Review of First Knight (1995) by Jessie V — 23 Jun 2009

Movies like "First Knight" are hard to come by in today's world of fast-paced, special effects-driven epics, and without sounding to old-school, it's kind of too bad. Sure, seeing two massive CGI armies collide is a spectacle to behold on the big screen, but sometimes, it just doesn't have the same visceral feeling of watching hundreds of extras go crashing into each other on a moonlit field. That's why "First Knight" really appeals to me. It's an old-fashioned epic, driven not by special-effects, but by its characters. Sean Connery gives an extraordinary performance as King Arthur of Camelot, Julia Ormond sells herself as Guinevere, and Richard Gere plays Lancelot, who in this film captures the essence of what every man wishes he could be: A sword-wielding, fearless hero whose charm is irresistible. He's a stud. And one can't forget Ben Cross' portrayal of the sinister Prince Malagant. People repeatedly say, "This movie sucks because that's not how the legend of King Arthur goes!" Well la-dee-fricken-da! It's based on the Arthurian Legend. It's not a documentary! But I digress...

"First Knight" is a film that everyone should enjoy. It has plenty of action for the guys, and a very strong love story for the ladies, not to mention Sean Connery (who could easily make the film appealing to both sexes). Perhaps I'm being too gracious in giving this film four-and-a-half stars, but I can honestly say that it's one of my favorite King Arthur films. If you're up for some old-fashioned adventure, see this movie! If you don't want to watch this film because it's not historically accurate, turn on the History Channel and shut your yapper!