The New 'King Arthur' Ain't Your Parent's Legend
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Starring Charlie Hunnam, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Jude Law, Eric Bana, Djimon Hounsou
Directed by Guy Ritchie
2 hours, 6 min runtime
Action-Adventure
Rated PG-13
Release Date: May 12, 2017
When it comes to the stuff of legend, it doesn't get much bigger or more impressive than King Arthur and the knights of the round table. But when you combine that tale of epic proportions with a Guy Ritchie created movie, it may get a bit too big.
If viewed in 3-D, Legend of the Sword can be a bit overwhelming due to montages, interesting visual angles and an intense soundtrack. The mythos of Camelot occasionally gets lost within the film itself, losing a bit of the shimmery, mystic quality of the legend.
However, it isn't hard to believe that that exact thing may be Ritchie's goal. The film is gritty, darkly comic and has Ritchie's visually unique stamp all over it. It builds a different legendary world than any movie on the subject has before.
While the movie itself may be a bit too much at times, the acting is something to be truly enjoyed. Astrid Bergès-Frisbey portrays a mage in a stoic and quiet yet powerful way. Charlie Hunnam's Arthur is surprisingly hilarious and looks every bit of a medieval king with a hipster twist. And Jude Law playing the villain proves that it is a role that he should be stepping into far more frequently than it is.
If you're looking for the romantic tale of Camelot, this movie is not for you. But if you're wanting a new, very modern take on a classic, it'd be worth a second glance. There are montages, intense music and fight scenes around every turn.
Arthur may still be a hero and a king no matter how you spin it, but there's definitely something different about this take on the character that sets him apart from the other protagonists of summer action movies.