First Knight

This film is an interesting twist on the Arthurian legends, and well worth the time to go see it. In an epic retelling of the timeless and tragic love triangle, three lives converge in the golden city of Camelot.

With no ties, no enemies and no fear, Lancelot (Richard Gere) is the perfect warrior. He comes to Camelot not for glory or knighthood, although he finds both, but for the love of the one woman he cannot have, the beautiful and honorable Lady Guinevere of Leonesse (Julia Ormond).

Guinevere has promised to marry King Arthur (Sean Connery) not only because his army will protect her country, but because she truly loves him for his wise and gentle ways. As she prepares to enter Camelot as its new queen, a chance encounter with Lancelot awakens conflicting and powerful emotions within her.

For Arthur, she represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance at true love and a beloved queen for his kingdom. Likewise, the king comes to see Lancelot as possessing the honor and bravery of a true Knight. He welcomes them both into his city and into his heart, never foreseeing how his great capacity for love and trust opens the doors for his betrayal.

Acting wise, Sean Connery was excellent. The rest of the cast played their roles with superior believability. The battle sequences were well thought out, and the warriors fought with realism. The design of the film worked well. All the props, costumes, and architectural design were what was expected of that time period. There were very few visual effects in this film. There were a few matte shots for the exterior of Camelot, and they were stunning.

The direction of the film, I can sum up in one word: EXCELLENT!!! Jerry Zucker made the battle sequences edge-of-your-seat thrilling, the end of the film emotional, and made me forget that I was in a cramped multiplex for two hours.

Overall, this film is one of the best I've seen this year. Go see this movie by yourself, or go see it with a date. But by any means ... GO SEE THIS FILM!!!

Anonymous