Jonathan slayed by EXCALIBUR (1982) Movie Reaction FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

This is a very underrated movie by John Boorman. Music, costumes, story... absolutely all works here. By far, for me, the best film about King Arthur ever.

[@anibalconcha6612]

And the Wagner's music gives it that touch of mystery and grandeur.

[@carlossaraiva8213]

Absolutly.

[@stuartburns8657]

I think the bit where Lancelot returns near the end, and shouts for Arthur always gives me a lump in my throat.

[@zzygyy]

It's far from being underrated. This whole underrated meta is hilarious. This movie was nominated for best picture by the academy. Far from being underrated.

[@matthewfisher-sp5fq]

I totally agree with you .😊

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

"Ready my knights for battle. They will ride with their King once more. I've lived through others far too long. Lancelot carried my honor, and Guinevere, my guilt. Mordred bore my sins. My Knight have fought my causes. Now my brother, I shall be... King!"

[@robq73]

I've seen this movie over 20 times and it just gets better each time. What a combination of rich symbolism, ancient archetypes, lush atmosphere, operatic and majestic music, foundational mythology, and timeless themes of good and evil. It overwhelms the senses. Boorman took the sprawling Arthurian legend and created an immersive world that directors with CGI will never match. Can you imagine what a man of his talent and vision could have done with LotR?

[@stephendeluca4479]

I saw it 36 times in the theaters when it came out and am over 50 viewings now and I still see different things each time I watch it. It still packs a wallop.

[@victorsixtythree]

The use of the music of Wagner and Carl Orff's 'O Fortuna' from 'Carmina Burana' is pure EPICNESS!

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

Still the most beautiful scene is when the elder Arthur and his Knights are riding and the flowers grow again, covering the knights with beautiful blooms.

[@chriskenney4234]

The music playing with it too, amazing.

[@NemeanLion-]

A pleasure to watch this movie with someone of a younger generation who has the ability to appreciate it. Thank you very much for the experience. 👍

[@VallaMusic]

"What's this !?! I never saw this !" Mind is blown when a human does something so great and noble that even the wisest wizard could not have imagined it.

[@goldenager59]

It was, without doubt, an insanely daring and fiendishly clever thing to do, leaving the choice to Uryens. Arthur trusted in his destiny, and his rival had to decide - before witnesses - just what move a knight who would be King must make. And the right move it was - showing that, all things being otherwise, he'd have been an okay King too. ☺️

[@BigGator5]

"Now, once more, I must ride with my knights to defend what was and the dream of what could be." Fun Fact: Theatrical movie debuts for Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Ciarán Hinds, and Cherie Lunghi. Family Affair Fact: Igrayne, The Lady Of The Lake, and young Mordred were played by writer, producer, and director Sir John Boorman's real-life children: Katrine Boorman, Telsche Boorman, and Charley Boorman. Good Friemenies Fact: Dame Helen Mirren and Nicol Williamson were initially reluctant to work with each other. They'd been in a previous disastrous production and were not on speaking terms. Writer, producer, and director Sir John Boorman cast them because their natural animosity would be perfect. According to Mirren, she and Williamson "wound up becoming very good friends" during filming. Armor Up Fact: All of the armor used in the movie was hand made out of aluminium, primarily by British armorer Terry English. English custom-fit the suits of armor for the principal characters, but kept the overall style the same for members of different groups, especially prominent in the nearly "uniform" armor of the Knights of the Round Table. English can be seen in the movie during the tournament scenes. He is the blacksmith who looks up at Arthur (Nigel Terry) when the future King is chasing a thief and stops to contemplate filching a sword from the armorers' tent.

[@YolandaAnneBrown95726]

I was around 15 when I saw this and have been in love with it ever since. So many stars in this one: Patrick Steward, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne...it gets better with age.

[@victorsixtythree]

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."

[@aztecgold8997]

Are you sure..??? Couldn't be any worse.....

[@rocketmunkey1]

Monty python LOL but in seriousness since the Lady of Lake choses solely on the basis of truth and Honour, rather than corruption greed blackmail and stupidity, all wrapped up in a false Dichotomy of deception, that we call the Lie of "democracy", I think I'll choose the Lady of the Lake.

[@tremorsfan]

Help help I'm being repressed.

[@brewswillis9783]

I could do with a "moistened bint" right about now. lol

[@Nergalsama01]

As a strange woman habitually lying in a pond, I would beg to differ. It's quite relaxing, for one. Also, we merely give out the swords. We are not responsible what you silly mortals do with them afterwards.

[@KittyBoom360]

Hey, since you asked, this was my first introduction to King Arthur. I saw this in a drive-in theater as a double-feature, Excalibur (1981) and DragonSlayer (1981), from my aunt's truck bed filled with blankets and pillows, along with my siblings and cousins. I was 10-years-old!

[@Dystopia1111]

So many awesome fantasy films from that early 80s era. Excalibur, Conan the Barbarian, Dragonslayer, Beastmaster, Sword and the Sorcerer, Krull. Damn I miss the 80s, a lot more fun than the 2020s in so many ways.

