King Arthur (2004) Movie Review, Trailer and Poster

U.S. 2004
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Clive Owen, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Ray Winstone, Ray Stevenson, Stellan Skarsgård, Til Schweiger, Joel Edgerton
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: July 7th 2004
Running Time: 2 hours 21 minutes

The Movie Review

The Arthurian legend is one tale that has been the source of inspiration for so many movies. Arthur this, Arthur that and the legend is still constantly obscure, thankfully the latest Arthurian movie King Arthur seems to have more believable explanation to the legend.

Arthur (Clive Owen) is a boy who is the part of the Sarmatians. The Sarmatians always dedicate their lives to the service of Rome after the Great War when they were defeated by the Roman Empire. Arthur's brought to Rome to serve the


KING ARTHUR
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emporium. After 15 years, on the last day of Arthur and his band's years of servitude, they are given the final order by the Rome, that is to travel north to rescue the family of Marius Onarius and to escort the pope's most favorite pupil Alecto back to Rome before Alecto's village wiped out by the invading army of the Saxons.

However when Arthur and the band get there, they are disgusted by the way the holy people treat they prisoners. Arthur saves a pagan girl Guinevere (Keira Knightley) along with other prisoners and then decides to bring all of them along with Alecto.

Every aspect King Arthur actually can be considered derivative and straightforwardly easy to guess, the ensuing battle, the heroic acts, the drama, but this film excels in its grave atmosphere, it doesn't have any joke tossed around that could distract us from following Arthur's quest. Clive Owen unfortunately just doesn't have the charm enough to bring up Arthur; especially the Arthur character in this film holds a burden as the pioneer of the new Arthurian legend. The voice he shouts is girly, and some of the cast hardly show emotional energy, it's a waste...given the scenario where there is enough room for drama. But..., just for the record, Keira Knightley is one hot and fiery foxy gal in her battle costume.

King Arthur arguably will be memorable for two things only, the first one would be the heating debate it will generate concerning the truth of the Arthurian legend and the second would be the battle between Arthur and the Saxons which I find very short but awesome. You will love this dark-age style battle with all the arrows, the knights, the swordsmen and the catapults. All things considered, King Arthur is a good but mediocre epic movie with groundbreaking story.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com