Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
From Amazon.co.uk
1995 had already seen the box-office success of sword-wielding heroes in Rob Roy and Braveheart when along came this glossy revision of the Arthurian legend, in which Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond) is torn between her love for the noble King Arthur (Sean Connery) and the passionate knight Sir Lancelot (Richard Gere). As the story opens, Guinevere's lands are under attack by the evil knight Malagant (Ben Cross), and she must choose between marriage to Arthur and the security of Camelot, or encouraging the affections of Lancelot, who has heroically rescued her from a potentially lethal attack. Anyone looking for meticulous medieval authenticity won't find it here, but director Jerry Zucker (Ghost) keeps the action moving with exuberant spirit and glorious production values. Even if you don't completely believe Richard Gere as a somewhat too-contemporary Lancelot, the performances of Ormond and especially Connery are effortlessly appealing. --Jeff Shannon
Synopsis
A new vision of Camelot, filled with breathtaking battles, heart-pounding courage and love that brought a kingdom to its knees. Starring Sean Connery and Richard Gere.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The epic genre was still to all intents dead in 1995, and First Knight didn't do anything to revive it despite what should have been perfect casting with Sean Connery as an ageing King Arthur losing his queen to his new best friend in fable's most enduring romantic triangle. It's not a bad film at all - the action scenes are well handled, the romance better than expected and Jerry Goldsmith provides a fine score - but it's not particularly special, and in taking away the magical elements of the tale (no Merlin here) it's always in danger of veering to the ordinary. It's certainly no Robin and Marion, nor does Connery prove much of a Lion in a Winter with one of his weaker and less committed performances in what's little more than a prominent supporting role despite his top-billing (it was not a particularly happy shoot, and that does show at times). The real hero of the film is Richard Gere's Lancelot, travelling from village to village earning his crust with sword tricks, the actor managing to overcome what seems like his miscasting surprisingly well and showing real flair in the swordplay and action scenes as he initially protects and, naturally, falls in love with Julia Ormond's Guinevere, who seems to respond to almost every dramatic crisis with a slightly nervous smile.
Unlikely director Jerry Zucker (he of Ghost and, er, Airplane!) handles the romance and the action well enough, but he's not exactly got an epic vision, playing much of the picture in medium shot - long shots really aren't his thing unless they're establishing shots - which, allied with the decision to shoot in 1.85:1 rather than 2.35:1, makes for a less than spectacular look to much of the film.... Read more ›
Unlikely director Jerry Zucker (he of Ghost and, er, Airplane!) handles the romance and the action well enough, but he's not exactly got an epic vision, playing much of the picture in medium shot - long shots really aren't his thing unless they're establishing shots - which, allied with the decision to shoot in 1.85:1 rather than 2.35:1, makes for a less than spectacular look to much of the film.... Read more ›
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is actually pretty good. It's not the gritty Arthurian myth like 'Excaliber' but it's certainly leagues ahead of the terrible, supposedly historically grounded, attempt 'King Arthur' with Clive Owen.
'First Knight' approaches the arthurian legend from a socio-political view. Camelot is a brave new world, a utopia, Arthur is it's founder - it's a psuedo christian/communist kind of affair with equality and morality and bright armour etc. Lancelot is a drifter, he represents a kind of Zen rolling stone philosophy. The two cultures meet and fuse for a time but it can't last. There are many interpretations and discussion points and the film succeeds in provoking ideas, which is it's success for me. The ending may well be a compromise but this is hollywood and we need happy endings. Look beyond the cornball and there are some interesting relationships here. Great cast but Julia Ormand is the real star - what ever happened to her?
'First Knight' approaches the arthurian legend from a socio-political view. Camelot is a brave new world, a utopia, Arthur is it's founder - it's a psuedo christian/communist kind of affair with equality and morality and bright armour etc. Lancelot is a drifter, he represents a kind of Zen rolling stone philosophy. The two cultures meet and fuse for a time but it can't last. There are many interpretations and discussion points and the film succeeds in provoking ideas, which is it's success for me. The ending may well be a compromise but this is hollywood and we need happy endings. Look beyond the cornball and there are some interesting relationships here. Great cast but Julia Ormand is the real star - what ever happened to her?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By R. Covington
Format:Blu-ray
An excellent upgrade from the standard DVD version of First Knight. Everything is beautifully visible in this tale of Days of Old when Knights were Bold...