[@rabbitandcrow]

That’s an amazing double feature.

[@alleygh0st]

That's a great memory to hold!

[@seanbumstead1250]

This is one of my top 5 movies of all time and I have watched probably close to 500 movies from the 50s to present day

[@archangelmusic13]

the 1930's is the best decade for movies, excalibur is in my top 10 all time not top 5.

[@Hernal03]

This is also easily one of my Top 5 movies and I have watched will over 2700 movies from the 20's through to the present. Yes, I am an old man.

[@archangelmusic13]

@@Hernal03 this is in my top 10 not top 5.i think the 1930's had the best decade for movies. excalibur was and still is the best king arthur movie to date.the actor who played merlin especially was great in this.

[@TomCat777]

This movie is one of the most overlooked and underrated in history. The music is it's own character in the movie

[@zzygyy]

This movie was nominated for best picture. It's a quality product from day one

[@svan81]

@@zzygyy no, it wasn't.

[@GenXCellent1970]

​​Absolute fave, saw as a kid on HBO, and watch it regularly. It never gets old. They don't make em like this much anymore, except for the MIddle Earth Trilogy. Pure classic.

[@reesebn38]

It's good to see a younger generation enjoying this film. I saw it in the theatre. I think Excalibur is the best version of the King Arthur tale.

[@jatilq]

Crazy I watched this when it first came out. “Guards, knights, squires… prepare for battle!”

[@AndyHarrisGoogle]

Boorman initially wanted to make The Lord of The Rings, worked on a treatment and corresponded with Tolkien. When no studio would back the project, he turned to the headfuck sci fi of Zardoz, but then made Excalibur instead of LOTR (the Godhead design in Zardoz recalls Mordred’s helmet design). Boorman used aspects of all Arthurian cycles in the script. The idea that “the land and the king are one” is from the Fisher King from Chrétien de Troyes which influenced Mallory’s “Morte D’Arthur”. The ship at the end is taking Arthur to the Vale of Avalon, where he rests until he is called upon again by Britain in its Hour of Need. Avalon is believed to be Glastonbury and you can see the influence on Tolkien’s Grey Havens.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

I was a little surprised that he didn’t know that Arthur was being taken to Avalon. He seemed to be aware enough of the general story that I figured he’d touch on it, as well as the ‘King That is Promised’ aspect of the tale.

[@tremorsfan]

Boorman's Lord of the Rings would have included Frodo having sex with Galadrial in order to see into the sacred pool. Also, in order to get the password to the Mines of Moria they would have thrown Gimli in a sack and beaten him with sticks.

[@AndyHarrisGoogle]

Terrific movie. The Wagner soundtrack works very well. A foundational movie for so much British and Irish acting talent. Nicol Williamson is the definitive Merlin.

[@klass_1221]

This started my fandom for fantasy genre (kid in the early-80s). Excalibur, Clash of the Titans, Dragonslayer, The Sword and the Sorcerer, The Beastmaster, Conan the Barbarian, Krull (yes, it is fantasy. Mixed with space sci-fi genre).

[@jalkabre5904]

Every one of those films is a classic. Great taste in movies.

[@eddhardy1054]

4:13...No mate, as far as I'm aware most of the armour was genuine. Boorman had a load of blacksmiths nearby who at the end of a day's shooting would hammer all the suits back into shape...oh and most people came for Helen Mirren ggrrrrr.

[@15blackshirt]

Uther is played by Gabriel Byrne, who's also in The Usual Suspects, End of Days and Vikings. This was one of Liam Neeson's earliest film roles. Another film with Merlin actor Nicol Williamson is Spawn

[@Dystopia1111]

He did a nice job on those early episodes of Vikings. It's hard to make a character (Jarl Haroldsson) seem villainous and sympathetic at the same time, but he pulled it off well.

[@domingocurbelomorales8635]

At the end, the three fairies escort King Arthur´s body, over a golden bed, to the fogs of Avalon. In there, he would be buried.

[@redemissarium]

another thing that similar to tolkien LOTR, in the end the main character goes to uniknown land. The difference frodo goes to final land alive, arthur goes to final land as dead bodies

[@deanzalis6715]

Faries?? Those my friend are VALERIES escorting Arthur to paradise

[@lauriivey7801]

@@deanzalis6715 They are women of Avalon ... priestesses??

[@deanzalis6715]

@lauriivey7801 Yes, you are correct

[@lauriivey7801]

@@deanzalis6715 I love how they kept the mystery of them, and didn't give too many details ... just females in white robes

[@walterlewis1526]

Boorman is so underrated today. Point Blank, Deliverance, Hope and Glory, The Emerald Forest, all are worth watching. (Zardoz too, but that's pretty crazy)

[@Dystopia1111]

Zardoz is an absolute acid trip of a movie.

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

Do not forget Exorcist II The Heretic, you heretic. How dare you call Zardos crazy and not mention The Worst Sequel of All Time. Also, there is the classic WWII film Hell In The Pacific. The ending for that one will blow you away. Along with Excalibur, I love Excorcist II. Call me crazy.

