1995 had already seen the box-office success of sword-wielding heroes in Rob Roy and Braveheart when along came this glossy revision of the Arthurian legend, in which Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond) is torn between her love for the noble King Arthur (Sean Connery) and the passionate knight Sir Lancelot (Richard Gere). As the .. Read more
| Starring | Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond, Ben Cross |
|---|---|
| Director | Jerry Zucker |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Romance |
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1995 had already seen the box-office success of sword-wielding heroes in Rob Roy and Braveheart when along came this glossy revision of the Arthurian legend, in which Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond) is torn between her love for the noble King Arthur (Sean Connery) and the passionate knight Sir Lancelot (Richard Gere). As the story of First Knight opens, Guinevere's lands are under attack by the evil knight Malagant (Ben Cross), and she must choose between marriage to Arthur and the security of Camelot, or encouraging the affections of Lancelot, who has heroically rescued her from a potentially lethal attack. Anyone looking for meticulous medieval authenticity won't find it here, but director Jerry Zucker (Ghost) keeps the action moving with exuberant spirit and glorious production values. Even if you don't completely believe Richard Gere as a somewhat too-contemporary Lancelot, the performances of Ormond and especially Connery are effortlessly appealing. --Jeff Shannon
| Starring | Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond, Ben Cross, Liam Cunningham, Christopher Villiers |
|---|---|
| Director | Jerry Zucker |
| Studio | UCA |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 8 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 8 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | 100 Big Adventures |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Romance |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Czech, English, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Polish, Russian |
| Released | DVD: 10 Apr 2004 Blu-ray: 05 May 2008 Production year: 1994 |
| Format | DVD |
Ghost director Jerry Zucker focuses on another doomed romance in this retelling of the spiciest of Arthurian myths. If Kevin Costner can play Robin Hood with an American accent, then what's to stop Richard Gere giving Lancelot a Philadelphia twang? Gere is suitably dashing as the most independent knight of the Round Table, while Julia Ormond is ravishing as the constantly imperilled Guinevere. Stealing every scene, however, is Sean Connery, who, as a legend in his own lifetime, has no difficulty conveying the regal bearing of the once and future king. It's very 1990s, yet curiously and unashamedly old-fashioned.
This is less the medieval epic it attempts to be, and closer in spirit to A Yankee in King Arthur's Court, thanks to Gere's American gigolo masquerading as Lancelot; it lacks passion and there is no feeling that anything is worth fighting or dying
I can't believe this is the first review of this film! There's some great stuff here - swashbuckling, old school honour among knights, sweet justice and a bit of a love story. Richard Gere is extremely well cast, and Connery as always delivers the goods as King Arthur. Suitable for girls too.
Sean Connery as ever gives a splendid performance as the elderly Arthur.Lots of clashing of swords and the dastardly bad guy gets his rightful due fate in the end.
Incidentally the a/v sync is out by about 55ms!