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By ray dorrity
Format:DVD
Firstly, can I just correct "A Customer" who has a very low opinion of this movie.
Can I point out that it is supposed to take place in the 5th/6th century when Arthur was fighting the Anglo-Saxon invaders, so it doesn't take a great leap of intellect to work out that Arthur wouldn't have spoken English, so who cares about a Scottish accent.
Arthur would have spoken Latin.
So the fact that Gere has an American accent is also not really relevant.
Can I also point out that the Athurian legends are just that. Legends.
So you can make any statement about Arthur and nobody would be able to prove or disprove what you say.
This is a good, well acted, well directed action movie.
Buy and enjoy
Can I point out that it is supposed to take place in the 5th/6th century when Arthur was fighting the Anglo-Saxon invaders, so it doesn't take a great leap of intellect to work out that Arthur wouldn't have spoken English, so who cares about a Scottish accent.
Arthur would have spoken Latin.
So the fact that Gere has an American accent is also not really relevant.
Can I also point out that the Athurian legends are just that. Legends.
So you can make any statement about Arthur and nobody would be able to prove or disprove what you say.
This is a good, well acted, well directed action movie.
Buy and enjoy
18 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This film is good for a number of reasons.
First, it has Sean Connery playing King Arthur.
Second, the script hasn't done what has been done 1000 times before with this story, but has taken a new, fresh perspective.
Third, it doesn't pretend to be a classic film, or to try and teach anything. It's just an entertaining piece of cinema that you can watch, enjoy, and not be affected by. Sometimes you just need a film like that.
My advice to anyone looking for an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours is to have a look at this. The price is right, and it's great fun.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A film I wanted to see the end of as I didn't completely get the ending as I nearly missed my train!
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
only gave it 3 stars due to it was not the special edition that i recived. but apart from that very good.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Good source to find wanted DVD's at a good price rather than having to try and find in the shops
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 203 reviews
3.8 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great movie
A must have movie for any movie lover. I like collecting all the movies I like, and this is one.
Published 6 months ago by Lamont Niemann
3.0 out of 5 stars
God uses people like you, Lancelot. Because your heart is open. You...
First Knight is directed by jerry Zucker and co-written by Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton and William Nicholson. It stars Richard Gere, Sean Connery, Julia Ormond and Ben Cross. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Spike Owen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wrong Case but good movie
I bought this movie expecting the "special edition" that had portuguese subtitles. But instead arrived the normal version and without portuguese subtitle. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2010 by Jonathas A. Rezende
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great DVD
This is another very good film with Sean Connery in it,it is another depiction of King Arthur,Lancelot and Quinevere,it is full of action ,romance,suspense. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2010 by Peter John Ives
1.0 out of 5 stars
first knight
when buying this you do not get the cover on the front you get the normaly version! TOTALY DIFFRENT COVER
Published on 28 May 2010 by David A. Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
What a Night for a Knight
Richard Gere and Julia Ormond make for a pretty bland Lancelot and Guinevere, however Sean Connery is impressive as the legendary King Arthur and there are some decent sword fights... Read more
Published on 23 April 2009 by Captain Pugwash
3.0 out of 5 stars
Movie: 2.5~3/5 Picture Quality: 2.75~3.5/5 Sound Quality: 3.25~4/5...
Version: U.S.A / Region Free
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50
Running time: 2:13:50 (h:m:s)
Movie size: 40,345,528,320 bytes
Disc size: 47,537,932,135 bytes
Average Video... Read more
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50
Running time: 2:13:50 (h:m:s)
Movie size: 40,345,528,320 bytes
Disc size: 47,537,932,135 bytes
Average Video... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2008 by STEELBOOK_MAN
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