[@walterlewis1526]

@@edwardtoyebo9690 You're not crazy. I saw Exorcist 2 on first release. I thoroughly enjoyed its craziness. I thought for most people, it would be a bridge too far. The worst sequel for my money is Another 48 Hours.

[@stephendeluca4479]

Zardoz is a spot-on lambasting of the illuminati communist elite class and the stratification of society - them vs. the working class. One of the times I saw it at a revival theater in Manhattan we were sitting behind two guys who sat there hooting at the film and making fun of Connery in his red loincloth. What they didn't realize was that THEY were exactly those people the film was making fun of.

[@jpoptop]

It was an utter joy watching this masterpiece with you! This has been the ultimate Authurian movie for me ever since I first saw it in the theater and has been ever since. No other movie comes close. John Boorman really outdid himself with this film and gave us a truly timeless classic.

[@rxlxviii]

Someone finally reacted to this movie. This is the most complete story done on film. It would be nice if some director who is true to the original story makes an updated version but with the complete story. The film, however, does a pretty good job in telling as much of the story as possible in the time allotted. My first exposure to the King Arthur legend was from my 7th grade teacher who gave us Idylls Of The King to read as part of the cirriculum.

[@meowenstein]

One of my favourites! I can't believe so few reactors watch this one.

[@phila3884]

Yeah, I know only one other that has done it, at least with more than 1000 followers....

[@michaelcoffey1991]

My favorite Arthur legend film by far, the music, the costumes, the actors, Merlin eats up the scenes

[@goldenager59]

Roger Ebert saw Merlin as a sort of Noel Coward of medieval days, ready with a _bon mot_ for all occasions. 😁

[@lsu1992]

I was 11 when this was finally released on VHS, and my Mom gave it to me for Christmas. My best friend had Wierd Science. We watched Excalibur over and over and to this day, 40 years later, I can sit and watch it all the way through with full feels.

[@tn_bayouwulf2949]

I saw this at the Base theater at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and was I convinced that it was the greatest film of all time. Yes, the Shakespearian acting can be a bit over the top but, I loved it regardless. And it definitely left me with a "pining" for Dame Helen Mirren!

[@StoriesThatSuck-pw1vi]

It makes me so happy to see people reacting to this movie. I can't even remember how many times I saw this in the theater and it's always been a favorite of mine. In answer to your question, I have no idea where I first encountered the Arthurian mythos -- I was *really* young I think. It was probably via the Disney movie.

[@MrLivewire1970]

I still own the laser disc of this movie. I have always loved this film. Anyone that bought the LP of the soundtrack has a valuable and rare collectable.

[@williamhowells7777]

Refreshing to hear someone who totally "gets it" when it comes to the epic nature and grand scale of this movie's storytelling. Really enjoyed how invested and engaged you were in your reaction. Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. Thanks for sharing...

[@renaissancepoet]

Excalibur is my favorite film about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table! Unfortunately, this movie couldn't be made today.

[@slimbombur7922]

I love this movie. The quote from Arthur when he refuse to champion Guinevere. "My laws must bind everyone, high and low, or they're not laws at all" That is something we should live by every today. Timeless values.

[@johnmaynardable]

I grew up having read the story of King Arthur and Excalibur. I was 23 y.o. when this movie came out and saw it multiple times. I was already a fan of John Boorman, thanks to Deliverance. This film introduced me to so many great actors and artists. In Holy Grail, and almost every Monty Python project, the vast majority of the memorable roles are played by Monty Python members. There were only 6 men that formed the group. In Holy Grail John Cleese played Tim the Enchanter, Lancelot, the Black Knight and many others. Terry Gilliam, the sole American in the group, is the man that does all of the animations, he also plays the wizard that quizzes the knights to cross the bridge, he's also King Arthur's horse and many others. Also Holy Grail was released 7 years before this film. It was influenced by the legend, not by this film.

[@cFull_Rtrd]

Percival is probably my favorite character of all time. You don't expect much out of him at first and then he ends up being the best knight out of all of them.

[@firedoc5]

One of my all-time favorite movies, at least top 5. It is the truest to the actual Arthurian legend put on film and was based on a few different collective stories not just one or two. The musical score along with the visuals is just brilliant. Something of interest, Merlin is not a name, it is a title. Much of the legend is Welsh, and visiting Wales is on my ancestorial bucket list along with Scotland and Ireland.

[@goldenager59]

Isn't "Myrddin" closer to what it would have been in actuality? (I know it's a spelling used occasionally by scholars, anyway.) 🤨

[@firedoc5]

@@goldenager59 With what very little I've picked up of Welsh names from my ancestry research, it seems about right.

[@goldenager59]

@@firedoc5 It's always a relief to find that my information is reasonably in order. 🤓

[@firedoc5]

@@goldenager59 Know what you mean.

