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First Knight: Special Edition
Sony Pictures // PG-13 // April 29, 2008
List Price: $19.94 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Somewhere in between Excalibur, King Arthur, and Jerry Zucker's First Knight lies the perfect tale of Camelot. Unfortunately, each effort suffers from a restraint that pulls it down from the levels of greatness. First Knight's problems lie in its efforts to be a radio serial version of the story with attractive faces that try to make you forget about what it lacks in substance. Though Ormond and Connery are nearly pitch perfect as Guinevere and Arthur and the physical design of the film is top notch, Zucker's take on latter Arthurian lore lacks the thematic majesty to wrap up many whimsical minds in its grandeur.
The Film:
First Knight captures King Arthur during the latter stretch of his reign in a time following many years of war. Legend boasts the potentially fictitious Arthur as a savvy and majestic warlord with heart, but this King of Camelot is a more subdued and pensive man. Sean Connery does a great job of infusing both his own signature charm and a uniquely intrinsic mode to the character that gets a lot right. As to be expected, he's great - but, interestingly, he surrenders to the film's other cornerstone characters and becomes almost a supporting figure to Richard Gere's Lancelot. That, in essence, really doesn't help First Knight.
Instead, it focuses on the relationship between the rogue-like Lancelot and the vigilant Lady Guinevere, played with exasperating breadth by Julia Ormond. After a thwarted kidnapping effort from a power-hungry ex-Knight of the Round Table, Malagant (Ben Cross), the penniless yet elegant Lancelot attempts to rapidly court the betrothed Guinevere (guess to whom?) during the time after her rescue. It turns into a bustle of uncomfortable nerves between the two characters, which works only due to the intensity bubbling from Gere's performance as Lancelot. He takes to Lancelot's developing chivalry admirably, though it all occurs quite easily. There are a lot of close-quartered focal shots of him throughout, helping to illustrate the film's surface-leveled, haughty agendas.
Depth is not First Knight's strong suit; it tinkers a bit with patriotism towards Camelot and the respect that you give to a welcome hand that pulls you from poverty, but ultimately the story is overwhelmingly predictable and formulaic to almost wager-worthy levels. Each line of dialogue, especially from the "dreamy" Lancelot, all feels much too easy and overblown to take with an earnest heart. True, that's not something medieval romantic films necessarily need. However, with a fanciful story like First Knight that's void of whimsical magic (i.e. no Merlin), it's got to counterbalance these missing intangibles with more realistic elements that make it graspable.
Zucker's rendition of the Arthur legend decides to be an adventurous, easy-on-the-eyes knightly opera instead of one that comes out swinging with dramatic gravitas. First Knight can definitely boast about its great set and costume design, along with some elegantly shot battle sequences. Each of the Camelot knights sport a unique suit of navy studded-leather armor, which differs from most perceptions of their clothing. It makes for some intriguing usages of deep blues against the sandstone backdrop within Arthur's kingdom. Alongside gorgeous aesthetics, an active score and radiant sound design accompany the film which wraps up the viewer in its splendor. It's as if Zucker and his production crew knew they were working against the missing element of fantasy-based magic in their story, which prompted their efforts to swirl up the audience in a grand, calming array of enchanting music and rich visuals instead.
Nevertheless, what ultimately saves First Knight from the ranks of muddled, misfired costume theatrics are the performances from Connery and Gere - more importantly the chemistry between the two. They both draw in energy within the space they're standing, whether it's within a packed square during Guinevere's introduction to the city of Camelot or in a small, echoic hall opposite each other. When their personalities and dramatic energies begin to overlap, then it makes for some of the film's more effective moments during almost dance-like movements within their debonair conversations. Now, it's not enough to shake the overwhelming level of smugness that First Knight's overly charismatic tone pushes on the audience, but it's enough for us to take the film with a grain of salt and enjoy for its clanking adventurousness and romantic twists and turns.
The DVD:
Sony presents First Knight in a standard keepcase "special edition" presentation with an exact replicate slipcase covering the DVD. Though it seems to be just a parallel release with the Blu-Ray edition, it actually gets a lot of things right where the older disc has issues.
The Video:
Taking a glance at the original First Knight DVD before walking into this new print provided an interesting experience. The original disc, though it's an older effort, is anamorphic and doesn't look terrible as far as compression and digital noise goes. Where the difference lies comes after you compare the old disc to this new 1.85:1 anamorphic image on the Special Edition DVD.
Left = Previous, Right = Special
Now, the older image actually looks to be closer to a 1.75 or so, so the new framing crops off a bit from the vertical extremities of the negative - though it's nothing earth shattering. However, compared to the older disc, this new print has a much cleaner color palette; the older disc suffered a bit from a dingy brown-ish coating that looks like it was draped over the screen. The sandstone colors, flesh tones, and metallic silvers, which looked especially purple, all look much nicer this time around. Digital noise was there, as was a spot of edge enhancement, but didn't deter from the viewing experience. Overall, this visual presentation is a nice step in the right direction compared to the older disc.
The Audio:
Where the disc really impressed me is with its robust, active Dolby Digital 5.1 audio presentation. Fire blazing, horses galloping, crowds cheering ... everything really poured through here. The lower bass channel gets some action here and there with some lower ended activity, such as with the galloping of horse hooves and the crashing of wood on the ground, but the real stunning achievement comes from the multidirectional qualities in this audio presentation. Vocal clarity sounded fine, for the most part, reaching to both directions with almost as much strength as the sound effects. By Dolby standards, this is great sounding disc.
