Director / Guy Ritchie (SNATCH, SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE MAN FROM UNCLE)
Stars/ Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou and Aiden Gillen

What we have here in KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD is an extremely plain story that bathes in a pool of CGI, applies heavy cosmetics in post-production before making its entrance onto the big screen, carrying some excess baggage with it.

Like the 2004 KING ARTHUR film starring Clive Owen, this rendition is also based on Arthurian legends, albeit loosely here. Elements of the fantasy genre are incorporated and heavily relied upon in the story of a young boy who is denied his birthright to the throne at the hands of his evil uncle. When his father is killed, Arthur flees his home and is raised by prostitutes in Londinium. As the years go by, Arthur (now played by Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam) learns street fighting and must prepare to face his uncle, Vortigen (Jude Law) in order to fulfill his legacy and return to the throne.

The release of KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD marks the first instalment of a planned six film series. A plan that is looking less likely now after its box office disaster in the US where it has grossed just $18.4 million in its opening week, from a $175 million budget. While it does have a highly impacting cinematic presence, which is as noticeable as a person operating a chainsaw inside a library, it becomes obvious from early that this film is attempting to superficially entertain its audience. Entertainment that only occasionally masquerades its very bland plot.

Guy Ritchie applies his usual flair and frenzied style to the story of King Arthur, which at times compliments but most other times confounds his film. Fantasy elements added to the Excalibur myth do give this repetitive genre another dimension, but are nonsensical in scripting and execution. The very simple story has its narrative shuffled and scrambled so much that it forces viewers to seek refuge more than they should in the visual pizzazz of the picture. Even frequent jabs at the funny bone can’t spur the laughter intended from its audience. The acting department is also a mixed result. Charlie Hunnam does an okay job as the titular character. Jude Law, in his third collaboration with Guy Ritchie, comes off best. But Spanish-born actress Astrid Bergès-Frisbey (featured in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES) in one of her very few English-speaking roles to date, falls embarrassingly short of being satisfactory and often delivers her lines in an uncomfortable and unusually robotic manner.