Revisiting “Excalibur”

One of my favorite films of all-time has to be 1981's Excalibur.  Sure it's a bit cheezy by today's special effect standards, but it's a classic that has endured for decades.  As a child, I loved the jousting and the magic, but as an adult, and watching it again for the first time in years, I have to admit that the greatest thing about the film is Helen Mirren.

I mean... for real.

Yes, Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson are badass in the film (and a young Gabriel Burn is scary as hell), but Helen Mirren as Morgana is the epitome of wicked beauty; truly the Morgana to compare future interpretations to.  She's intelligent, ruthless, and super hot; a combination that easily brings about the downfall of the good King.

If you've never seen the film, I highly recommend it (there is nudity and adult content, so don't expect to watch this with the kiddies like a live-action Sword in the Stone).  Give it a minute for the age of the film to settle a bit, and then hunker down for the epic tale of  Arthur, his evil half-sister, his cheating wife, and all the knights that make the Legend of King Arthur one of the most incredible tales ever written.