Name Discs
Excalibur
15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Rental release: 15 May 2000
Main languages: English
Dubbed: French, Italian
Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish
Hearing impaired subtitles: English, Italian
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Most helpful review Excalibur

  • Creaky but fun.

    Rated - 4.0 stars  
    By Kilkrazy from Surrey , 29 Jun 2004

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    This is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur, based on the version written by Sir Thomas Malory in 1475.

    Although it forms arguably England's major myth cycle, the Round Table legend is a confused mass of celtic, Romano-British, Norman-French, and other accretions. Its re-interpretation is entirely appropriate, and this version presented is well-told, if you can forgive the obvious budgetary limitations.

    The plot is stripped to the bare essentials, leaving about a dozen named characters, and losing all the quests except the quest for the Holy Grail. This austere treatment concentrates attention on the key elements of the story.

    The film was clearly shot on a small budget. All the locations are in rural Ireland, the castles are represented by sections of walls, or in long shots only, while the cast and crowd scenes have limited numbers of actors and extras.

    The battles are surprisingly effective, with the knights crashing around in grey, silver or black plate armor. If you are used to modern spectaculars like Lord Of The Rings, it will seem sadly small scale. However, bear in mind that the entire Round Table only had 101 knights.

    The special effects are of their time and look distinctly creaky. But the power of the story should sustain interest nonetheless.

    Nicol Williamson gives an eccentric but enjoyable interpretation of the wizard Merlin, and you will spot Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart among the knights, who later achieved fame in Star Wars and Star Trek.
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All reviews

(65)
  • Arthurian Epic

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By FullofStars (41 reviews) from Scotland , 14 Apr 2013
    Love this film! Yes, some of the dialogue is stiff and the acting a bit wooden but this is one of the defining films of the fantasy genre. It is a truly massive sprawling epic tale of Arthur, encompassing all the stories and interpretations of Camelot. Lots of battle scenes (great armour by the way!), magic, love, jealousy, family rivalry and politics!
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  • So wooden, I gave up thirty minutes in

    Rated - 0.5 stars  
    By andrewbowden (6 reviews) from London , 21 Jan 2013
    It is rare that I ever give up on a film. I'll see it through to the gritty end no matter what. But with Excalibur I did after just thirty minutes. I had high hopes; friends had raved out this film to me. But what I saw was wooden - often dire - acting, over the top music and a plot that slowly bored me to tears. Lots of people seem to love this film. You may too. But it didn't work for me at all.
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  • a dream to some, a nightmare to others

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By iamleggend (5 reviews) , 22 Nov 2012
    I've loved this film from when i first saw it when i was a teenager. It has everything, action, romance, comedy, darkness, mysticism...plus brilliant music, sets, scenery and cinematography...
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  • A comedy? theres never been a darker version of the legend.

    Rated - 4.0 stars  
    By prior81 (16 reviews) , 02 Sep 2012
    The films biggest fault is the plots huge jumps in time periods making it difficult to follow. Get over that and its a real treat.

    Its visually brilliant, dark, sinister and gory at times. The cast is a whos who of Britains finest acting talents and whats not to like in the Wagner soundtrack.

    Its no masterpiece, its flawed, but If any film deserves a remake, its this one.
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  • just brilliant

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By cheesekake (1278 reviews) from uk , 30 Jun 2012
    ok not what you would call a true account of the Arthurian legend but still a brilliant film.

    defo worth a watch for all medieval film buffs
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