The man & the myth

Navnee Likhi

“Whoso pulleth out this sword of the stone and anvil is rightwise King of all England” — Thomas Malory

Was King Arthur a real person or simply a hero of Celtic mythology? Though debate has gone on for centuries, yet historians have been unable to confirm that Arthur really existed. In his dynamic style, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie crafted an epic fantasy, action and adventure film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. This movie is an iconoclastic take on the classic magical sword — Excalibur, which traces Arthur’s journey from streets to the throne. The characters of the story, wizard — the Mage, Arthur’s sword, and his Knights of the Round Table — have been taken from chronicles written in C.1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth in History of Kings of Britain.

After the murder of his father Pendragon Uther, the King of Britain, young Arthur’s power-hungry uncle Vortigern seized the control of the crown. Robbed of his birthright, he grew up the hard way, not knowing who he truly was. It was only when his fate led him to pull the magical sword — Excalibur from the stone that Arthur embraced his true destiny and became a legendary fighter and a leader.

Guy Ritchie lends razzle dazzle to the story, with flashy sets designed by Tina Jones and intricate visual effects by Carmine Agnone.

The movie opens with a lengthy prologue in which Camelot, the stronghold of King Pendragon Uther, is revealed to be under siege by warlord wizard Mordred. King Uther slayed Mordred by wielding his mighty sword-Excalibur and then put to end his reign of terror. Soon after, King Uther’s brother Vortigern staged a coup using supernatural powers. Before Uther and his wife get killed, they ensure that young Arthur was escorted to safety in a boat to finally find refuge in a brothel in Londinium.

As time passed, Arthur grew into a skilled, tough fighter and a man of streets, along with his friends Tristan and Blacklack. The three confront a group of Vikings, headed by Kjartan, who were made to pay one year’s wage for their misbehaviour towards one of the women in brothel. King Vortigern’s minions, Blacklegs attacked the brothel forcing Arthur and his friends to flee from the place. However, they were caught and put into a ship with hundred of other men. Meanwhile, Vortigern was advised by wizards to kill Arthur and get the magical sword Excalibur to perpetuate his rule over the kingdom. It was revealed to Vortigern that the magical sword had been pulled out from the ocean, embedded in a stone. Arthur and other prisoners were brought to Vortigern’s Castle and were taken to the place where the sword Excalibur had been found. When others failed to take out the sword from the stone, Arthur, while doing so, saw flashes of images and sensed a powerful, overwhelming energy that caused him to pass out. It was at that moment Vortigern gets to know that Arthur was King Pendragon Uther’s son, the rightful heir to the throne. He sentenced Arthur to be executed. At this juncture, late King Uther’s aides, Sir Bedivere, his men Percival, Blue and a woman acolyte to magician Merlin, the Mage, help Arthur to escape.

Arthur’s trusted companions train him to use the sword and grasp its powers. During this exercise, Arthur sees the vision of Vortigern’s demonic form killing his parents. Arthur understood his father’s sacrifice and decided to kill Vortigern. He staged a series of ambushes and attacks to force Vortigern out of his hideout. During the fight, on seeing the Mage being held at a knifepoint, Arthur was overcome by rage and unleashed magical sword Excalibur and killed the captors. Arthur was overcome by a deep sense of failure for not being able to kill Vortigern.

After sometime, as Arthur reunited with Bedivere and his men with reduced strength. During this time they received a message from Vortigern’s Captain Greybeard, that if Arthur did not surrender by nightfall, some of his close friends would be killed. Bedivere urged him to surrender along with the sword. As Vortigern was about to kill Arthur, the Mage used her powers by releasing a giant snake who attacked and ate the captain and other Blacklegs. Taking advantage of this situation, Arthur’s rebels freed the prisoners. In desperation, Vortigern sacrificed his only daughter to obtain demonic powers. Arthur puts up a good fight but is ultimately overpowered by Vortigern. Arthur then saw the vision of his late father, who advised him that it was time to wield Excalibur power. On having heard this, Arthur’s strength doubled in his fight with Vortigern, whom he gave a fatal blow killing him instantly. Thus ending the reign of wizards.

After a while Arthur set up the round table around which he and the knights congregate. Arthur was crowned the king. People cheered as they saw him raising his magical sword Excalibur in air.

With his skilled performance, Charlie Hunnam, in the role of King Arthur, lent a kind of rakish charm to the conflicted King. The story, at times, goes over the top, crashing around digital landscapes. The supernatural elements in the movie are a bit exaggerated. Nonetheless it entertains. King Arthur’s life story is a myth which has lived to this day.