[@williamburnham3659]

Nicol Williamson was a fine actor 😊😊😊

[@mikefoster6018]

I'm 49 and can't think of any movie that just sends my heart back to that precious time, maybe when I was 12 or so, when the world around me felt like it was humming with wonderful stuff about monsters, myth and magic. Because it (and similar sources) were SO good, that feeling's still inside me. I'm not superstitious or religious, but there's just a sense of the quest about the world. Nobility and sacrifice. The land and the king are one. Sleep - sleep in the arms of the dragon. The director John Boorman did many great films about a sort of quest and transformation.

[@Mikearice1]

Egraine in the film was the director's daughter.

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

Seeing Excalibur in a theater was an event. When Lancelot appears out of the fog to aide his fellow nights one last time, the audience erupted into cheers. The dialogue can get a little clunky, but, everything else about Excalibur is outstanding film making. I have not read the story, nor have I seen other film interpretations. Not necessary.. This film, for me, is the best interpretation of the King Arthur legend. The final shots, especially when Excalibur is seen one last time, are magnificent. Kudos to the soundtrack. This one is in my top five favorite films.

[@aerochicc]

This movie will never be beat. It IS a 10. One of my favorite movies of all time. John Boorman stayed true to the story and his vision. People forget it was rated R back in the day.

[@satyadasgumbyji8956]

Right On! Did somebody here "hear" me? Im the 70s kid deathly allergic to cgi.😅 100's of millions to make movies just waiting on next pixel to drop not art to me. Could you imagine those millions, along with the lost decades, invested in special & practical effects? I couldn't make it past first hour of Lord Of The Rings the dozen times i tried & tried, thinking dollars, green screens, & cgi cartoons. Yet if it was done by the guy who made this with ABSOLUTELY ZERO CGI, i know id love it like the kids do!😅 Is a shame. Saw this in theater when i was 9. Never cared for King Arthur "Renaissance" genre, but this blew my young mind & bacame an instant favorite. Thanks the reaction, friends! See ya! ✌️🌎❤️

[@Williameagleblanket]

Come Father, let us embrace. That line was cool in the movie. 🍿

[@Dystopia1111]

With Twilight of the Gods as soundtrack and a red sun low on the horizon behind them. Freaking perfect scene.

[@renaissancepoet]

Best film about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ever made!

[@195511SM]

Saw this a few times the it first hit theaters. I was blown away by the landscapes & all of that shiny chrome & the classical score.

[@kindnick58]

One of my favorites 🎉

[@shawnkroll3950]

Great reaction. This is my favorite King Arthur story not for Excalibur, because this shows Arthur as a wise king..who even stunned Merlin with his wise moments. Merlin had grown so used to warlords and not true good knights so seeing Arthur being a true knight. Arthur stating "the swords power was to unity all men not serve the vanity of one. Arthur dealing with the accusations on his wife and not letting emotion take hold..and that laws must apply to kings and peasant alike shows how such a good leader he was. Because if he defended her that would show bias. It sad we don't leaders like this today that realize being king/leader is to serve others not other way around. Also, Sir Percival was one of King Arthurs most honorable knights and finder of the grail because of his pure heart. He was born poor and was elevated to knight and completed many honorable deeds. Merlin was like a proud father in this story.

[@stevenprice8253]

You excised my favorite line! Mordred, as he and Arthur, weapons in hand, prepare to square off against each other: "Come, Father. Let us embrace at last."

[@TheHulk2008]

This is definitely the best of the films about King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. I remember seeing this in a United Artists theater and I absolutely loved seeing on the big screen. If you see a theater that is playing it definitely don't hesitate see it.

[@gerardcote8391]

The best thing about this film is how so many of yhe stars became big after this film. Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neason, Gabriel Burn.

[@WUStLBear82]

I saw this in 1981 with some college friends at a theater near campus and everyone liked it. It's visually striking and has a great score by Trevor Jones ( _The Last of the Mohicans_ , among other things), although he did borrow a bit from Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' and Richard Wagner's operas 'Tristan und Isolde' and 'Parsifal', both of which incorporate bits of Arthurian legend. There are multiple versions of the mythology in different European countries; this mostly follows the 15th-century _La Morte d'Arthur_ by Thomas Malory, with bits and pieces added from other sources. Plate armor didn't exist when the historical antecedents of the tale occurred, but did when this version was written. Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson hooked up during filming and then lived together for 4 years.

[@aklein7864]

