King Arthur: Legend of the Sword adapts the classic myth of King Arthur, telling Arthur's untraditional riches-to-rags-and-back-to-riches origin story. However, Legend of the Sword differs from previous Arthurian adaptations by focusing intently on the mythos behind Excalibur.
Legend of the Sword is directed by niche film director Guy Ritchie, whom you may be familiar with for helming the two Sherlock Holmes flicks starring Robert Downey Jr. and recent The Man From U.N.C.L.E. revival. Ritchie's certainly an out-of-the box filmmaker, so pairing him with the antiquated setting of the Middle Ages seemed a peculiar choice when the film flew onto my radar. However, Ritchie manages to mash midivil realms with distinctive stylistic flourishes to great effect. Ritchie capitalizes on the frantic nature of the storytelling by peppering in fast/slo-mo and handheld chase closeups that lend themselves well to the film's vitality and pair perfectly with the film's musical score composed by Daniel Pemberton. Pemberton's score incorporates potent breathing with pitter patters of various percussive instruments and a more traditional orchestra to conjure exceptional sounds, immersing viewers in the frenzy.
As for other technical elements, the production and costume design seemed apt for the time period but the visual effects did at times bear resemblance to what you'd expect to see in a video game. Elsewhere, the script cobbled together by Ritchie, Jody Harold, Lionel Wingram, and David Dobkin proves to be quite different from the average knight's tale due to Ritchie's taste for the unusual. Legend of the Sword trudges through its opening and drags in its finale, but the second act is incredibly enjoyable thanks to Ritchie's flair as a filmmaker.
All the while, Ritchie's ensemble's brimming with recognizable talent. Charlie Hunnam turns in a solid performance as Arthur, bringing a charming demeanor to the unsure hero and solidifying his ability to carry the weight of a leading role in an action epic.
On the other hand, Jude Law takes up a monotonous malevolent mantle as the villainous Vortigern. Law makes the most of his bland character but feels constrained by what little motivation the script has offer, simply another man yearning for power. Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Neil Maskell, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Bleu Landau, and Eric Bana fill out the ranks of the supporting cast with Game of Thrones' Gillen standing out as a capable and endearing archer.
When it comes down to it, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword isn't exactly a film of legend but stands as a prime example of an epic, eccentric blockbuster, albeit a messy one. Unfortunately, these are becoming increasingly harder to come by these days so I'd say casual moviegoers would be best waiting for Legend of the Sword to roll out onto home media and Arthurian fanatics should certainly rush to the multiplex.
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