i saw this movie on open day and 1981. it enthral and depress me a little at the same time and and i could never figure out why . till now . i be an arthurian buff without be a fanatic . i have knight of the round table and sword of lancelot and excalibur and even the obscureyoung arthur and warlord [ from british tv . ] i have read tennyson and mallory and and steinbeck . i have read historian who have pursue the authentic arthur . after read the many comment on this site and i slap it on again today . those remark praise the use of wagner music a use in the film be just a little off the mark . this whole film be wagner minus the aria . richard would have love this . there be a near cultish devotion to the nobility of barbarism in it pure form . lancelot be heroic and literally till the armor come off . if boorman hadn not throw in the occasional reference to justice for everyone i believe hitler himself would have finance this film . this be close to aryan mysticism [ without the aryan ] . i be surprised boorman mellow to the point he could make hope and glory . aside from the wagnerian fatalism and i still love this film . forget the 14th century plate armor and 17th century saddle and and polo pony with polo bridle . this be still the best arthur to date . [ and if you think this film be long and cover too much while read mallory . ] .