This is classic "ending of the time of legends" fare. Merlin himself told us this when he said goodbye to Arthur. So, a lot of your expectations should be tempered by that. If the film touches you, you'll watch it every so often, and gain deeper understanding upon each viewing. Say what you want about filmmaking of the time, but few films of the current age leave so much to the mind of the audience. So, when it clicks with someone, it does so deeply. One of the most poignant scenes is when Arthur visits Gwenivere at the end. Arthur had long known that he must be king before husband, but at the end, he had the burden to be legend before man. All he could give her was the thought that he wished he could've been able to give himself only to her. "It is a dream I have". And then the boy she met and the man she married in his shining armor closes the door, and she knows she will never see him again. He was only legend to her, in a way. And now that he is gone for good, she is only left with memories, regret, and the long grey. All this is told in the light leaving her face. As a kid, there were many things that seemed disjointed at first, but became clearer through time. There was a cave under Camelot? It was a subtlety that escaped me. It might be clearer to modern audiences to think that Merlin created a portal of sorts through an ordinary door in the castle to "the coils of the dragon". Merlin was using the dragon's power to destroy Morganna, when the terrible tragedy occurred - Arthur is broken by betrayal, and his spiteful act thrusts into the "spine of the dragon". Therefore, Merlin himself is skewered, being one with the dragon in that moment. It helps to think of certain scenes as if you were watching a play. The whole tale blurs the lines between reality and legend, and purposefully so. The kids could say it's meta, in the way all great legends are told. Tolkien did this masterfully in his books (the films couldn't come close). If King Arthur once lived in our world, and if he were you, could you be as selfless? To give up all and do what must be done so that fair times won't be forgotten and may yet come again. To defend what was and the dream of what could be. Many people live by this example today.

[@IggyStardust1967]

39:00 - You asked "What does she (Morgana) gain by sowing dissent?" Remember, she was in the room when Arthur was conceived, she knew her father was dead and that it wasn't him forcing himself on her mother. While Arthur obviously wasn't at fault there, she holds him responsible because his father is long dead. You also asked why Arthur couldn't defend Guenevere's honour... that answer was stated outright: Being King, it is his responsibility to be the Judge over the contest. One cannot be both Participant AND Judge while claiming to be "unbiased". 40:40 - Yeah, that practical effect of Lancelot pulling his sword out of his own side.... to this very day I have no clue how they managed to do that. I studied movie effects, and can pull off some pretty good stuff myself when motivated to. But that one? Not a CLUE how they did that. I also think I'd rather keep it that way, as it keeps the magic of it alive. Remember, this was long before digital effects were anywhere close to realistic. 57:40 - OH! While I'm thinking of it... if you haven't seen the movie Dragonheart, I **HIGHLY** recommend it! As good as Excalibur is, Dragonheart actually pulls tears from my eyes, and I literally do NOT cry about movies. I'm 57 years old, and only two movies my entire life have made me cry: Dragonheart, and Clerks III. The latter because it hit really close to home (no spoilers) due to personal experiences. Also, I love how "into" not only this movie, but the genre as a whole that you are. As I said above, I'm 57 years old, which puts me as a teenager during the early/mid 1980s when Dungeons and Dragons was first very popular. My friends and I played it after school (in the building) until it was banned for a bunch of stupid reasons. I think you would have enjoyed living in that time period. After High School, I was still friends with a group of people who did "Padded Weapons Battles" either out in the wilderness (for realism) or in the car park at the local Photon establishment (talk about a contrast). 1:03:20 - Did you notice the blood red moon in the background? Also symbolic. 1:05:15 - Arthur's body being taken to Avalon, his final resting place. Post movie thoughts: I don't know where you might be able to find it on Streaming platforms, but there's a really good "Robin Hood" movie out there, that came out the year I was born. Nowhere near as brutal as this, but the storytelling is just fantastic. It's called "A Challenge For Robin Hood". I bought a copy of it on DVD some years back, and it was a Region 2... but a PC could play it if you change it's Region Code. I did "record" it on my PC, so I can view it anytime I wish without the DVD being in the drive. I could try to upload it to my other channel, in case it gets Copyrighted.... but only if you're interested in seeing it.

[@griselame]

poetry made in film, is what Excalibur is. There will never be another arthurian masterpiece like it. Also, 10 year old me watching this movie was absolutely blown away by it, and it started my love affair with arthuriana and the middle ages

[@chrislewis-n3v]

the scene where the lady catches the sword is one of the greatest in film history - i have watched it countless times and it gets to me every time

[@cinnamongirl5410]

I seen this movie when I was 12 in the theater. Best movie I EVER seen and I've seen it about 15 times since. Love it every time.

[@zzygyy]

Same. The 80s had great fantasy adventure movies.

[@jimmychonga69]

The boat at the end are the 3 sisters taking Arthur to the Isle of Avalon to rest until he is needed again.

[@rabbitandcrow]

Sorta Grey Havens vibes.

[@victorsixtythree]

We watched this multiple times on VHS tape back in the day...CLASSIC!

[@scotthockman3060]

Hey Bud! Super Glad you are checking out this movie for the first time! A Few Points of Interest... -The Armor worn by the Warriors Reflects both the Powers that are affecting them and the Land at the time(black for all of them before the Advent of christianity brought to the Land by Lancelot, then the switch to Silver/True Steel for the good guys after chivalry has taken over) -Also on the point of the armor, Later in the movie, the wear and tear of the armor is remeniscent of the Tarnishing of the pride of man during the Grail Quest, till Percival Sheds his earthly Trappings(aka his armor) to achieve worthiness to retrieve the grail... -Lastly for this thing, at the end when Arthur is on the boat after the battle of Camlan against mordred, you see him with three ladies hand in hand.. those are supposed to be reflective of BOTH the 3 Fairy Queens of Avalon, the Triple Femenine(of Early Celtic Christianity in britain), AAAAND the 3 Women who were at the crusifiction of Christ( Mary the Mother, Mary Magdelan, And Martha the Cousin of Jesus).... Hope these Little FActoids help inrich all your further watchings of this MASTERPIECE!! :D Cheers bro

[@JonInCanada1]

I was properly exposed to the Legend in 1975 in Paris, we read La Mort D'Arthur by Thomas Malory (published 1485 C.E.) in my Collège 4ème année (Grade 8 in the US) Literature Class. As for this particular film, it's considered to be one of the most faithful to the original work of Malory.

