SIGforum
The movie “Excalibur”
May 09, 2024, 09:56 PM
BMRThe movie “Excalibur”
I remember seeing this as a high school senior when it came out and was amazed. I’ve seen it several times over the decades and it still is entertaining. Any other fans of this movie?
May 10, 2024, 02:52 AM
iron chefI played Dungeons & Dragons in my youth, so when I saw it,
Excalibur was the live-action reenactment of D&D that I had always imagined. So yes, I was/am a fan.
It's fun to see actors in it before they were famous, mainly: Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and Gabriel Byrne.
May 10, 2024, 03:37 AM
hberttmankYep, I am a fan. Watched it many times back in the 80s when it was on cable tv.
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock
"If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley May 10, 2024, 06:14 AM
MboromanI was in my first year at college when it came out. I was mesmerized by it and used to watch it whenever it came on cable. For its time (1981), I felt that it really captured the essence of the legend. I was just recently thinking that I should give it another go one of these days.
May 10, 2024, 07:01 AM
0-0Don’t remember much if anything at all. Vague memories of the entire cast dressed as Cylons and Hellen Mirren looking hot and sexy. Fond memories.
Directed by Boorman if i remember correctly.
Today you couldn’t pay me to go watch it.
0-0
"OP is a troll" - Flashlightboy, 12/18/20
May 10, 2024, 07:49 AM
BMRThere were many actors in the movie that went on to become famous. Certainly Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and Helen Mirren come to mind.
May 10, 2024, 08:21 AM
goose5Yes, one of my top five. For those not familiar this film features very young versions of Patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and Helen Mirren.
_________________________
OH, Bonnie McMurray!
May 10, 2024, 10:23 AM
sigspecopsGreat movie, it's one of my favorites.
No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
May 10, 2024, 11:02 AM
Sacramento JohnsonWas just out of HS and getting into Wagnerian opera at the time this came out and really enjoyed the film. I also thought it was really cool that Boorman used all that Wagnerian music(and the Carmina Burana/Carl Orff opening section) for the sound track. I think I read somewhere he'd gone to Bayreuth and seen some of Wagner's operas before making this film; if so, it must have really made an impression on him!
May 10, 2024, 11:50 AM
furloughHuge fan. It hit me at exactly the right time in life (13 years old).
Fun trivia - I was watching the movie Ready Player One and there is an artifact that must be activated by a spell. As the spell is cast I realize - Hey! That's from Excalibur! It's the spell that Merlin casts on Utrecht to take on the form of his enemy so he can go sleep with his wife.
This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears above ground he is a protector.
Plato May 10, 2024, 11:53 AM
iron chefquote:
Originally posted by Sacramento Johnson:
I also thought it was really cool that Boorman used all that Wagnerian music(and the Carmina Burana/Carl Orff opening section) for the sound track.
Carmina Burana is one of the most frequently [over]used classical pieces in movies, especially in movie trailers. Nowhere have I seen it used as dramatically and inspired as it was in
Excalibur. The rest of the Wagner pieces also fit in great.
May 10, 2024, 01:26 PM
nhtagmemberWill have to find it - I’ve not seen it.
May 10, 2024, 05:15 PM
redwood25I remember seeing it back in the 80's, but haven't thought about it in years. Might have to hunt it up again....
--------------------------------------
May 10, 2024, 05:53 PM
bald1Probably the best Merlin character ever on the big screen.

Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
May 10, 2024, 06:11 PM
BelwolfLove that movie. Have the DVD somewhere but no more player.
Agree that Nicol Williamson's Merlin was the best I've seen.
“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.”
― John Adams
"Fire can be our friend; whether it's toasting marshmallows, or raining down on Charlie."
- Principal Skinner.
May 16, 2024, 03:27 AM
Jester814Annal Nathrak
Uth Vos Bethos
Doth Neiel De Envey
________________________________________________
May 16, 2024, 08:19 AM
benny6Yes, I'm a fan! Didn't realize it was Gabriel Byrne though. I did recognize Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart though. It's a great movie but I haven't watched it in some years though.
Tony.
Owner, TonyBen, LLC, Type-07 FFL
www.tonybenm14.com (Site under construction).
e-mail: tonyben@tonybenm14.com
May 16, 2024, 09:47 AM
LS1 GTOquote:
Originally posted by bald1:
Probably the best Merlin character ever on the big screen.
Definitely agree with that!
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers
The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...
May 16, 2024, 10:01 AM
k5blazerWho can top Mirren’s Morgana?
May 16, 2024, 04:10 PM
Expert308My favorite King Arthur movie of all time.