I watch "Excalibur" at least once every year and I just finished my annual viewing last night. Once again I was bemused by how well it is regarded by many and how lousy a movie it really is. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the heck out of it. (Doesn't Ebert say that enjoying a movie doesn't mean it's a good movie?) I do, and that's why I watch it.
But even fans have to admit that it's a pretty crummy movie. Between the wildly uneven score (the classical music used in certain scenes is really laughable), the histrionic acting, and the weird plot tangents, the film has no right to be regarded as the best film about the Arthurian legends.
Still, there are some great moments and some great writing here, if you choose to wade through the dreck. By all means, see the extended version. Don't settle for the chopped-up one. And enjoy!
But even fans have to admit that it's a pretty crummy movie. Between the wildly uneven score (the classical music used in certain scenes is really laughable), the histrionic acting, and the weird plot tangents, the film has no right to be regarded as the best film about the Arthurian legends.
Still, there are some great moments and some great writing here, if you choose to wade through the dreck. By all means, see the extended version. Don't settle for the chopped-up one. And enjoy!