2004 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 6 min
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Joel Edgerton, Ray Winstone, Keira Knightley, Stephen Dillane, Stellan Skarsgard
I think they should've put blue-faced Keira Knightly on the poster, but maybe that's just me.
In a Roman Empire-era retelling of the classic King Arthur, Clive Owen brings stately poise to a role played by many greats before him... including Sean Connery. A strong ensemble cast makes this a solid attempt, and it's nice to see real horses instead of coconuts (Monty Python...) and a quest that's not for the grail. The knights are on one last mission before they earn their freedom, possibly the most dangerous mission they've ever faced. Some will live, some won't. But everyone fights like mad... including Keira.
It's a nice reboot since it breaks away from the dressed-up versions of this story to reveal a grittier, dirtier, humbler iteration. I like it for its originality and also for the its lead role's effortless handsomeness. What can I say? Clive Owen is pretty rad.
