Every summer has its fair share of flops, and director Guy Ritchie’s, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” is unfortunately this summer’s first.
An updated King Arthur story with some Game of Thrones edge would have been a welcome addition to this summer’s blockbuster lineups. Sadly this film misses its mark…by a lot.
A confused story with a serious identity crisis leaves you wondering what movie you’re watching at moments. The plot pulls from every story and legend except the source material suggested by its title. It can’t decide if it’s a rags to riches story, “Hamlet”, “Game of Thrones”, or “Sherlock Holmes.”
It would have been nice to see more of the actual legend of King Arthur in the film. There is the quintessential “sword in the stone” moment, but even that scene is confused by the inexplicable presence of David Beckham.
At other points, the film attempts to recreate the snappy dialog of Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes series, but it feels incredibly out of place in this very different world.
One bright spot is Charlie Hunnam as Arthur the ragtag, rightful king who is forced into claiming the throne from his conniving uncle (Jude Law). Hunnam’s Arthur is smart and likable. It’s easy to see how he would quickly earn the loyalty of his followers (even without the magic sword). However, no amount of wit and charm can save this bloated confused film.
…just for fun:
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