I’m a big fan of the King Arthur legend. I read a lot about him when I was a kid; as a high school literature teacher, I forced juniors to read Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte D'arthur; I think I’ve seen all the modern movies and musicals. (Is it weird to have seen the Clive Owen version ten times at least? I’m asking for a friend).
So I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to Guy Ritchie’s
recent incarnation of the tale. The critics’ reviews were generally bad (27% at
Rotten Tomatoes), but the audience response was much more favorable (78%). Was it the bombastic, frenetic desecration of
a classic tale that borrowed heavily from Lord of the Rings and Game of
Thrones? Was it a highly entertaining and clever retelling of story never meant
to have too tight of a connection to real history anyway?
Well, yes.
