There are a number of movies based on the life of King Arthur, but the 1981 version, Excalibur ($10) is the one by which all others are judged. The movie was directed by John Boorman and stars such greats as Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Paul Geoffrey, Nicol Williamson, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and Nicholas Clay. In it, Merlin offers his help and powers to Arthur, who becomes King after drawing Excalibur from a stone. I love this version of Excalibur because it’s not Richard Gere’s version, which to say its not a fluff piece. It’s raw and gritty and has everything you would expect; Camelot, the Lady of the Lake, Guinevere, the Knights of the Round Table, the Battle of Mount Badon, and of course Sir Lancelot. This movie was brilliantly shot and has a fantastic soundtrack. The final scene is an absolute work of art.
