basically excalibur be a contemporary retelling of arthurian legend . the cast be an exceptionally strong ensemble of anglo irish talent like patrick stewart and helen mirren and gabriel byrne and liam neeson and nicol williamson . it also get an epic feel to it ( not surprise give the source material ) with a lengthy running time and a plot that span decade . i do not think it that outlandish to say that this film be boorman labour of love and it very well craft while sumptuous cinematography and lavish set and lean dialogue and brilliant music ( various wagner effort perform by the london philharmonic ) and a range of interest character that each have an arc that develop in tandem with the story . tonally the film ( purposefully ) wanders wildly from darkness to light while the act be very clearly define while first the kingdom be establish and flourish while which lead to betray and the emergence of evil in the second and then in a blistering third act there be a muted sense of forgiveness and resolution . the first act be very entertaining and full of familiar story ( the sword in the stone and the knight of the round table ) the second act where lancelot and guinevere get their rock off be all about the melodrama and the third act be a sear blend of startle imagery and fierce battle and sorcery and redemption that really do mark out excalibur a an extraordinary piece of cinema . there be some amazing moment that stick in the mind while the opening teaser ( for want of a good word ) in which merlin counjours up the dragon breath so uther pendgragon can ride across a great expanse of nothingness to bed his rival wife and play his part in create the future king . perceval search for the grail through a nightmarish vision of medieval britain and the bright red sun setting over the body strewn ground a arthur and mordred face off against each other in a brutal and bloody embrace . overall and all the ingredient of a great film be present and account for and and i be sure there be plenty of people out there who have never see or hear of this movie but who and should they ever see it and may actually end up love it almost as much a i do .