Rent Excalibur for FREE

Start your 30 day FREE trial » Find out more

+70,000 other titles and counting

NO late fees or long term contracts - cancel anytime
FREE first class post for DVD, Blu-ray & Games rental
1000's of films to stream instantly to your PC, TV or PS3^TM at no extra cost

Excalibur Reviews

1981

70
from 6038 members

Director John Boorman's passionate adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR stars Nigel Terry as the faithful King Arthur. Necromancer Merlin (Nicol Williamson) offers the magic sword Excalibur to the warlike Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) in exchange for a promise that he'll make peace with his enemy, the duke of .. Read more

Starring	Nicol Williamson, Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay
Director	John Boorman
Genres	Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Sign up Excalibur DVD

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Critic's review of Excalibur
View all critics' reviews (3)
- Curiously pointless retelling of a legend with unexplained flashes of realism and bouts of gore alternating with romance and modern wisecracks. Of mainly visual interest.
- 30218
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Excalibur
View all members' reviews (59)
- - 24
  - 0
  Creaky but fun.
  
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 305763
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Kilkrazy
  - Surrey
  - 29 Jun 2004 at 16:19
Most recent members' reviews of Excalibur
View all members' reviews (59)
- - 0
  - 0
  just ok
  
  this film is only just a 2 and half stars have seen on tv many years ago thought only just ok then forgot had seen on tv may be that why i think it i this low f... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1078475
- - a customer
  - 04 Jan 2012 at 16:47
- - 0
  - 0
  More Monty Python than Mystic
  
  I was waiting for someone to say 'it's only a flesh wound'. Perhaps we are still too close to the 1980s for this film to look classic, right now it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1028851
- - CherryPicker
  - 8 reviews
  - 13 Aug 2011 at 22:59
- - 2
  - 1
  In the land of dreams
  
  This films divides people. Some hate it, others love it. those who hate it have, in my experience, all missed something important about it: it is set in the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1025759
- - Lindybeige
  - 1 review
  - 05 Aug 2011 at 21:13
- - 1
  - 0
  A flawed masterpiece?
  
  Excalibur suffers, as others have already said, from a low budget and possibly ambitions too broad for the framework. But it is mostly bee-eau-ti-ful to look at... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 996065
- - birdieann
  - 24 reviews
  - West Country
  - 23 May 2011 at 11:17
- - 0
  - 0
  To kill or be king?
  
  What's not to love? Knights charging to battle to the sound of the Carmina Brurana, the dark and quixotic humour of Merlin and more codpieces than you could... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 978237
- - blackcandy
  - 6 reviews
  - Bury St Edmunds
  - 01 Apr 2011 at 20:33
- - 0
  - 1
  3 and half for effort.
  
  This film is totally enjoyable but unfortunately a bit dated. Now i love old films, and 80's ones in particular, but the ham factor doesn't translate as... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 933862
- - thebishmeister
  - 35 reviews
  - Brizzle
  - 23 Oct 2010 at 11:12
- - 1
  - 3
  Excali bad
  
  Awful. At least once I'd realised it wasn't a comedy it was awful. Two stars rather than one? Up to 15min mark the inappropriate music made me smile.read more »
  
  Report this review
- 895877
- - Crookymonster
  - 5 reviews
  - Plymouth
  - 03 Jun 2010 at 11:06
- - 0
  - 1
  Ambitious But Disappointing
  
  Ambitious but let down by a very poor script and some dire miscasting. The overuse of Wagner as background music increased the disappointment as the movie never... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 883456
- - a customer
  - Sussex
  - 14 Apr 2010 at 22:14
- - 0
  - 1
  Time has not been kind...
  
  to this movie. Which was a huge disappointment as I'd enjoyed it immensely on it's cinema release. The exciting acting, gory action and magic effects I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 843099
- - a customer
  - Ilkeston
  - 29 Dec 2009 at 17:31
- - 0
  - 0
  Print the myth
  
  You can enjoy this for what it isn't. It's not Hollywood, it has a quirky Englishness to it that is part of its charm. It's odd to see the actors ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 793735
- - InspectorSands
  - 209 reviews
  - London
  - 04 Aug 2009 at 19:33
View all members' reviews (59)

- - 24
  - 0
  Creaky but fun.
  
