Excalibur 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Just as science-fiction cinema was never the same after 2001: A Space Odyssey, modern fantasy films owe a huge creative debt to John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981). Gritty and glorious, this retelling of the Arthur and the knights of the round table was a far cry from the stagey antics of Camelot or even the fantastic mythological adventures crafted by Ray Harryhausen. This felt real! A muddy, bloody medieval slog through the dark ages with a dose of authentic magic for good measure.

Orphaned at birth and raised in anonymity, Arthur (Nigel Terry) pulls the sword from the stone and reveals himself as the once and future king…albeit a horribly unprepared one. That’s where Merlin (Nicol Williamson) comes in, schooling the young squire in the ways of proper politics to unite the land. But a bitter love triangle develops between his wife, Guinevere, and most trusted knight, Lancelot, opening the door for an incestual coup d’etat fueled by black magic and family drama.

Starring a who’s who of British thespians in major and minor roles (Patrick Stewart, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson and Helen Mirren), Excalibur enfolds them in a rich cinematic world quite unlike anything else. There’s the shit-soaked battle sequences and unwieldy armor transposed straight into Game of Thrones, but Boorman also taps into a pagan mysticism that ties the land to the king, accomplished by subtle lighting and simple camera tricks. Excalibur keeps the magic on the edges of the story while mere mortals lose themselves in power struggles and petty jealousies. It’s all set to a magisterial score with highlights lifted from Wagner that make that 2001 comparison even more apt.

Shortchanged during the home video revolution, Excalibur has never had a worthy digital presentation…until now. Arrow Video’s 4K UHD-Blu-ray set finally presents the film in its correct aspect ratio (no more heads lopped off) from a new 4K restoration. Those intense green highlights and the lush outdoor photography has never looked so good! But the package itself is comprehensive to the point of pleasant absurdity, complete with two new commentary tracks, interviews with Boorman’s collaborators and crew, retrospective featurettes, archival extras and a never before released 48-minute documentary by Neil Joran (who served as creative associate on the film) that captures exceedingly rare behind-the-scene footage of the creative process. For fans who’ve been waiting for decades, this is the true Holy Grail!







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