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Excalibur [HD DVD] | ![Excalibur [HD DVD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LIsxoyvzL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: John Boorman
Actors: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $28.99
Buy New: $14.95
You Save: $14.04 (48%)
New (11) Used (5) from $12.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  309 reviews
Sales Rank: 10370
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: HD DVD
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 140
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.6 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: 111519
UPC: 085391115199
EAN: 0085391115199
ASIN: B000JLSLZG
Theatrical Release Date: April 10, 1981
Release Date: October 31, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Raised by merlin young Arthur draws the mystical sword of Excalibur from the stone and becomes King. He grows to manhood and with his wife Guenevere and first knight Lancelot unites the country and founds the Knights of the Round Table. But the love between Lancelot and Guenevere and the treachery of his sister Morgana and son Mordred cause King Arthur's pride to jeopardize the kingdom. An epic battle between the knights of good and evil decides the fate of CamelotRunning Time: 163 min.Format: DVD HD Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY UPC: 085391115199 Manufacturer No: 111519
Amazon.com essential video
This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Deliverance) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. --Robert Lane
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| Customer Reviews: Read 304 more reviews...
 The Full Story of King Arthur! April 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
From the lust of Uther Pendragon and the sorcery of Merlin is born the legendary King Arthur, the Once and Future King. Claimed at birth by the wizard Merlin and raised as the son of good Sir Ector, Arthur grows up to be a wiser man than his father, though still greatly swayed by emotion over logic. His royal lineage is made known when he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone as a boy, and from then on, Arthur rules Britain in glory until the schemes of his half-sister, the evil witch Morgana, bring his world down upon him, first by exposing the betrayal of his wife Guenevere and his best friend Lancelot, and again by laying with Arthur and creating the bloodthirsty Mordred. The round table, the quest for the grail, the whole story of Arthur, from conception to death, is told in stunning and beautiful detail in the fantasy epic "Excalibur".
Appropriately made in 1981, a time when fantasy films were en vogue, director John Boorman's "Excalibur" is still the best film to turn to for the story of King Arthur. Cleverly balancing fantasy elements with a very believably grounded reality, Boorman's gracefully executed theme throughout the film is of the passing away of the old ways and the coming of the new. Though at times the film seems like it may have suffered a bit from covering so much information in 2 hours and 20 minutes (it is true what some have said, that the quest for the Holy Grail does seem to come out of nowhere), it is a majestic experience from start to finish and comes off as extremely lavish, despite the "shoestring" budget the director claims it was made on. The Irish locations used are glorious, the classical music is rousing, and the cast features the likes of Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Nigel Terry as Arthur, and many more fine actors. The DVD is unfortunately said to be incorrectly matted, and hopefully this will be corrected in a future release. Despite that, it's a movie that everyone should have in their collection and includes the theatrical trailer (I love those early '80's theatrical trailers!), a bit of text info, and a fine commentary from the director. He's not the most thrilling commentator, takes him a bit to get started and there's a big pause after he initially does, but once he gets going he gives tons of great info on the production. It's well worth listening to! If you have any interest in Arthurian legend at all, don't let your collection be without this one!
 Not a showcase for HD March 8, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This movie is a very entertaining rendering of the classic Arthurian tale with spirited acting and lots of familar faces. I own this movie on DVD and bought it on HD DVD hoping to get a brighter and more pristine looking copy. Sadly, the visual clarity of the HD version is not much better than the standard DVD version. There are scenes in the movie that look like they were cleaned up for HD but not enough so that I can recommend the HD version of Excalibur to fans hoping to get an exceptionally beautiful copy of one of their favorite movies.
Best Camelot movie ever - bar none! February 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
On a degree of difficulty scale this is one of the toughest movies to attempt to make. Robin Hood is another. Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn pulled it off nicely in their adaptation back in the 70's. Excalibur is about a 9 and Robin Hood about an 8, with a 10 being the toughest. Green tights and shiny armor isn't always easy. The late Heath Ledger did a remarkable job in A Knight's Tale of capturing this ideal.
Anyway, enough background and context. Excalibur is a spectacle, yet personal and intimate. If you like a good sword fight there are many staggered neatly throughout for your enjoyment. From the Lady in the Lake to King Arthur it's all good. Lancelot is perfect. Merlin - perhaps one of the toughest roles within one of the toughest films - is integral to the movie's success. Merlin in many ways is the glue of this film. As a sidenote: Nicol Williamson who plays Merlin also played Little John in "Robin and Marion" the Robin Hood movie I spoke of earlier. Nigel Terry as Arthur is sublime. When he pulls the sword from the rock and the music bridge hits if the hair on your neck doesn't stand up ... hit eject. This movie isn't for you. Helen Mirren is downright HOT and CREEPY as Morgana. It's one of those roles where in one part of the movie you're rooting for her and by the end your cheering her demise. My favorite performance is actually one that doesn't last very long. There are many fine performances and considering Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson are minor supporting actors emphasizes that this movie provides a rare and powerful cast not seen in today's movies. My personal favorite performance is that of Uther, Arthur's father. Played by a young and rough Gabe Byrne this is a raw and syrupy interpretation. I give Boorman credit for keeping this in the film. This sets the table for how lust, sex, and power will be woven throughout the story. Byrne singlehandedly gets the audience primed for an incredible ride.
And hey - a happy ending? Who knew. The end almost has a Godfather Part III feel to it. This is one of the most underrated movies of all time. I highly recommend it.
 A Tempest in Teapot Armor January 14, 2008
1 out of 16 found this review helpful
Hamy, melodramatic, gratuitously violent, plotless, self-indulgent, historically ridiculous, and over long. I've tried to watch this teapot boiler once every decade and it still remains a crushing bore. If there had been advanced video games in the early 80's it should have been one. Cannot fathom what fans see in this thing other than middle earth fever for anything, and I mean anything, that smacks of sword and sorcery. A real clunker.
An enchanting tale of incest and crimson gore January 8, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is Arthur as you have never imagined him, unless you imagined him as Nigel Terry in sixteenth century plate armor. If you did imagine King Arthur as Nigel Terry in plate armor, then you were spot on in your portrayal of King Arthur in this movie, Excalibur.
The sex scene at Tintagel really makes this movie. I mean, Gabriel Burn, Uther Pendragon is decked out in plate armor, and he still gets the job done. I feel sorry for the actress though, as it probably chafed her.
This is awesome, and not in a totally lame way either. It's like, you know, way cool.
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