IN CINEMAS | 'King Arthur: Legend of the Sword'
The classic tale of a young man who pulls the sword Excalibur out from stone and becomes king – the legendary story of King Arthur has been adapted throughout the years. Surely it wouldn’t be too difficult to modify this great story for the big screen?
However, when watching ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’, it’s easy to see that reimagining an old story doesn't always work cinematically.
In this version, upon the murder of his father Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana), young Arthur's power-hungry uncle Vortigern (Jude Law) seizes control of the crown. Robbed of his birthright, Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) faces hardship growing up in the back alleys of the city, unsure of who he truly is.
When fate leads him to pull the Excalibur sword from the stone, Arthur embraces his true destiny to become a legendary fighter and leader.
Hunnam is finely cast in the lead role, bringing forth a cocky and charismatic persona. Law is terrific as the film's antagonist Vortigern, and the supporting cast is solid with Bana in tow.
Director Guy Ritchie (‘Snatch’, ‘RocknRolla’) has demonstrated in the past that he can adapt familiar material (such as ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’) to deliver fun and entertaining films for a modern audience; however, Ritchie fails with the reinvention of this Arthurian legend.
Modernising the story may read well on paper, but it doesn't translate to the screen – at least not in this film version. In ‘King Arthur’, it seems like the narrative is all over the place, with at times shaky camera work, loose editing, and over-the-top special effects, resulting in a dreadful a dreadful film experience.
While the casting is superb, it's simply not enough to save the film. An eyesore to watch, Ritchie’s expected blockbuster is little more than a disaster.
‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ is in cinemas now.
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