[@marthachlipala4538]

John Boorman's own son played the child Mordred. He grew up to ride motorcycles around the world with Obi Wan Kenobi, Ewan Mcgregor. If you enjoyed the look and art direction of this movie you will also like another Boorman file, The Emerald Forest. This movie was more based on Le Morte d’Arthur.

[@brt5273]

I was a freshman in highschool when this came out. My circle of friends were fanatics for all things medieval and renaissance. We were into Chaucer, Shakespeare, Mallory and often enacted scenes from their works as well as improvisational work, creating our own characters and such. This was before Renfaires, cosplay and D&D were such worldwide phenomena. We lived in the Midland/Odessa area and "The Globe of the Great Southwest " (look it up!) was a big part of our lives. We all went to see this film together and, for us, it was the LOtR of our time. Meant so much to us. Really great to get to experience it with your first time watch reaction❤

[@seankennedy4548]

Excalibur is one of my all-time favorites. Being a child of the 60s, the 80s fantasy films redefined classic fantasy. Arthur is based on numerous legends. Vintage in Cornwall is a locale for many of the myths, but so are Wales, Britain, and France. The earliest legendary being from the 6th and 7th centuries. This movie is more forced on Le Morte de Arthur which was written much later. If there was a historical Arthur, he wouldn't have been running around in plate mail.😂 It doesn't make the movie any less enjoyable. The armor for the film was all done in aluminum by Terry English. My first encounter with the Arthurian Legends was Disney's animated, Sword in the Stone. My first literary encounter was LeMorte de Arthur and then then some historical studies into medieval history. But when I was still in high school I joined the SCA and studied lots about the middle ages.

[@IsraelShekelberg]

I loved this legend from childhood and still do. I cannot even clearly recall how it was introduced to me. This film came out when I was 18 and it instantly became one of my favourite retellings. Tim the Enchanter in Monty Python's 'Holy Grail' is played by the great John Cleese. Nicol Williamson, who plays Merlin here, is notable, amongst other roles, in a sleeper film called 'Robin and Marion', which portrays Robin Hood and his men when they reach old age. Sean Connery plays Robin Hood. Williamson is Robin's companion Little John. The legend of Arthur per se came from the Britons, that is the ancient people of pre-Roman, Roman and post-Roman Britain. Wales is the present-day remnant of the Brittonic kingdoms. In the fifth century, most of Britain was still 'Wales' in that sense. You are right that mail would have been ubiquitous through most of military history. Full plate armour came in very close to 1500 AD -- some thousand years after the legend was generated. (But exactly the author Thomas Malory's time.) I have always appreciated the ways Boorman kept the writing very much in the 'mythick' zone. Britain or England are never once mentioned in the script, except insofar as 'Cornwall' is Igrayne's husband. The world is referred to as 'the Land.' While the film was based on Thomas Malory's 15th-century book and thus medieval legend, there has been some 'feedback' from 20th-century lore as well. Many of the parallels you mentioned all through the viewing are common to myth, but also run from other modern sources into this version. Tolkien, CS Lewis, Disney, Monty Python and Star Wars all precede this movie in time. Thus, for example, 'the Dragon' is a concept created for the script answering the Force of Star Wars. Love all of the comments drawing parallels between the various epics. (So I can forgive the GSU part. Go Dawgs.)

[@billyhaines4843]

This is my first experience of the King Arthur story and it’s a movie that I go back to ever so often. It’s a classic. There is so much great movie making in this film. John boorman made amazing films but this film takes the cake. Being English it has always been felt close to my heart. I believe I measure all fantasy movies to Excalibur. Why? No cgi just pure costume. The fighting is unbelievable and honest of the times it was drawing from. You don’t see that these days. And the score speaks for itself. Trevor jones is a genius also went on to do the last of the mohicans.

[@alundavies1016]

Nigel Terry and Nicol Williamson are fantastic in this. The rest of the cast, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren… really add to the epic feel. I always love the music most. Carmina Burana is almost overplayed in popular culture, but it really stirs the blood in this. Siegfried’s Funeral March just brings me to tears still, but is also hopeful and uplifting at the same time.

[@neils123]

Wow, you're the first reactor I've seen watch this movie. I grew up with this film, and it's one of my all-time favorites. My first exposure to Arthurian myth, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus, I'm sorry, King Arthur leading his knights into battle to the sound of "O Fortuna" is possibly the greatest musical cue in all of cinema. EDIT: I want to add that your commentary was excellent.