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 305763
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Kilkrazy
  - Surrey
  - 29 Jun 2004 at 16:19
- - 10
  - 4
  pass the brasso someone....!
  
  we have all heard the tale of the sword in the stone and king arthur and the grail,but still no one has come close to matching Boormans epic.
  
  Full of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 672
- - stephen decantelupe
  - boston
  - 12 Dec 2003 at 23:33
- - 9
  - 3
  Dire
  
  This was so bad I gave up after about 40 minutes. Having seen the cast list I was expecting something fairly good, but it was dire. Poor script, dreadful ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 486866
- - a customer
  - Cheshire
  - 22 Oct 2007 at 08:42
- - 8
  - 6
  Hide the coconuts..
  
  I thought this film was great - until Nicol Williamson as Merlin opened his mouth...and spoke in a high squeaky voice. He didn't say 'My name is..Tim... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 162142
- - skeadugenga
  - 148 reviews
  - Reading
  - 17 Oct 2005 at 13:18
- - 5
  - 2
  Merlin the... Strange
  
  I've always liked this film for the strange and almost unfantasy-like portrayal of certain characters such as Merlin. The man is a magician of some power ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 9917
- - Drew Dubber
  - UK
  - 09 Jul 2004 at 13:27
- - 3
  - 1
  great
  
  wonderful old school movie
  
  Report this review
- 255492
- - a customer
  - brighton
  - 18 Jun 2006 at 00:17
- - 2
  - 1
  In the land of dreams
  
  This films divides people. Some hate it, others love it. those who hate it have, in my experience, all missed something important about it: it is set in the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1025759
- - Lindybeige
  - 1 review
  - 05 Aug 2011 at 21:13
- - 1
  - 0
  Excalibur
  
  Alright film a bit predictable
  
  Report this review
- 631023
- - John Davison
  - south shields
  - 17 Sep 2008 at 20:48
- - 1
  - 0
  A flawed masterpiece?
  
  Excalibur suffers, as others have already said, from a low budget and possibly ambitions too broad for the framework. But it is mostly bee-eau-ti-ful to look at... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 996065
- - birdieann
  - 24 reviews
  - West Country
  - 23 May 2011 at 11:17
- - 1
  - 1
  Great movie seems a ...
  
  Great movie seems a bit long now but hadn't watched it for a few years my advice take a break abut an hour in
  
  Report this review
- 33709
- - estelle#4
  - LIVERPOOL
  - 21 Apr 2004 at 09:51

< Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
Next >

Agree or disagree? Write your own review

Review title: Give it a rating:

Write your review:

Tips for writing helpful reviews

Only review titles you've actually seen!
Talk about what you liked and disliked
Compare this title with other similar titles
Provide plenty of detail - at least 20 words
Space things out - use blank lines between paragraphs.
Be appropriate - no adult content, libellous statements or naughty words
Don't SPAM! No promoting of other websites or services
Don't plaguerise! Your submission must be your own original work
Don't talk about LOVEFiLM by name

Give it a title:

Tips for an eye catching title

Don't just repeat the name of the title you're reviewing
Don't summarise your entire review in one word - a minimum of 2 words please.
Give people a reason to read your full review - create a sense of intrigue or curiosity!

Keep me anonymous Keep me anonymous Contains spoiler? This review contains spoilers (or might spoil it for someone who hasn't seen it yet)

New users register here

Email address:
Password:
Preferred user name:
I agree to LOVEFiLMs Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
I'd like to receive film news and reviews as well as info about all the other good stuff LOVEFiLM offers

Already a member? Sign in here

Email address:
Password:Forgotten password?

By clicking Preview review you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Excalibur
  
  Director John Boorman's passionate adaptation of Sir Thomas Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR stars Nigel Terry as the faithful King Arthur. Necromancer Merlin (Nicol Williamson) offers the magic sword Excalibur to the warlike Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) in exchange for a promise that he'll make peace ...