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King Arthur

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King Arthur (2004)

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Reviews Counted:180

Fresh:56

Rotten:124

Average Rating:4.9/10

Consensus: The magic is gone, leaving a dreary, generic action movie.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for intense battle sequences, a scene of sensuality and some language

Runtime: 2 hrs 19 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Jul 7, 2004 Wide

Box Office: $51,726,421

Synopsis: From producer Jerry Bruckheimer ('Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,' 'Black Hawk Down') and director Antoine Fuqua ('Training Day') comes Touchstone Pictures' / Jerry... From producer Jerry Bruckheimer ('Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,' 'Black Hawk Down') and director Antoine Fuqua ('Training Day') comes Touchstone Pictures' / Jerry Bruckheimer Films' 'King Arthur,' a spectacular, epic tale of one man's destiny to become a king. 'Let me sing with inspiration Of the man born of two nations, Of Rome and of Britain... ... Arthur the blessed Led his assault from the Great Wall...' by the 6th century Welsh poet, Taliesin For centuries most historians believed that King Arthur was only a legend, but that legend was based on a real hero whose actions changed the face of Britain and the world forever. Clive Owen, is 'Artorius' or Arthur, the hero of Roman and British parentage eulogized in the ancient Celtic poem. Like his loyal Knights, he sees only chaos and devastation will follow Rome's final pullout of Britain. Although, as a dedicated Christian he is desperate to return to Rome to influence the budding religion, his first loyalty is to his pagan Knights. Arthur sees his duty is to free them from their servitude to Rome so they may return to their ancestral homeland in Sarmatia. However, before he can, he must lead his Knights of the Round Table on one last mission, deep into enemy territory on a quest of adventure and profound enlightenment. Here, Arthur, Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, Dagonet and Gawain are forced to confront their traditional enemy: Merlin and his indigenous guerilla armies. Disdainfully called 'Woads' by the Knights for the Woad plant they use to dye their bodies, Arthur and his Knights will see these guerillas are the soul of Britain, devastated by generations of Roman rule. Now, with Rome gone, and without the help of Arthur and his knights, the invading Saxons will roll over the people like an avalanche. Under the guidance of the shaman, Merlin and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Keira Knightley), Arthur will struggle to find the strength to fors ke his dreams of Rome to 'become a leader in this land,' and to change the face of history. Thrilling adventure, edge-of-your-seat action and historical grandeur come together in this unique look at the origins of one of the greatest legends ever told. [More]

Starring: Clive Owen, Stellan Skarsgard, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd

Starring: Clive Owen, Stellan Skarsgard, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Hugh Dancy, Stephen Dillane, Ray Winstone, Til Schweiger, Joel Edgerton, Mads Mikkelsen, Ray Stevenson, Sean Gilder, Ivano Marescotti, Ken Stott

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Screenwriter: David H. Franzoni
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: Touchstone Pictures

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Release:

Dec 21, 2004

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • King Arthur
  • The producer of PEARL HARBOR and the director of TRAINING DAY deliver an immensely thrilling adventure epic that tells the heroic true story behind one of history's greatest legends! It is the valiant tale of Arthur (Clive Owen) and his bond of brotherhood with Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd) and the loyalty of the Knights Of The Round Table as they fight for freedom and those they love. Also starring Keira Knightley, this spectacular motion picture fuses historical grandeur with edge-of-your-seat action and bestows must-see entertainment!
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for King Arthur

    • T-Meter Critics
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    61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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    A snooze, overcast and drizzly both on location and on the pages of the script.

    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    07/11/04
    Marc Savlov
    Marc Savlov
    Austin Chronicle

    The fresh historical setup is intriguing early on and a pivotal battle on a cracking frozen river generates some memorable suspense, but the film loses most of its momentum in its emotionally flat second half.

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    07/11/04
    Michael Tunison
    Michael Tunison
    Boxoffice Magazine
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
    07/10/04
    Boston Phoenix

    It’s never a good idea to do a TRUE VERSION unless it really IS a true version. In other words, this wasn’t a good idea.

    Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
    07/10/04
    Eric Lurio
    Eric Lurio
    Greenwich Village Gazette

    Unless you're hooked on battle scenes, this film just isn't all that interesting.

    Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
    07/10/04
    Jean Lowerison
    Jean Lowerison
    San Diego Metropolitan

    If this is history demystified, give me myth.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
    07/10/04
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It's hard to care about a valiant groping for accuracy when a story is so badly told you can't tell what the devil is going on.

    Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
    07/10/04
    Stephanie Zacharek
    Stephanie Zacharek
    Salon.com
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    By going back to its origins and dusting itself off, the King Arthur story has proved itself to have a very contemporary resonance.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Essentially this is Braveheart meets The Fall of the Roman Empire in the hairy armpit of Gladiator.

    Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    David Elliott
    David Elliott
    San Diego Union-Tribune

    With a seasoned, solid cast, and a pseudo-historical take on the myth, King Arthur is a pleasant surprise.

    Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    Marc Mohan
    Marc Mohan
    Oregonian

    Unfortunately, the legend was a whole lot more fun and interesting than what we get here; "King Arthur" plays more like a stupid Hollywood action movie than a true story.

    Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Jeffrey M. Anderson
    Combustible Celluloid

    ...Knightly is done a major disservice by the costumer. Some may think her fighting garb is sexy, others will agree with me that it makes her look like a 12 year old boy.

    Full Review Source: Supercala.com | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    John Venable
    John Venable
    Supercala.com

    Having omitted virtually everything of interest from Arthurian legend and fact, Fuqua and Franzoni substitute a plot apparently borrowed from Fuqua's Tears of the Sun.

    Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
    07/09/04
    Steven D. Greydanus
    Steven D. Greydanus
    Decent Films Guide

    Swords, sorcerers, archery and mysticism rule in this big, silly popcorn adventure.

    Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    Jeff Otto
    Jeff Otto
    IGN Movies

    Camelot gets changed a lot in this down-and-dirty, unmagical take on the Arthurian legends.

    Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    James Rocchi
    James Rocchi
    Netflix

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    Susan Granger
    Susan Granger
    Modamag.com

    Tops among the numerous absurdities in King Arthur is Keira Knightley's appearance in what might best be described as elfin gear.

    Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    Cynthia Fuchs
    Cynthia Fuchs
    PopMatters

    If the film's only great scene is a direct lift from Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky, the remainder is a dour Braveheart rehash.

    Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    Eric Henderson
    Eric Henderson
    City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

    Profoundly stupid and inept, but it's an endless source of giggles.

    Full Review Source: Slate | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    David Edelstein
    David Edelstein
    Slate

    Only during a face-off between the knights and Saxons on a frozen lake does the film approach anything resembling excitement.

    Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
    07/08/04
    Josh Bell
    Josh Bell
    Las Vegas Weekly
     
     
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