Post #23 of 37
(693 views)
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Sometimes there's just no substitute
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for quotes like, "That's merely a flesh wound." I understand what you mean about being over-quoted, but I don't think you should necessarily avoid riffing on MPHG just because it isn't original. Used sparingly and in unexpected situations, lines from HG and LoB can still get a chuckle. And believe me, life is just way too short to worry about being fresh and cool. 
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Magpie
Immortal
Feb 10 2013, 4:33pm
Post #24 of 37
(623 views)
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I once responded to a job posting that asked for...
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resume
portfolio samples
airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow
So, I wrote a note as an email with my cover letter, resume, and samples attached and said as an 'after thought' in the email, "Oh.. as to the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow, would that be African or European?" And then I added a little image from the movie of that question being asked.
In my attached cover letter, I added as a p.s: In regards to the question of the swallow… if the swallow were European, which we might assume given the character of King Arthur, then estimates would place its velocity at 8-11 meters per second.
I got extra points for the answer and the image but I didn't get the job.
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Magpie
Immortal
Feb 10 2013, 4:41pm
Post #25 of 37
(631 views)
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netflix's guess at 'my' rating is 2.5 out of 5.
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however the actual average is 4 out of 5. I'm not sure why they think I will like it less than the average.
But I'll stick it in my queue.
dang... I thought the Robin Hood tv series reboot was really out there but it had it's enjoyable moments.
On the subject of Camelot, I had a friend who worked as an usher at the major fine arts venue in St. Paul. She often got comp tickets and I'd go with her to shows. One of them was a staging of the Lerner and Loewe play, Camelot, starring Michael York.
Now, I grew up listening to the songs from Camelot and Michael York in Zefferelli's Romeo & Juliet was an early crush of mine.
The play was not that good. York was not good and he has not aged well. And the only thing sadder than seeing a teen age crush 40 years later aging badly is to know you haven't aged any better than he!
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JWPlatt
Grey Havens
Feb 10 2013, 5:03pm
Post #26 of 37
(493 views)
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Michael York guest starred in an episode of Babylon 5, "A Late Delivery From Avalon," as a "delusion-ridden Earthforce gunner" who believed he was King Arthur. The episode played on a number of themes from the Authurian legend.
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 11 2013, 7:56am
Post #27 of 37
(434 views)
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I wonder how many applicants got that?
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And how many bothered to answer? Too bad you didn't get the job, though. It seems like it might have been a fun place to work.
I'm so used to hanging out with the sort of people who love Monty Python that I sometimes forget that not everyone does. I had a French professor once who was always going off on Monty Python and Hitchhikers' Guide tangents, but I was about the only one in class who got them. It may have been that, because he was a visiting professor from Oxford, no one expected him to have a goofy sense of humor. Or maybe they just had no clue what he was going on about and just chalked it up to British eccentricity.
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 11 2013, 2:42pm
Post #28 of 37
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And sometimes people are only interested in what's gonna be on the quiz
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gah I hated those kind of classes.
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batik
Tol Eressea
Feb 12 2013, 12:39am
Post #29 of 37
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Mists of Avalon for me, too...
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and I did like the other mini-series (??) "Merlin" with ...the guy who played Dr. Grant in Jurassic Park (I am drawing black on his name!) And...my son had a role in Camelot about a decade ago so I am partial to that version, too.
" If ever I would leave you - It wouldn't be in summer..." (sigh....whadda song!) For the most part, 2-3 hour films haven't done the legend justice so I will leave those off my favorites list.
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Donry
Tol Eressea
Feb 12 2013, 2:40am
Post #30 of 37
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Python! Python! Python! Python!
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zarabia
Tol Eressea
Feb 13 2013, 7:32am
Post #31 of 37
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Annael
Immortal
Feb 13 2013, 8:44pm
Post #32 of 37
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to me, "A Knight's Tale" falls squarely in the "guilty pleasure" category. Ridiculous story, but who cares with all that eye candy?
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Magpie
Immortal
Feb 13 2013, 11:10pm
Post #34 of 37
(395 views)
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as I age, my patience with some things grows... with other things wanes.
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and I did give Denny's another chance but they mostly blew it.
It's not the sort of thing that makes me second guess myself.
(This post was edited by Magpie on Feb 13 2013, 11:13pm)
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Spencissimus
Lorien
Feb 15 2013, 1:24pm
Post #35 of 37
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I went with The Sword in the Stone
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Mostly because it was the first interpretation of the Arthur myth that I was exposed to as a young kid. My favourite adaptation of the legend however, is found in a series of books, namely Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles (which would make an absolutely brilliant miniseries, as with all his work...it's a shame the Sharpe books have been the only stoires of his to be adapted).
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Feb 26 2013, 3:15am
Post #36 of 37
(381 views)
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How could we forget this gem with James Franco (before the fall) as Tristan, Sophia Myles as the gorgeous Isolde, Rufus Sewel as King Marke, and featuring Mark Strong and David O'Hara in key roles. The movie features Morholt as well... his arc playing closer to the usual tale than either Tristan, Isolde or Marke's.
Although King Arthur is not in this movie, Tristan and Isolde is usually recognized as part of the set of stories comprising the standard Arthur legend. In Le Morte D'Arthur, and derivative versions, Tristan (Sir Tristram de Lyonese) is considered to be a knight of the Table Round. Actually it is believed that the tale of Tristan and Isolde (in its many forms) pre-dates Arthur legend, and inspired the Lancelot, Guinevere, Arthur love triangle.
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Fredeghar Wayfarer
Lorien
Feb 26 2013, 11:04am
Post #37 of 37
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My favorite is the musical version of Camelot. I grew up in a family of theater geeks so I have a fondness for musicals. The songs are great and Richard Harris is an excellent Arthur. Also, it's based on The Once and Future King, which in turn is based on Le Morte D'Arthur, so it syncs up pretty well with the version of the story I'm used to. Many other adaptations feel the need to change things and offer a new spin on the legend. Sometimes that works but more often than not, it just aggravates the purist in me.
Disney's The Sword in the Stone would be a close second, mainly for the wizard's duel with Madam Mim.
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