The cast makes the film better than it would have been. Each Knight brings his own personality and it is worth noting that we appropriately see an all British line-up. Clive Owen (why isn’t he in more movies?) depicts a worn and damaged Arthur, without him the film wouldn’t have had the same emotion, he carries a heavy weight on his shoulders and he portrays this wonderfully. Knightley brings a completely fresh Guinevere to the mix and while most of the film’s fantasy comes when she briefly wields a giant sword, I didn’t mind, as I prefer my leading ladies strong as opposed to crying and waiting to be saved. Gruffudd deserves mention as well, while a bit reserved; his Lancelot stands out for the time with his anti-religious views.

This movie will automatically get panned by the Arthurian purists, but to me, a person who doesn’t eat, breathe, and sleep the Knights of the Round Table and who thinks the most entertaining film made on the subject was done by Monty Python, King Arthur is an original, visual treat that also manages to touch on the psyche of Arthur and the political and religious drama of the time.

(04-0717)