This mega-budget version of the Camelot legend is advertised as "the untold true story"--i.e., the "factual" version in which Arthur (Clive Owen) is a brooding bore, Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd) has hip-runway-model facial hair and Guinevere (Keira Knightley) is a half-naked post-feminist warrior hottie. Borrowing superficially from recent Arthurian theories (only as a jumping off point, since producer Jerry Bruckheimer--of Armageddon and Bad Boys II fame--cares far more about cool explosions and box office receipts than historical accuracy), this commercialized concoction draws its regal hero as an idealistic, half-Anglo high commander in the 5th-century Roman army. Since the Romans are abandoning Britannia, Arthur and his knights take it upon themselves to defend the unguarded territory against invading hoards of barbarian Saxons (but first they're sent to rescue a rich Roman family living in Saxon territory for no explored reason). Having abandoned all the utopianism and human interest inherent in the Camelot myth, director Antoine Fuqua relies on battle scenes to keep the audience awake; unfortunately, most of these are so badly shot and edited that the movie soon becomes a tedious blockbuster blur of PG-13 blood, mud, and swords going thud. Not recommended. [Note: Available in both the theatrical full screen version and an “extended unrated version” (which features approximately 10 minutes of extra violent footage), DVD extras include audio commentary by director Antoine Fuqua, a “Knight Vision” producer's trivia track, the 17-minute “making-of” featurette “Blood on the Land: Forging King Arthur,” a 15-minute “Cast and Filmmaker Roundtable” (featuring Fuqua, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and costars Ioan Gruffudd, Keira Knightley, and Clive Owen), a four-minute alternate ending with optional commentary, a producer's photo gallery (with a slideshow viewing option), an X-Box video game demo, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a disappointing film.] (R. Blackwelder)
King Arthur
Touchstone, 130 min., PG-13, VHS: $24.99, DVD: $29.99, Dec. 21 Volume 19, Issue 6
King Arthur
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