Ritchie’s eye mightier than the sword
KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie CAST: Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aiden Gillen RUNNING TIME: 126 minutes CLASSIFICATION: 13HV RATING: ★★★✩✩
THE world is not suffering a shortage of movies about King Arthur. In fact, it’s not like anything happened to warrant one in 2017 but, with Guy Ritchie in the director’s chair, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is actually good. Sure, critics panned it overseas, but for all its energy, storytelling and visual spectacle, I think you should check it out.
The story is one we all know. King Arthur’s parents are killed while Arthur is still a baby but he manages to survive and grow up in a distant land. He doesn’t know he is royalty, but when he is ripe and ready and has grown a six pack, he is faced with his destiny. Upon being the only man able to draw Excalibur, the sword stuck in the stone, he is forced to make a decision. Will he save his land from the tyrant that is his uncle, Vortigern, or will he just give up and die?
You know the answer to that. Just like you know the story. But what will make you leave your house to go and experience this film in 3D is just how entertaining it actually is. Charlie Hunnam plays the dashing Arthur, an A-grade a-hole who has no idea he’s a king. His character has grown up rough so it’s easy to understand why he has no time for rich people or those in power.
Vortigern is brilliantly portrayed by Jude Law, who brings a sense of vulnerability to an otherwise ruthless character. Astrid Berges-Frisbey plays The Mage – a species that has superpowers and had originally joined forces with Arthur’s father, Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana) to bring peace to their universe.
Djimon Hounsou and Aiden Gillen play Sir Bedivere and Goosefat Bill Wilson, respectively – two of the men who served with King Uther and bring their loyalty to Arthur’s feet.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is thrilling. Right from jump street there is an epic war underway. There are dinosaur-sized elephants destroying whole buildings as they trudge towards Uther’s castle. People are incinerated, bolts of fire fly straight into your 3D glasses. It’s great!
In classic Ritchie style, the dialogue is witty in fast-paced scenes. There are more chuckle-worthy moments than LOLs here. Think Snatch or Rock n Rolla or even Revolver – the writing in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is smart. It also doesn’t hurt that pretty much everyone wielding a sword or fist is in great shape.
What is perhaps the most endearing thing about this film is how Ritchie ensures most of the characters are not one-dimensional. Even Uther – made even more iconic by the salt-and-pepper bearded Bana – has light and shade. When he tells Vortegern to “hold the crown and hold it steady” in the first 10 minutes of the film, it’s clear that there’s more to that line than meets the eye.
Arthur is someone we’re all rooting for and we are taken through the paces as he has an insane baptism of fire in The Dark Lands. The audience will be so invested in his victory after that that his win becomes everyone’s win, his losses ours.
It’s a great film to watch, regardless of your gender.