King Arthur - Excalibur Rising

Truly awful. I was hoping with a 2017 production that this would be a gripping tale with good acting and great special effects. What a waste of time. It felt like a very poor episode from a third rate TV series rather than a movie in its own right. The concept of the story was quite good, but completely let down by poor production, awful camera work, bad acting and truly awful special effects. AVOID AVOID AVOID !

It's really hard to find anything at all to say apart from - don't bother .

I watched this movie hoping for an imaginative re-working of a legend which enthralled me as a kid . . . but I was appalled at how badly this one was put together. Although the story-line was encouraging, the acting, editing and direction was absolutely abysmal. My wife and I were laughing during the supposedly climactic moments, watching third-rate actors stumble through lines that were truly forgettable, scenes that were embarrassing in their stupidity, and ultimately left us wondering why - Why would anyone allow this movie to be released?

This viewing was a real struggle. There was little mystery, poor film direction, and the action and dialogue were badly contrived. I tend to not blame actors since they too can be victims, but most could have tried to have given their roles some character. I mean, Merlin was casted because he looks like Ian McKellen's Gandalf...talk about being desperate for viewers. And Arthur's evil son was filmed hooded and from behind because...wait for it...he had a nasty scar on his cheek...sigh. I think if this was viewed under MST3K setting, it could provide humor, something I had trouble finding as it currently stands. Just doesn't have enough outrageousness, like Hawk the Slayer, to obtain cult status.

Didn't actually want to dislike 'King Arthur: Excalibur Rising' and didn't watch it with the deliberate intent to. Although not novel. there was an intriguing idea here that did have potential to work. something novel in any kind of media but it was hard not to be intrigued by it. Part of me was nervous though considering the less than favourable (putting that kindly) reception.

A reception that, after seeing 'King Arthur: Excalibur Rising', is justified. Was hoping to find some kind of value, being an encouraging generally reviewer, but 'King Arthur: Excalibur Rising' really is that bad. The concept is completely wasted, brought down terribly by the amateur hour execution and that not enough is done with it.

'King Arthur: Excalibur Rising' looks bad and that's being polite. The costumes wouldn't even pass for fancy dress, even bargain bin quality clothes look better. The effects and such are shoddy. Worst of all are the utterly chaotic photography, with an overuse of annoying techniques, and editing that is enough to make one physically ill.

The script is really embarrassingly cheesy and stilted, with them constantly being mumbled making it barely coherent too. Even more incoherent is the story, which is dull and disjointed with very little idea what it wanted to be, what direction to take and who to aim it at thanks to the kitchen sink of under-explored tones and ideas. The action is far from exciting. The profanity, violence and nudity were gratuitous in quality and abused in quantity.

Found nothing interesting or endearing about any of the characters, all of which have no traits other than dull or obnoxious. The acting is wooden and passionless, lumbering even and like they didn't know what to make of their lines and characters.

Merlin comes off best, and, along with the at least listenable if instantly forgettable music score, the best thing about the film. The less said about the direction, the better.

Overall, really awful. 1/10 Bethany Cox