King Arthur

A Review by Jamie

Sometimes it's hard to know the difference between history and legend. Sometimes something happened that was so extraordinary that it has passed into the magical shallows of myth. Sometimes a story is told over and over again, and then people start to wonder if it really happened after all.

Legend and history collide in the movie "King Arthur". This is a story that will leave you breathless and excited-not to mention amazed. The true story that this is is a wonderful one. Friendship, honor, duty, slavery, freedom, and the drama surrounding the tale of King Arthur and his six remaining knights: Galahad, Gawain, Bors, Dagonet, Tristan, and Lancelot is one that you won't soon forget.

The tale starts off as young Lancelot (as well as the other knights) is taken away from his homeland of Sarmatia, to become a knight to Rome for 15 years. During those 15 years, Arthur and Lancelot develop a strong friendship that is tested time and time again, especially with the rescue of Guinevere-the maiden bent on Britain's freedom from the terrible Saxon army.

When the 15 years are finally over, Arthur looks to give his brave knights their much desired and deserved Freedom, but instead is told he must ask them to risk there lives one last time. Against their wills, Arthur, the knights, Guinevere, and a large Roman village embark along the most dangerous adventure any of them have ever taken.

Along the way, Arthur finds himself struggling to choose his own destiny, and to become either the Roman his father was, or the Britain that was his mother's doom. Added to his inner troubles, is the loss of friends, his best friend Lancelot who is very much like his brother, and the merciless Saxon army bent on destroying everything he holds dear.

In my opinion, one of the best things about this movie is that it's based off the more accurate story of King Arthur. The honor, courage, and love shown are timeless and inspiring, and you really come to care a lot for the characters.

By the time you finish this movie and smile, sigh, or understand after the last scene ends, you will have a much better picture of what King Arthur's world may really have been like. Based off an incredible Sarmation legend that you won't soon forget.

I won't tell you every outcome of every battle, or what happens in between, but I will tell you that, by the end of the movie, less then six knights still remain.

Rating: 4 Stars
MPAA: PG-13
Movie Length: ~2 Hours
Creation Date: 2004
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Stars: Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen.
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