Re: FIRST KNIGHT (some spoilers?)

[Gregory Stapleton <gregsta@microsoft.com>]

I agree with most of the Lady Karen Larsdatter med det Usigelige 
Efternavn fra Skyggedal's review.  I'd like to add the following:  Sean 
Connery does a fabulous King Arthur, I was very happy to see an 
Arthurian movie based on something other than the Malory Crap (TM) (I 
found it very refreshing to see usage of the earlier story elements), 
the view of Camelot from a distance is awesome.  I'd like to know if 
any of it was shot at a period site or whether it was matte/computer generated?

In Service,
Lord Gawain Kilgore
gregsta@microsoft.com / gregsta@cybernetics.net

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From: Karen Elisa Green  <kgreen2@osf1.gmu.edu>
To: The Merry Rose  <atlantia-l@netcom.com>
Subject: Re: FIRST KNIGHT (some spoilers?)
Date: Sunday, June 25, 1995 1:16PM

Xavier asks for a non-spoiler review ... and so I shall have to do my
best.  (Because, as you know, that is all I can do.)

If you're into films that depict credible medieval clothing or armor,
forget it.  I had seen the armor in advance (at a Rennfaire in Caid where
I met Terry English, of English Arms & Armor, as well as his son, who was
always being shoved to one side of the booth or another and really didn't
look like he was having a good time at all, poor lad), so I knew what to
expect on that angle.  From the clothing, I'd say it's a variation on a
12th-11th century theme; from the architecture, well, it's a combination
of early and middle Gothic with a great deal of Cluniac and Romanesque
overtone; from the armor ... well ... umm ... remember the fits I was
throwing over the pants on the English armies in BRAVEHEART?  You're not
going to *believe* this stuff ...

If you're a fan of the King Arthur story because you like the
supernatural aspects, forget it.  Merlin?  Gone.  Morgan?  No such
animal.  Mordred?  Nada.  As a matter of fact, if you're a fan of the
King Arthur story at all, forget it.  The only characters you're going to
see are Arthur, Lancie, and Gwennie.  Of the other knights of the round
table, there ain't much.  There is no Bors/Bedevere/Bedoweyne (or
whatever he's calling himself these days), no Galahad, no Kay, no any
other of the knights that I can never remember their names.  The only
knights called by name (other than Lancie) are Agravaine and Malagent.
(And Malagent -- big spoiler *here* -- is the bad guy.)

HOWEVER -- if you *are* a fan of action costume dramas, or of
Harlequin-esque romance stories (ptooie!) then by all means see the
film.  It's got great hack & slash (forgot to check to see who
swordmaster was but darned if it didn't *look* like Bob Anderson's work)
and a lot of nifty battle scenes and some really funny parts.  (Keep your
eyes out for the Jawas in the battle scenes and the Ewoks at the end of
the film.  And the woman yelling "BOO!  BOO!  BOO!" in the court scene.)
A lot of pretty swords, too (although I thought Malagent's was a little
too Kurgan-esque -- a serrated edge on one side? Puh-LEEZE!) and a lot
of "Ah, I wish *I* had thought of that!" or "Gee, aren't those the arming
pavilions from the KNOWN WORLD HANDBOOK?" and suchlike.

If you *do* go to this movie, go in garb.  It'd probably be more of a
hoot that way ;)

Hope I haven't spoiled it for ya, Xavier ...

Yours in Service to the Dream,

Lady Karen Larsdatter med det Usigelige Efternavn fra Skyggedal
Seneschale of the Incipient College of St. Stephen