Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.08.2004, Page 23

Antoine Fuqua does at first glance not
seem like the obvious choice for a director to
bring the medieval legend of King Arthur
to the screen. An African-American born
in Pittsburg, Fuqua started his career
making music videos for the likes of
Arrested Development and Usher,
before graduating on to mov-
ies and directing films such as
Training Day and Tears of
the Sun. Screenwriter David
Franzoni is previously best
known for writing Gladi-
ator, which he ended
by having democracy
triumph in Rome.
by Valur Gunnarsson
KING ARTHUR COMES ALIVE
Adding Jerry Bruckheimer to the mix does not brighten the prospects.
It is surprising that these three decided to film not the Arthur of legend, but the historical Ar-
thur. It is even more surprising that they get away with it. More or less.
The historical Arthur was born in 475 and became high king, or Vortigern, of Britain around
500. His greatest achievement is defeating a Saxon army at Badon in 516. He was killed in 537
in a civil war. The civil war was fought between those who wanted to follow the orthodox teach-
ings of Rome and those who followed the teachings of Pelagius, a more liberal and nationalist
Christian.
Early on in the film, we get to see Arthur fight alongside bishop Germanus. St. Germanus
was an actual fighting bishop who came to Britain before Arthur was born. This is not the only
chronological inconsistency. In the film Arthur is a Roman knight, whereas Rome actually aban-
doned Britain in 410. But the real Arthur´s family was known for its Roman allegiance.
These are small matters. What the film manages to do is to capture quite well the feel of a
new world rising out of a collapsing civilisation. In one of the films more chilling scenes, Arthur
discovers a group of monks who torture heathens for the glory of God. This, the church, is the
new power that will take the place of the fallen Empire. It is one of the great absurdities as well
as tragedies of history how the message of Jesus Christ deteriorated into an orgy of sadism, the
likes of which have rarely been seen before or since. It is tempting to go Freudian and suggest
that putting power into the hands of people not allowed to have sex will force them to get their
kicks in other ways.
But Arthur´s main enemy is the Saxons. The Swedish Stellan Skarsgard puts on a mighty cod-
piece and a southern accent to play the leader of the Germanic invaders. Why this doesn´t look
as ridiculous as it sounds, I don´t know. The Saxons are portrayed as pure evil, killing each other
as well as anyone else merely for the sake of killing. Are these really the ancestors of the noble
Anglo-Saxons of today, who selflessly delivered us from the clutches of the evil Saddam Hussein?
Of course not, says the film. Stellan gives his men orders not to rape the British women, as this
would lead to a thinning out of the blood. Of course medieval Saxons were motivated by Nazi
racial theory, and did not breed with the English, hence the English of today have nothing to do
with them.
And yet, the movie just works. Merlin plays a minor role as leader of the Woads. Lancelot’s
inability to leave other men´s wifes alone is hinted at, but despite a build up, nothing happens.
If you want the Arthur of legend, look up Excalibur by John Boorman. It´s hard to capture the
magic much better than that. But this attempt to show the historical Arthur is better than it has
any right to be.
(For a great book on the Arthur of history - fictional though it may be - I’d recommend The
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - Paul)
LISTINGS : august 6 - august 19MOVIES :
Screenings start rougly every two hours, at 18, 20 and 22. However, with films getting ever
longer, starting times may vary. There are usually ads and trailers for roughly 15 minutes from
announced starting time. Almost all films have a short intermission.
Hverfisgata 54
Phone: 551-9000
www.regnboginn.is
PREMIERS:
6. august Garfield
6. august Fahrenheit 9/11
13. august Hellboy
Still running:
Spiderman 2, I Robot, Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Laugarás
Phone: 553-2075
www.laugarasbio.is
PREMIERS:
6. august Garfield
6. august Fahrenheit 9/11
13. august The Stepford Wives
Still running:
Shaun of the Dead, Madditt 2
(dubbed into Icelandic), Shrek
(dubbed into Icelandic), I, Robot
Álfabakka 8
Phone: 587-8900
www.sambio.is
PREMIERS:
6. august The Village
6. august New York Minute
13. august Thunderbirds
13. august Harold and Kumar
Go to White Castle
Still running:
King Arthur, Shrek 2, Harry
Potter 3
Kringlan 4-6
Phone: 588-0800
www.sambio.is
PREMIERS:
6. august The Village
6. august New York Minute
13. august Thunderbirds
13. august Harold and Kumar
go to White Castle
Still running:
King Arthur, Raising Helen,
Around The World in 80 Days,
Harry Potter 3 (dubbed)
Smáralind
Phone: 564-0000
www.smarabio.is
PREMIERS:
6. august Garfield
6. august Fahrenheit 9/11
13. august Hellboy
Still running:
Spiderman 2, I Robot, Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Hagatorg
Phone: 530-1919
www.haskolabio.is
PREMIERS:
6. august The Village
13. august Thunderbirds
13. august The Stepford Wifes
Still running:
King Arthur, Good bye, Lenin!
Shrek 2, Troy, The Ladykillers
Look no further for:
Comic Books
Graphic Novels
Manga / Anime
Action Figures
Sci-Fi / Fantasy Paperbacks
Collectible Card Games
Warhammer
Role-Playing Games
and more...
NEXUS
Hverfisgata 103 (near bus station Hlemmur)
Open mon-sat 12 to 19:30, sun 13-18.
Phones 552 9011 - 552 9012
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