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Back in 2009, Zack Snyder shared with Newsweek that “Excalibur” tops his list of favorite films. While fantasy aficionados often place it high among medieval cinematic classics, it hasn’t achieved the widespread cultural penetration of some of its peers, earning instead a devoted cult following. So, what sets “Excalibur” apart? Snyder’s enthusiasm stemmed from his belief that “[director and co-writer] John Boorman’s film is the perfect meeting of movies and mythology.”
Hollywood has long struggled to capture King Arthur’s essence, despite numerous attempts. The chronicles of Arthurian legend have inspired a plethora of films, yet many fail to leave a lasting impression. Notably, the most renowned adaptations remain Disney’s animated gem “The Sword in the Stone” and the comedic spoof “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
Although “Excalibur,” released in 1981, might not enjoy widespread recognition, it rightly claims its spot among the more triumphant portrayals of King Arthur’s tales. Drawing from Thomas Malory’s epic “Le Morte d’Arthur,” the film anchors itself in a narrative with depth and resonance, unlike many other adaptations that attempt to modernize or reinterpret the legend.
Excalibur marked a rare example of a King Arthur movie done well
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“Excalibur” thrives not by reimagining the familiar, but through the power of its performances. The film boasts an impressive cast, including Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne. Eschewing the artificiality of soundstages used in prior films, and without the aid of CGI, the film creates a vivid, location-shot epic. It’s a cinematic experience that continues to captivate audiences, including Zack Snyder, even more than four decades after its release.
While 1981’s “Excalibur” might not be as widely known, it certainly deserves its place among the relatively few successful King Arthur movies. It adapts the Thomas Malory epic poem “Le Morte d’Arthur” (or “The Death of Arthur”), giving it a stronger foundation than many other retellings that far too often try to otherwise modernize or give the legends a different spin.
Though it goes through many familiar beats, “Excalibur” succeeds not by reinventing the wheel, but in its strong performances. Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne are among its impressive cast. The production doesn’t cut corners and rely on obvious soundstages like earlier films, but also doesn’t have CGI at its disposal, resulting in a lush, shot-on-location epic. It’s the kind of movie that holds up remarkably well and still leaves an impression on viewers like Zack Snyder, even 40+ years on.