[@coachmikesfilmroom3111]

The knighting scene always gives me goosebumps

[@acereporter73]

Brings tears to my eyes. Uryens realizing who Arthur is and pledging himself--I could speak volumes comparing that to Peter Jackson's LOTR when Boromir *finally* recognizes Aragorn as his king.

[@keithjohnson971]

2 other great tellings of this story are Merlin, an NBC miniseries from 1998, and First Knight from 1995, which is a more Lancelot-centric version. Both have great casts.

[@kevinrodriguez5288]

You give exactly with the key. This movie is like a theater play. The most beautiful movie about King Arthur to this day

[@jalkabre5904]

One of my favorites, a cinematic masterpiece.

[@mjmullady]

I never get tired of this movie. It's such a fever dream but also so amazing. Really a classic

[@penguinsfan9192]

This is the best King Arthur movie. period.

[@miguelvelez7221]

Man, to be able to experience this for the first time. Happy to see someone who has obvious interest in this kind of story enjoy this movie without picking it apart. I don't want to sound like an old head but... They haven't matched this one yet in terms of Arthurian legend on film. On my list of best classic 80's sword and sorcery/fantasy: EXCALIBUR LADYHAWKE CONAN, THE BARBARIAN DRAGONSLAYER LEGEND DARK CRYSTAL This film operates on such an Ur mythic level it's also easy to see why it is difficult to capture its overall vibe. Maybe only a half madman like Boorman could make it work. Fun fact, Arthur's mother was played by Boorman's then 14 year old daughter.

[@VKayed]

Despite its shortcomings especially in the sfx department, I've never watched the faerie and magic pertaining to Arthurian legend so brilliantly rendered but in this movie, and I like how you characterized its moral essence. Good point too on the stagelike vibe: armors are anachronistic, lines are theatrical, and it's fine because it's just roman courtois put on screen. So few reactors to this great film, glad I found you!

[@davidfox5383]

This is probably the best movie about the Arthurian legend. That being said, my first exposure to it was through the musical Camelot.

[@IggyStardust1967]

This movie was epic before epic was even a thing. Without a doubt my favorite telling of the Arthurian legend. I first saw this movie on HBO during its initial run post-theatrical run. Been a huge fan of it ever since. Edit: Also, that's a kick-ass sword you have there, but it is not Excalibur. My first wife bought me a replica of Excalibur at a RenFest back in 2002, and it is a thing of beauty. Sharp as Hell, too.

[@chrism7395]

Love this movie, it's one of the few that actually keeps to the mythology. One of the things I love, as someone who grew up in Cornwall, is that the terrain looks like Wales and SW Britain (although it's filmed in Ireland). The location where Arthur grants Cornwall the land to the west looks like the upper reaches of the river Tamar, which is the border between Cornwall and Devon and Tintagel castle (where Arthur is said to have been conceived) is on a tidal island/headland off the coast just like in the film; they even got the rocky shingle beach below correct!

[@rg3388]

Over the years, I’ve had occasion to quote this film many times.

[@jacobwalsh1888]

Had Arthur championed Guinevere it would have meant the King was above the law, which in this Arthur strives for true justice.

[@goldenager59]

It's all but forgotten now, but in 1992 Nigel Terry and Cherie Lunghi were reunited on American television (ABC network) for the series *Covington Cross* (Saturdays, 8:00-9:00 p.m.), wherein Terry played Sir Thomas Grey, a 14th-century landowning widower in the days of Edward III (at least that was the scenario they started out with; concerns about audience carping over authenticity resulted in settling for a more indeterminate milieu). His three sons were Richard, Cedric, and Armus (Jonathan Firth, Glenn Quinn, and Tim Killick respectively) plus a spirited daughter, Eleanor (Ione Skye) who wields a wicked crossbow. And Lunghi essayed the rôle of Sir Thomas's Lady-friend, Elizabeth. I myself never watched any of the episodes (of which there were, regrettably, only thirteen) but the aim, apparently, was to show - with appropriate humor - that families are much the same everywhere, everywhen. (Certainly television ones are, at any rate - just how many widowed fathers with several children and a ladyfriend has TV seen, anyway?!) 🙄 😁

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thank you, Jonathan! ⚔ I watched this one so many times as a kid. All hail Helen Mirren as 'Morgana'.

[@victorsixtythree]

Zack Snyder's 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice' contained a few nods to 'Excalibur' - 'Excalibur' was playing in the theater that young Bruce Wayne and his parents went to on the night that his parents were killed. - at the end of the movie Superman stabs Doomsday with an Excalibur-like spear, but is himself impaled by Doomsday, just as Arthur and Mordred killed each other at the end of "Excalibur".

[@jayconant3816]

And the line at the end when bruce mentions the round table

[@njt2347]

Merlin being a bit goofy is because Boorman was well versed in Arthurian Legend. While most of the movie follows Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur" which is quite serious in tone, some of the older legends of Merlin depict him as a the classic archetype of the trickster who is hiding greater power. This similar to how they depict Odin wandering about the earth in some Norse Myths or as Yoda was depicted in Empire Strikes Back.

