Excalibur

Few people know that Boorman was originally going to make a Lord of the Rings film, but changed his mind at the last minute and ended up using some of the costumes and armour for the Tolkien adaptation in Excalibur. For the viewers, that’s great. The Arthurian legend could not have been filmed better than Boorman did, and it is unlikely to be surpassed in the future. Also thanks to the music, starting with Wagner and ending with Orff, the perfect production design and the overall magical atmosphere. (11.05.2003)

A classic fantasy of the highest possible level. Nowadays, it might feel a little silly, but it had to be pretty epic back then. Especially the war scenes were flawless. Sure, it had a greater impact on me when I was a kid, but I still think that as far as fantasy goes, Excalibur is unparalleled. (24.04.2018)

Fantasie, wie sie sein sollte. Wenn man unbedingt auf historischer Authentizität besteht, dann kann man Excalibur als eine gottverdammte Fiktion bezeichnen, in der absolut nichts der Zeit entspricht, aber Boorman hat aus der Legende ein stimmungsvolles Spektakel gemacht, das sich nicht lumpen lässt. Dieser Fantasieflug ist wohl kaum zu toppen, auch wenn er in manchen Momenten recht witzig ist (Sex in einer Rüstung gehört zum goldenen Fundus der Film-Erotik :o)))). Orffs Musik ist kraftvoll, die visuelle Gestaltung beeindruckend, die Schauspieler sind sehr gut und die Geschichte... ich glaube, man wird nie genug davon hören und sehen können. (09.06.2004)

Excalibur is considered by my generation as the first contact with the fantasy genre, and its influence on shaping the ideas of Western cinema fans was undeniable and very strong. This can reliably be traced in nostalgic comments made by others. During my youth, questioning the quality of Excalibur was unthinkable, but it's 2019 and everything is different now. Anachronisms in weaponry and attire leave me unfazed this time, as it is after all a fairy tale and not a historical story. The omnipresent clumsiness, whether it concerns the way the Arthurian legend is told, the theatrical performances of the actors led by Nigel Terry, or the movements of the extras in shiny metal imitations of armor, is undeniable and at times truly painful. Where the film strives to be enchanting and mystical, it now appears kitschy and unintentionally funny. The music has withstood the test of time, and the camera can leave a decent impression, but otherwise, there are few reasons to revisit Excalibur. Within the genre, not only the adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones have convincingly surpassed it, but also a number of other lesser-known projects. Overall impression: 55%. The lackadaisical nature of Boorman's direction is evidenced by a scene where two running knights have lit cigarettes in their mouths... (12.11.2019)

As far as the content of the legend is concerned, Excalibur is quite possibly the best adaptation. However, the excessive stiffness and lack of credibility of the sets and action scenes put me off. As a result, this is the adaptation of the famous story of King Arthur I’ve liked the least. (18.12.2005)

Einige sehr gute oder sogar ausgezeichnete Szenen (der Kampf von Artus mit Lancelot, Parsifals Suche und Fund des Grals…) werden auf eine unangenehme Art und Weise durch ausgesprochen langweilige Szenen verdorben, bei denen es mir schwer fiel, nicht nach der Fernbedienung zu greifen und die langwierige Handlung ein bisschen voranzutreiben. Das gleiche gilt bei den Schauspielerinnen und Schauspielern. Manche spielen gut, manche übertreiben. Die Musik ist nur dann gut, wenn Wagner oder Orff (Pardon, Trevor Jones) donnern. Die Ausstattung sieht manchmal überwältigend aus, manchmal verdächtig billig und fast montypythonartig. Mit dem gepriesenen Excalibur bin ich in jeder Hinsicht nur halb zufrieden. (23.11.2014)

Borefest. The narrative is somewhat disjointed and uninteresting in the spoken sequences, while the action scenes are shot in a confused manner and it’s difficult to navigate them. On the other hand, great praise should be given to the impressive fantasy atmosphere, the wonderful music by Trevor Jones and the cast, which saves everything. Otherwise, this famous film is probably a legend only for those who rode it back in the 80s, nowadays is nothing but a faded trophy. (02.05.2013)

For me, this isn't the ultimate version of the Arthurian legend, but it's pretty close. I can't help it, I always preferred this legend with a greater amount of fantasy elements. It just works for me. And probably less God, but it's clear that the topic will simply belong to the Holy Grail. Still excellent after all these years. (16.11.2016)