If you're looking for a fun fantasy adventure with serious style and impressive visuals, then jump on the Netflix bandwagon for an underrated Guy Ritchie flick that has been making waves on the streaming platform. There's something simply timeless about Arthurian legend and lore, and there's a reason that we continue to come back to it time and again. Currently settled into the Top 10 on Netflix's list of popular movies, 2017's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a wild reinterpretation of Arthurian legend that features Charlie Hunnam as the titular wielder of Excalibur.
Although admittedly not as epic or beloved as John Boorman's dark fantasy Excalibur or as popular as a series like Merlin (funny enough, Katie McGrath has a small part in this film), Legend of the Sword is a fast-paced, stylish take on King Arthur that does for the British legend what Ritchie had previously done for Sherlock Holmes. The stage is set when Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana) is betrayed by his brother, Vortigern (Jude Law), who covets the throne and the power that comes from the Merlin-crafted Excalibur. Having made a deal with a band of syrens for demonic power, Vortigern kills his brother, though a young Arthur escapes and is raised elsewhere. It's not until the sword returns many years later, drawing Arthur to itself, that the would-be king — allied with a mage (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) working for Merlin — contends with his uncle for the throne. Along the way, Arthur discovers his true lineage and learns to live up to the heroic example set by his father.
The thing about Arthurian lore is that there are many interpretations because there are so many mythic recountings throughout history. This is why there are so many versions of the story out there, all with their own distinct notions of who Arthur is and what Camelot ought to be. Thus, Legend of the Sword may not always be accurate to many of the legends we’re more keenly aware of. Nevertheless, Ritchie redefines the British icon for a new era, more than making up for some of the discrepancies and lack of certain characters — Merlin (Kamil Lemieszewski) is only a minor player here — with plenty of excellent action, a rousing score by Daniel Pemberton, and a unique depiction of Camelot that feels in-step with the filmmaker's other reinterpretations of British icons. Remember, this is the same guy behind the Robert Downey Jr.-led Sherlock Holmes and its sequel.
What sets King Arthur: Legend of the Sword apart from other interpretations is, of course, the action. The trailers for the film were infused with Led Zeppelin's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You," which gives you a glimpse into Ritchie's particular flavor of action flick here. Although the song isn't used in the film itself, it certainly sets the tone for this historical fantasy. Questions of destiny and fate undergird each move Arthur makes toward the crown (and the mythic Round Table), as he learns to wield Excalibur. Even when he is unsure of his place in the nation's future, the Lady of the Lake (played by Ritchie's wife, Jacqui Ainsley) steers him back toward his royal birthright.
With King Arthur: Legend of the Sword charting in the Top 10 on the streamer, there’s no better time to give this one another go. If you’re in the mood for a fantasy adventure that feels distinctly modern in tone rather than something Shakespearean, Guy Ritchie's underrated take on Arthurian lore may be just what you're looking for. It may not have sparked a sequel, but it's got undeniable style.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is available for streaming on Netflix.
