Synopsis
King Arthur (Trevor Howard) is disgusted with the decadent state of his court. During abanquet, as the once great knights are berated by their king, a mysterious Green Knight (SeanConnery) storms in. He challenges anyone to chop of his head, as long as he gets the secondblow. No one takes up the gauntlet but Gawain (Miles O’Keeffe), a young squire. Knighted forhis bravery, Gawain decapitates the Green Knight, who then promptly screws his own head backon. He doesn’t kill Gaw…in, however. He gives him a year to solve a riddle, and if Gawain issuccessful he will be spared. Off he departs on a dangerous quest, filled with adventure andmagic, and…
… zzzzzzzzz. Director Stephen Weeks previously adapted the medieval poem Sir Gawainand the Green Knight in 1973, and apparently the result was just as dispiriting then. Theaction is lackluster, the music’s synthesized fanfare cheesy in that horrid 80’s way, and O’Keeffe,as an actor, makes a good cover boy for a romance novel. The presence of Connery, Howard ,Peter Cushing and John Rhys-Davies can’t save this snore, and Connery is forced to wear hismost ridiculous costume this side of Zardoz. In short, this is Monty Python and theHoly Grail with all the laughs removed.
Audio
The audio is less than impressive. The music, already lousy, sounds worse thanks to soundreproduction very prone to distortion. The buzz afflicts the dialogue as well. There are somedecent surround effects (wind and the like), but they are prone to buzz too on this tinny, thin 2.0track. Some of the surround moments are inappropriate as well.
Video
The fact that there is very little grain (some, but not much) is one of the few redeemingqualities of the picture. The aspect ratio has been cropped from 2.35:1 to fullscreen, diminishingwhat grandeur the movie had. The opening credits shimmer, the picture shakes, and it is very,very soft. The colours are rather muddy too.
Special Features
The theatrical trailer. Nothing more.
Closing Thoughts
Bad sound. Bad picture. Bad movie. Bad.
Special Features List
- Theatrical Trailer
