"Bad" movies I enjoy 2 - King Arthur

 

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (30/69)

Is this just an excuse to talk more about this movie? Maybe. The audience score for this one is pretty solid but critics weren’t as happy with it. Something about how there wasn't much of a story or how the characters were underdeveloped or how it had little to do with the King Arthur myth. Eh, who needs all that. I will forever be bitter that it underperformed and we will never get a sequel called "Knights of the Round Table" in which Arthur has to deal with nobility.

What is it that I like about this movie?

• As I said in a previous post on this blog (nearly four years ago now wow) changing Arthur’s background, how he grew up, and who he is now as a person as a result is very interesting to me. Arthur is not a noble and instead grew up as an orphan in a brothel and on the streets of London. He vehemently resists becoming the chosen one and is instead interested in protecting those he considers his.
• I am also in general fond of Guy Ritchie’s signature style of story-telling, full of highly stylized action-sequences.
• I very much like the fact that there’s no romance sub-plot. The mage fulfills the role of guide not love interest, which is only fitting for this film.
• I also enjoy that not everyone is white as is often the case in medieval fantasy.
• The score is absolutely phenomenal. It is one of my favorite movie scores ever and I listen to it constantly.

Should you watch it? - Definitely! It is a good time at the movies if you're into fantasy.

 Satori over and out

(For my next "bad" movie, I should pick one with a low audience score to balance it out.)

Discussion points in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

You know, I really enjoyed this movie. It was very weird at times and definitely unconventional (but it's Guy Ritchie, so what else would you expect) and sure it was far from perfect (I could've done with more women in main roles for example and less dead women), but it also did a lot of things right (aka this is a fantasy movie, historical accuracy doesn't matter, so we're not only gonna have white people and no romance sub plot!) and there are things I'd like to talk about with someone, only no one wants to talk with me about it, so I'll just say everything I want to say right here.

A) I want to talk about how Arthur's upbringing changed who he is as a person. This Arthur didn't grow up as a noble in a castle. He grew up as an orphan in a brothel and on the streets. It shapes how he interacts with the world. This Arthur cares about himself and the people he considers his. He doesn't care about much beyond that. He beats up guys that mistreat the women and rats out a person seeking refuge in the brothel without a second thought. (I think btw that he would've taken the risk and sheltered Goosefat Bill if it hadn't put everyone he cared about in extreme danger.) This is an Arthur who hates and distrusts authority, who was raised by women, who learned to fight out of necessity and now enjoys the power it brings him. He doesn't want this destiny they try to bestow on him. And while the 'chosen ones' are often reluctant, he isn't just reluctant, he is stubbornly unwilling, ready to fight his way out of the rebellion and back home. Only when he finds out that there is no home to go back to and he has to fight and win or there will never be a home again, does he commit to the cause.

B) I want to talk about how Arthur would have trouble being king and interacting with the nobles. As I've said in the previous point. Arthur dislikes and distrusts authority and those in power. He didn't grow up a noble and I highly doubt that he sees himself as one even after becoming king. He's a king of the small folk, he is quite literally one of them. He wouldn't care about propriety, protocols and all the rules that make up nobility and a royal court. He wouldn't care about what is appropriate and how he should behave. And the nobles in turn wouldn't respect him, because he grew up in a brothel. The people might love him, but his rule is going to be a difficult one.

C) I want to talk about the mage and what drives her. Who is she? She is just called "the mage" so she really could be anyone. She is evidently powerful and has a connection with animals and the Darklands. It is unclear if she wants to rid the kingdom of its evil king or if her main goal lies in the destruction of the mage tower. She is competent and knows what she is doing and what she wants others to do, she doesn't even let Arthur get the upper hand. But we know much too little about her. To be fair, nearly none of the characters - except for Arthur himself - got any development to speak of. I would love to know more about her or in lieu of that to make up my very own headcanons.

That's it for now. When I watch it again, I'll probably come up with more.