[@chompypunk890]

I've had seen many films about King Arthur and his knights. And I sure you you won't find other film like this. It"s so well done than even it was made 43 years ago(now in 2024); had get old so well then it feels actual. By the way at the end Arthur was taken by the three queens to the Island of Avalon; to recoverd to his wounds and as the legend says; he is waiting 'till the day England needs to him once more".

[@jamielandis4308]

This is the Arthurian movie that all others are compared. This is the standard. It’s also very overlooked these days.

[@dansemacabre6515]

Jonathan it was a real joy to see someone watch & love one of my top 3 favorite movies of alltime. Boorman was an absolute genius in taking the vast treasuretrove of Grail Romances & Arthurian "Fisher King" lore & distilling it down into one cohesive plot. There can never be a more perfect telling of the story than this. If you make a study of Grail Romances, you'll be shocked to learn Percival is actually the star of the stories. Hollywood has mythologized it a bit making Arthur more central to the stories than Percival, but it's understandable given how compelling Arthur's stories are. Arguably, Percival & Gallahad are the same person. I hope this is a beginning for your interest in Grail Romances. They were an epic cycle of stories emerging out of the destruction of European gnostics. Their role in shaping European culture is sadly barely understood anymore in our modern age. It's a topic worthy of your study

[@NefariousKoel]

Although I knew bits of the King Arthur legend it wasn't until I bought the Pendragon RPG back in the late '80s that I delved deeper into it. Which primarily uses the old Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur as a source, which is wonderful.

[@roccorios3448]

“I didn't know how empty was my soul... until it was filled.”

[@tubekulose]

I usually hate it, when movies aren't equipment-wise historically accurate (and if asked, I could name maybe only five (!!!) movies set in the Middle Ages that fulfill my criteria - in all of cinematic history!!!) but in the case of "Excalibur" I don't blame John Boorman for creating a world that regarding costumes, armour and other gear reflects the visuals of the 15th instead of the 6th century. Because it makes sense on a literary level as the legends around King Arthur matched the idealistic perceptions of knighthood during the Late Middle Ages (and people back then highly likely have imagined Arthur and his knights in a contemporary setting). To some extent Boorman makes the audience feel like 15th century recipients watching a story that for them was almost a thousand years old already but presents "modern" equipment, big castles, tournaments... [of course fantasy versions of them in this case]. I don't know if this was intended but that's how I have always perceived this film. And after all it seems to be based on tales from Sir Thomas Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur". Of course there are also some stupid moments when swords or lances cut and pierce through armour as if it was made of tin foil. I'm not talking about Excalibur itself - it's a magical sword and might do that but with regular melee weapons there is no way to manually penetrate well-made plate armour that evidentially can withstand most of today's small calibre guns. Nevertheless I've always loved this film since I was a kid and the music by Wagner and Orff fits excellently. Until today "Excalibur" might be the best cinematic interpretation of the Arthurian legend. Sorry for my clumsy English (I'm Austrian)! 🙂

[@Nifter71]

The choice of 15th century style armour was deliberately anachronistic, and likely more inspired by Victorian depictions of the Arthurian myth in painting.

[@tubekulose]

@@Nifter71 Oh yes, the romanticism of the 19th century had a great influence on the style of the movie for sure.

[@jayconant3816]

One of my fave movies ,Gabriel Byrne did a pet project documentary on the making some years ago,fyi John Boorman the director was going to flim lord of the rings but there was problems and lost the rights so he ended up making g excalibur .you can find some info of his rings script on line and it is bonkers

[@manueldeabreu1980]

They are taking Arthur to Avalon at the end of the film. They filmed with a green filter on the camera to give it an ethereal feel.

[@jbeisch]

If I remember correctly Igrane was Boorman's daughter and the Lady of the Lake, his wife. Amazing to see that Patrick Stewart didn't have hair, even back then.

[@alleygh0st]

When you said "this is a 10" the universe aligned again, even for a brief moment...

[@WilfredIvanhoe]

I'd like you to pay attention to the MUSIC used in this film. They use Orff's "Carmina Burana" for a couple of action scenes, but they use a lot more music from Richard Wagner, many of whose works dealt with the same Arthurian or similar legends. "Parsifal" (Percival) when he finds the Grail. (Parsifal was the original "Grail Knight") "Tristan and Isolde" for Lancelot and Guenevere And for the movie opening and ending -- as well as Excalibur scenes -- they use "Siegfried's Death", where the theme of the magic sword Notung is heard in its most magnificent form.

[@davidanderson8989]

Loved seeing you geek out to this like I used to

[@chrisinhotwater9896]

Very good review and reaction, I first saw this back in the 80s when I was a kid, Its always been in my list of top 10 best movies of all time. Thanks

[@jefflewandowski7559]

My FB profile has Merlins quote " a dream to some, A nightmare to others." It's an Extreamly classic, underrated movie

[@oCHeNee]

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED THE SWORD & THE STONE MYTHOS. THIS IS MY FAVORITE VERSION OF THAT ...