King Arthur (Director's Cut) [DVD] [2004]

The King Arthur Director's Cut is no better or worse than the theatrical version, having the same strengths - some good character writing, action scenes where you can actually tell what is going on, an interesting background - and weaknesses - plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through, laughable historical errors, idiotic battle strategies and some hideously bad performances. The latter are definitely the biggest problem, with Antoine Fuqua proving more often than not truly hopeless at directing actors. Indeed, KA boasts some of, if not THE worst performances ever seen in a major studio picture. Clive Owen may look the part, but he delivers the lines like a dyslexic reading off idiot boards while fighting a hangover while Keira Knightley's Guinevere is just as pitiful: she's supposed to be a Celtic warrior queen but despite the fact that her people seem to speak Sioux for some reason she sounds like she's been to a rather expensive English finishing school where they teach you to mispronounce words like `cuhnntwee' (country) and `Roahm' (Rome). That wouldn't be so bad if she had even the remotest shred of talent, but none is to be found. Not since Helen of Troy have their been two leads so desperately in need of dubbing by more talented artists. Throw in Ken Stott doing an outta-ray-juss Ay-Taly-Eano accent, Ray Winstone overdosing on the bish-bash-bosh routine he does instead of acting these days and a couple of frighteningly inept child actors and it's a miracle that the film manages to be as much fun as it is. When the characters aren't trying to talk (something only Ioan Gufford seems to be able to do with success), the action is well handled (particularly the battle on the ice) and the film surprisingly good - but with better casting, it could have been so much more.

The alternate ending offered as an extra doesn't really work because it's so flatly directed, and the making of featurette is fairly brief. The audio commentary and 'round table' discussion from the R1 NTSC disc have not been included on the R2 disc.

This is such a good movie and looks amazing on Blu ray.
The directors cut is a totally different movie to the one released in cinemas.
Lots of intense action scenes quite graphic in places.
Clive Owen even pulls of his portrayal of Arthur even if he is usually quite wooden!
Good period action movie on a par with films like Braveheart, a couple of hours of pure escapism.
Definitely recommend.

This film is about as subtle as a brick in delivering its message. Poor Keira Knightley - she wasn't given lines, she was handed a manifesto and told to read it out. We get it, people want to be free! Free will is great! But please, Antoine Fuqua and David Franzoni, do feel free to tell us the same things ten times over.

Everyone in this is a total bore. Even Bors (heh heh) who I think is supposed to bring in some levity or lightheartedness. None of the actors bring their A-game, as far as I can see, except Ray Stevenson, who is underused as Dagonet. But then again, I imagine it's hard to bring your A-game when the material you're working with is this dull. And Clive Owen is never the most expressive actor anyway.

Finally, there is ONE WOMAN in this movie. One woman. And she must be freezing her tits off for the entire thing. Tip to filmmakers: if people live in snowy places, they'll wear suitable clothes, not flowy dresses and leather-thong bikinis. That bikini, oh my god. Making a female character wear a bikini to battle is the stupidest thing ever. It's one thing in Spartacus where everyone wears miniskirts, but in this movie it's downright insulting.

I know this review is 8 years too late, but sometimes a movie is so dull you've got to get it off your chest. (Your photoshop-enhanced chest, if you're Keira Knightley.)