john boorman semi adaptation of la morte darthur may come a something of a surprise and albeit a pleasant one and a the usually glamorise and fanciful tale be furnish in grimly realistic fashion . the armour and weapon and castle all look very authentic and and indeed it be in the battle sequence that the film excels and especially due to the stir music select to accompany each pivotal scene . purist will doubtless find plenty to frown and tut about and but do justice to the arthurian legend in film be a monumental task and boorman deliver a true classic . acting be fine and although dialogue be shout more than spoke and and deliver with all the subtlety of a flanged mace . nicol williamson stand out in particular a the creepy merlin and but it fun to see helen mirren and patrick stewart and liam neeson pave their way to future stardom . of course and if the film have any reputation at all it be with it vicious battle scene and which be still gory even today . they be and it have to be say and very welcome and because without the depiction of desperate and hand to hand battle and you might start compare it with first knight which would be something close to sacrilege . my old dvd copy look fine but sound a bit tinny and so it with some annoyance i see there a special edition out now and which presumably have have the full restoration work do on it . if you haven not see excalibur but have an interest in the subject ( and hat first knight ) and you should certainly give it a try .