Excalibur 1981

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: Give Boorman credit for the loopy grandeur of his imagery and imaginings, for the sweet smell of excess, for his heroic gamble that a movie can dare to trip over its pretensions -- and still fly. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: There is humor here (in the form of a vaudeville Merlin, played by Nicol Williamson) as well as a diminution of scale that seems intended to help audiences through the thornier byways of Boorman's vision. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: Mr. Boorman takes these myths very seriously, but he has used them with a pretentiousness that obscures his vision. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: What a wondrous vision Excalibur is! And what a mess. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: For all its audacity, a misguided folly. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Exquisite, a near-perfect blend of action, romance, fantasy and philosophy, finely acted and beautifully filmed by director John Boorman and cinematographer Alex Thomson. Read more