King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
2017 · Directed by Guy Ritchie
Original language: English
- action
- drama
- fantasy
The story
When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern, Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy... whether he likes it or not.
What it’s like
Hyper-kinetic and sun-scorched, with fast-cut montages, swooping crane shots and slow-motion swordplay that loops back on itself, all rendered in a gritty, saturated digital sheen of ochre stone, smoky torchlight and rain-slicked cobbles. The palette runs warm and dusty in the rural scenes and sickly green-gold in the court, while the camera jitters and whips through brawls like a fast, reckless scrapbook. The score pulses with thudding percussion, electric guitar and chanting voices, so the sound constantly pushes forward. Vibe: loud, irreverent swagger, a boisterous ride rather than a quiet one. It suits a Friday night with friends, a high-energy binge when you want momentum, or a rowdy comfort watch. The pacing is relentless, with a streetwise young man reluctantly accepting a destiny he never asked for, his bravado softening into resolve. Intensity is high: frequent stylised battles, bloody sword fights, impalings and mass slaughter, and some crude sexual innuendo, with violence that lands as cartoonish spectacle rather than grief. Not for anyone wanting something gentle. For viewers who enjoy fantasy action with a cheeky, anachronistic energy and style over restraint.
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