First Knight (Special Edition) [Blu-ray] | ![First Knight (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XE4bU5KLL._SL500_.jpg) | Actors: Susan Breslau, Sean Connery, Susannah Corbett, Ben Cross, Richard Gere
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $28.95
Buy New: $15.41
as of 2/10/2010 06:43 EST details
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Seller: zazmedia
Rating:  157 reviews
Sales Rank: 19899
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Portuguese (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Japanese (Original Language), Arabic (Subtitled), Chinese (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Japanese (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Japanese (Dubbed), Portuguese (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: Blu-ray
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 6.7 x 5.3 x 0.5
MPN: 25288
UPC: 043396252882
EAN: 0043396252882
ASIN: B0013FSXSC
Theatrical Release Date: 1995
Release Date: April 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 29-APR-2008
Media Type: Blu-Ray
Amazon.com
1995 had already seen the box-office success of sword-wielding heroes in Rob Roy and Braveheart when along came this glossy revision of the Arthurian legend, in which Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond) is torn between her love for the noble King Arthur (Sean Connery) and the passionate knight Sir Lancelot (Richard Gere). As the story opens, Guinevere's lands are under attack by the evil knight Malagant (Ben Cross), and she must choose between marriage to Arthur and the security of Camelot, or encouraging the affections of Lancelot, who has heroically rescued her from a potentially lethal attack. Anyone looking for meticulous medieval authenticity won't find it here, but director Jerry Zucker (Ghost) keeps the action moving with exuberant spirit and glorious production values. Even if you don't completely believe Richard Gere as a somewhat too-contemporary Lancelot, the performances of Ormond and especially Connery are effortlessly appealing. --Jeff Shannon
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 157
 Decent Arthurian interpretation January 30, 2010
Jason (Backwater, Alabama)
Skipping much of Arthurian background story - and completely disregarding other aspects - "First Arthur" begins where the most famous of Lancelot's legendary adventures begin. With her lands attacked by ex-knight Malagant (Ben Cross), Lady Guinevere (Julia Ormond), as a stereotypical ingénue, is soon to wed King Arthur (Sean Connery) for protection. A country divided, Malagant's forces seek to overtake Arthur's, and upon Guinevere's arrival to Camelot they make their first strike. In rides Lancelot (Richard Gere) to save the day.
Considering past Arthurian lore, I'd say a lot of this film is accurate. The scenery is impressive, and the battles are worthy if unspectacular. Except for the final sword battle between Lancelot and Malagant, which is ridiculous. Not only does the number of swords in battle magically change, but Gere ends up holding a handle without the sword at the end. Two of the more obvious movie slip-ups I've ever seen.
The emotional aspect of this film is true to form. The Lancelot-Guinevere-Arthur love triangle is very well done, as Ormond manages to express an admirable love for King Arthur and a lustful desire for Lancelot. The struggle between the opposing forces of good and evil is captivating, despite its predictability.
The problem with this film, however, is the casting and the costumes. While Ormond and Connery are nearly perfect, and Cross is a completely malignant evil, Richard Gere just doesn't seem to be right as Lancelot. He possesses neither the polished veneer of a highly skilled knight, nor the ruffian edge of a battle-hardened warrior. He's simply not believable. The costumes, on the other hand, are just as bad. The peasants' attire is appropriate, but the battle armor of the various knights, both good and evil, is anachronistic at best. Rather than the classic silver armor of good versus the dark grays of enemy armor, First Knight gives us a costume designer's interpretation, where the knights would look just as comfortable seated at a round table as they would a Michael Jackson themed disco club from the early 80s.
The movie is a decent medieval romantic thriller, but it's not exemplary. Told without The Holy Grail, Merlin, or Excalibur, it's a small piece of the pie that is just a bit off. Except for the medieval obstacle course, I thought that part was a great addition.
 First Knight January 19, 2010
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
A rebel knight from King Arthur's round table seeks to expand his empire by force, and terrorises the subjects of Guinevere, who has received an offer of marriage from Arthur. On the way to visit Arthur she has a chance meeing with the free-spirited and bohemian Lancelot, to whom she finds herself attracted. This movie is an adaptation of the myth of Arthur, and is interesting. The performances by Connery, Ormond and Gere are very good. First Knight is a great movie, and one you should not miss. It's a simple story that doesn't require a lot of analysis or understanding of the story and mythology to enjoy.
A Real Camelot? June 10, 2009
F. Ellsworth (SLC, UT USA)
Curious attempt to tell the story of Camelot without the mysticism of Morte D'Arthur. The movie is stripped of the story's historic magic and told as a non-supernatural event. All-in-all it was nicely done.
The fault I find with this piece rests entirely on Richard Gere. I simply cannot buy him as a heroic character and certainly not as the charismatic Lancelot.
On the other hand... long live Lord Connery!
First Knight (Special Edition) May 5, 2009
A. Rautio (Palm Bay, Florida USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recieved my new product in a timely manner and was very satisfied with my purchase. The only thing I didn't like was not being able to track my purchase but other than that I was very satisfied with my purchase.
 Unintentionally HILARIOUS!!! March 24, 2009
Eduardo Nietzsche (Houston)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you were sitting in the next room, you would have thought that I was watching a comedy...absolutely cracking up, giggling, and rolling on the floor at the horrendous script, corny dialogue and weak acting in this movie. Julia Ormond is very easy on the eyes, and the only redeeming feature of "First Knight"---Sean Connery pretty much phones in his stock role of Noble Wise Old Man which he's done about a million times before in his long career, and Richard Gere...well, Richard Gere is the main gut-buster here. His acting has always been mediocre at best, just a hair better than the Keanu Reeves and Tom Cruises of Hollywood, but here his lack of talent is truly showcased in scene after scene, aided in no small part by the outrageously corny dialogue that he, Ormond and Connery are all subjected to.
Basically, this film is the Cumbiyah-version of the King Arthur legend, in which Camelot is this incredibly loving, altruism-based (almost Buddhist, though the word "God" is thrown around a fair bit) DEMOCRACY that just happens to have an enlightened despot, er, I mean, King Arthur. Gere's Lancelot is a fearless wanderer who spends most of the movie trying to woo Ormond's Guinevere away from her noble desire to not desire him because she's to be wedded to Connery's Arthur, the 30-40 year age difference between them be damned.
A corny, predictable formula movie like this can only have two possible redeeming features: sex and violence. Unfortunately this one fails on both counts...very PG-rated, no nudity or even heavy petting, and the fight scenes are amateurish at best, reminiscent of late 1970s medieval flicks, especially in comparison to the likes of Braveheart, Gladiator, etc. Julia Ormond provides the only visual pleasure, albeit a very clean scrubbed and pastoral-looking type that you're more likely to see in church, not much erotic energy going on there.
The 1980s film "Excalibur" was much more entertaining, in both the sex and violence departments, and far less ludicrous.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 157
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