King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a bold and stylistic take on the classic Arthurian legend, directed by Guy Ritchie. The film reimagines the story of Arthur not as a noble prince, but as a street-smart rogue who must embrace his destiny to reclaim his throne. The movie is a high-energy, fast-paced fantasy adventure that combines epic action with a modern, gritty sensibility.
The story begins with the dramatic and violent usurpation of the throne of Camelot. The tyrannical mage-king Vortigern (Jude Law) betrays his brother, King Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana), killing him and his wife and seizing the crown. However, Uther's infant son, Arthur, escapes the massacre and is sent down a river in a small boat. He is found and raised by a group of prostitutes in a brothel in the bustling streets of Londinium, completely unaware of his royal lineage.
Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) grows up in the city's underbelly, honing his survival skills and becoming a clever and street-hardened leader of his own crew. He learns to fight, to hustle, and to outsmart anyone who gets in his way. He has no knowledge of his past and no ambition for a life beyond the streets he calls home. His life is turned upside down when a sword appears, seemingly embedded in a stone, in the middle of a river. This is, of course, the legendary Excalibur, the sword of the true king.
News of the sword spreads like wildfire, and every man in the kingdom is forced to try and pull it. When Arthur, who is dragged to the stone by Vortigern's men, effortlessly pulls the sword, he is immediately taken prisoner. His true identity is revealed, and he is plunged into a world of magic, power, and war. He is faced with a choice: to accept his fate as the rightful king, or to remain the street-level criminal he has always been. He is joined on his quest by a mysterious mage (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey), a group of loyal outlaws, and a former knight.
The film’s visual style is a hallmark of Ritchie's direction, with its signature quick cuts, slow-motion action, and a non-linear narrative structure that flashes between events. The film’s score is a thumping, modern rock-inspired soundtrack that adds to the movie's unique atmosphere. The fight choreography is a blend of martial arts and brutal, street-level combat.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a re-telling of a classic story that is unafraid to break with tradition. It's a film about a reluctant hero who is forced to embrace a destiny he never wanted, and a tyrannical king who is willing to make any sacrifice to keep his power. The movie is a wild, anachronistic, and action-packed ride that takes the Arthurian legend to new and exciting places. It’s a compelling look at the journey of a man who goes from a common criminal to a heroic king.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a 2017 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 6 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 41.
