First saw "Excalibur" in 1981 in theaters, and this scene continues to give me goosebumps so many years later. It's like a documentary, as if we're standing right there in the midst of history and legend. Masterful film.
So did I. I was 17 and saw it with a group of friends. We went to see it again a week or so later, we were so impressed by it. I have the dvd and to this day it remains one of my favorite films ever. ❤️
"For it is the doom of men that they forget" I have this tattooed on my left forearm. It reminds me of the fact that the human race has a very long history of being cruel and hateful to each other and not learning from our mistakes. And I don't think we ever will. One day, it'll mean our decimation.
@@bennelson2610 - Percival's refusal to give up hope really establishes his character - the innocent true believer worthy of grace - he not only inspires Lancelot - but ultimately restores Arthur - who restores everyone else.
This scene represents the Victory at Mount Baddon which was won by Arthur leading the Ancient Britons as Dux Bellorum against the invading Anglo-Saxons in around the year 500AD. The battle was in fact a combined siege and relief action. The Angles and Saxons had besieged and beleagured Solsbury Hill and Bathampton Down at Old Bathon (Baddon/Aquae Sulis). Arthur as chief war leader led the decisive uphill charge of mounted Brythons against the enemy of whom 967 were slain. Victory to the Britons
This scene is the apogee of the movie and of Arthur's reign. Everything for which Merlin has planned, counselled and coerced has come to pass, including the much undesired seeds of doom planted at the outset. Peace is won by battle but demise comes about by more subtle means. Jumping ahead to scenes after this one, the rot starts in the soul and treachery turns mens' hearts away from their true calling. The Quest returns much but mortality upsets grand visions.
Or, obviously : Men don't deserve peace... We are toxic species ! Mankind already had several oportunities to get there; but has always failed... cuz we are predators, using a small part of our brains, and without memory ! The History keeps repeating itself, and we stupids chimps with pudding brains we keep on acting like lunatic fools...
@@philippebernard4577 We have choices. We can aspire to and work towards a higher self. But it takes work. What answer do you propose? I don't like your attitude. Come back to me when you have some solutions.
I will build a round table and a room around the table and a castle around the room. That's planning ahead! I love this movie and the music. The Western World needs inspiring Real Leadership.
Splendide. John Boorman était un génie, tout de même !... Quelle puissance évocatrice dans cette scène, et dans presque toutes les scènes de ce chef d’œuvre, d'ailleurs ! À voir et revoir sans modération. Jusqu'à aujourd'hui, après 40 ans; sans aucun doute le meilleur film sur le thème d'Arthur. À moins que Astier et sa trilogie arthuréenne (dont au sujet desquels j'attends beaucoup... si le cinéma survit à cette année 2020, et qu'elle ne se reproduise pas tous les ans!) ne vienne s'inviter au débat !?! Nos amis anglais ne s'en remettraient pas !...
Completely ahistorical. This Arthurian Britain is straight out of Howard Pyle's illustrations for a boy's edition of Le Morte d'Arthur. But that's not the point: the greatness of this movie is its lush imagery and, far more importantly, the ideas contained within the script and brought so wonderfully to life by this cast. The 2004 film King Arthur, a fair effort, attempted to paint a more historical picture of Arthurian Britain, but it will never be as great a movie as Excalibur.
@@TBStudios91 Arthurian lore dates to long before the time of Charlemange, deriving from oral traditions that had circulated for generations before and first set down in manuscript in the Welsh Mabinogion and the Annales Cambrai. There may have been a figure who could have filled the role of Arthur at some point in British history, there may not have been. It will never be confirmed solidly one way or the other. All we really "know" about Arthur is legend that's been so embellished over the centuries that nothing reliable as history can possibly be mined from it.
@@LordZontar Thank you, the historicity of Arthur is unknown to us. But the mythology of Arthur is certainly inspired by the era and reflects the spirit of the age, which is its own timeless truth - the land of dreams.
Who can say exactly what happened in 500AD at Mount Baddon when most everyone was illiterate. I would rather have the King Arthur Saga told wonderfully as in “Excalibur” than a whole stack of detailed reports on Dark Age battles.
Well the film doesn't follow history that well. If this is the time of Arthur & the Britons defending the land from the Anglo Saxon invasions, then they sure as hell wouldn't be wearing plate armour. That arrived around 1200-1250. This is 700 years too soon.
Among the knights in that fellowship... Sir Launcelot, the Brave; Sir Galahad, the Pure; Sir Robin, the not-quite-so-Brave-as-Sir-Launcelot... And the aptly named Sir Not Appearing In This Film.
I also recognized King Henry V, but to be fair, the stories of men struggling to establish a Golden Age of peace and prosperity out of the chaos that is this world follow a universal theme.
i cant believe one self proclaimed boy king and a wizzard managed to unite the warlords and battlelords of the broken country of britania, and defeat the invading saxons, and the vikings, and the french, and the irish, and the scottish, and other invading kingdoms.
None can compare to his extraordinary performance in this movie. It's as if the stars aligned in all of the sky to produce this one masterful character
Try as much as they might but women can never understand what bonding and camaraderie truly is, especially in a situation like this. Sorry, but only guys are capable of it.
Come to think of it, you're right. Just look at yaoi fangirls. They think that just because two male characters are close (or hate each others' guts and want to kill each other), _of course_ that means they want to bang.
Who so ever pulleth this sword from stone & anvil is a right wise King born of England! I yank T from stone where there was S_one sword Excalibur & anvil: An_vi I witness for an L is one (12) & V is one two (V5 +V22=27) Gee anl ‘S’_one I witness to England’s times signature X four Vee add two W (V27+V27=54) for Gee had to pull-P)U)L)L-Pa, P)A)U)L)L-Paul) L. Gee I be son! Vee I be witness! Gee I be witness two England’s times signature V5 XG7=35. Paul L. Gibson 12/27/1954/7:35p Excalibur-King!
