Posted on 05/14/2017 9:20:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” gallops into theaters this weekend, even if no one is showing up to see it.
While there have been at least a half dozen versions of the King Arthur legend brought to film — including the 1981 “Excalibur” that helped launched the careers of Liam Neeson and Helen Mirren and the 2004 version with Keira Knightley — one staple has been the legendary sword in the stone, Excalibur.
This latest version features Charlie Hunnam as Arthur, an orphan raised by prostitutes. Only after pulling the sword from the stone does he begin to learn of his heritage and his power.
Swords have played a major role in other iconic films, notable “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. But they don’t all come from the world of fantasy or European mythology.
One of the most famous — and deadly — swords is the katana wielded by Uma Thurman in “Kill Bill.” And of course, the weapons have found their way into science fiction as well — notably the lightsabers employed by the Jedi (and Sith) in “Star Wars.”
Arthur raised by prostitutes? I must have missed something in my readings growing up...I guess they were kind and virtuous and working their way through (k)night school...?
The upcoming movie, “The Dark Tower,” has a character named Roland who is a Gunslinger.
His revolvers are (According to the books) forged from the metal used for the sword Excalibur.
Excalibur.
Truncated from the Latin: Ex calx Liberatus.
Ex = From, Out of
Calx -Limestone, stone
Liberatus = Freed.
In English: “Out of the stone freed”
Excalibur.
I thought Helen Mirrens career was launched much earlier in different kind of film
“Some day a king will come, and the sword will rise again.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dV_HaaQfLU
Wagner rocks in the finale
Simply out: Arthur had Merlin, who knew the secret of making steel.
> Strange women lying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!
Probably still works better than socialism. Hehe.
Hmm. I see the Latin name, but I thought that the "sword in the stone" was Merlin's "test" and was not actually Excalibur (which was later given to Arthur by The Lady of the Lake). At least, that's the way I recall the Brits attempting to reconcile the two legends.
Very interesting... thanks!
Interesting, Swordmaker.
Here’s what I got from Chambers:
ORIGIN: OFr Escalibor, for Caliburn; cf Caladbolg, a famous sword in Irish legend
I’ve noticed that in general, Hollywood portrays the hero using a katana while the villain uses a medieval sword.
i thought the lady of the lake gave excalibur to arthur
Three blade sword from The Sword and the Sorcerer. Great cheesy movie.
After he’d thrown it away. He initially pulled it from the stone.
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