The Extras:
It's not hard to trump the original bare-bones disc First Knight started with, seeing as how the film started with disc insertion and only contained a few audio options. Here, plenty of supplements are at the viewer's disposal.
Audio Commentary with director Zucker and producer Lowry:
More of a laid back audio commentary, this is a mildly informative yet quite warm track that gives off just enough interesting material to make it a quality track worth the time. Casting decisions and production qualms fit into the track, blended with a good chunk of laughing and joking. Not a bad listen.
"Arthurian" Commentary featuring Corey James Rushton:
Rushton is a professor of medieval literature who is very knowledgeable and well-spoken in the lore and modern conceptions of knighthood, knight errands (Lancelot), and others. He's conceptual, textual and, in spots, pretty darn entertaining to listen to. He covers elements like whether peasants would hold swords, how the legend of Guinevere is altered for the film, as well as the legitimacy behind whether Camelot and Arthur actually existed.
Featurettes:
Segmented into three portions, these production pieces span close to an hour in length. They cover some of the behind-the-scenes material of the film, but primarily focus in on the director's, actors', and producers' perceptions of the film:
The Quest for Camelot (18 minutes):
Lots of footage from the film incorporated with interviews with the actors. Some behind the scenes footage is also included, it's somewhat generic marketing stuff, but it'd little glimmers of archival footage make it worthwhile. There's lots of play-by-play story and setting explanations from the actors and filmmakers, however, that can wear on the viewer after a bit.
Creation of a Kingdom (18 minutes):
This featurette describes the differences between the three fabricated locales that were constructed for the film: Lianesse, Camelot, and the castle belonging to Malagant. It's a nice piece that shows some nifty behind-the-scenes shots and interviews that illustrate the quality behind the assembly. There's lot of purpose behind these specific locations, and each purpose is delved into within this piece.
Knights in Training (18 minutes):
This was my favorite of the featurettes, mainly because it addresses the balance between skewed history and the combat that we perceive as a knight's talents. It's a very interesting watch that helps to appreciatethe development of the action behind the film and, in essence, the appreciation of overall medieval combat. Lots of the material focuses on the efforts behind ARMA, a historical combat-based organization. Tons of behind-the-scenes footage of the ARMA members training pops into this piece, both with swords and without.
Deleted and Extended Scenes:
There's a quaintness available with these deleted scenes. Each one displays a fair amount of print damage, though they're all enhanced for widescreen televisions. This deleted material is all fairly textual and could be seen as shackles to the film's pacing. Some of the scenes were clearly shot without audio, since it wasn't necessary if there was going to be score voiced over. I did like the Horse Whisper scene, just because it helps with Lancelot and Guinevere's intimacy.
-----
Final Thoughts:
For a story filled with knights, horse-drawn marauders, and the majesty packed within the city of Camelot, First Knight is a fairly inventive and visually interesting tale of King Arthur and his right hand man, Lancelot. Though it sticks too close to formula standards to show off too much ingenuity and suffers a bit from over-the-top theatrics, it's still an engaging medieval drama filled with construed romanticism and a compelling take on the Arthur / Lancelot / Guinevere dynamic. Paired with fluent technical strengths and a strong string of supplements, as well as a low price tag, First Knight comes Recommended.
Thomas Spurlin, Staff Reviewer -- DVDTalk Reviews | Personal Blog/Site
The Film:
First Knight captures King Arthur during the latter stretch of his reign in a time following many years of war. Legend boasts the potentially fictitious Arthur as a savvy and majestic warlord with heart, but this King of Camelot is a more subdued and pensive man. Sean Connery does a great job of infusing both his own signature charm and a uniquely intrinsic mode to the character that gets a lot right. As to be expected, he's great - but, interestingly, he surrenders to the film's other cornerstone characters and becomes almost a supporting figure to Richard Gere's Lancelot. That, in essence, really doesn't help First Knight.
Instead, it focuses on the relationship between the rogue-like Lancelot and the vigilant Lady Guinevere, played with exasperating breadth by Julia Ormond. After a thwarted kidnapping effort from a power-hungry ex-Knight of the Round Table, Malagant (Ben Cross), the penniless yet elegant Lancelot attempts to rapidly court the betrothed Guinevere (guess to whom?) during the time after her rescue. It turns into a bustle of uncomfortable nerves between the two characters, which works only due to the intensity bubbling from Gere's performance as Lancelot. He takes to Lancelot's developing chivalry admirably, though it all occurs quite easily. There are a lot of close-quartered focal shots of him throughout, helping to illustrate the film's surface-leveled, haughty agendas.
Depth is not First Knight's strong suit; it tinkers a bit with patriotism towards Camelot and the respect that you give to a welcome hand that pulls you from poverty, but ultimately the story is overwhelmingly predictable and formulaic to almost wager-worthy levels. Each line of dialogue, especially from the "dreamy" Lancelot, all feels much too easy and overblown to take with an earnest heart. True, that's not something medieval romantic films necessarily need. However, with a fanciful story like First Knight that's void of whimsical magic (i.e. no Merlin), it's got to counterbalance these missing intangibles with more realistic elements that make it graspable.
Zucker's rendition of the Arthur legend decides to be an adventurous, easy-on-the-eyes knightly opera instead of one that comes out swinging with dramatic gravitas. First Knight can definitely boast about its great set and costume design, along with some elegantly shot battle sequences. Each of the Camelot knights sport a unique suit of navy studded-leather armor, which differs from most perceptions of their clothing. It makes for some intriguing usages of deep blues against the sandstone backdrop within Arthur's kingdom. Alongside gorgeous aesthetics, an active score and radiant sound design accompany the film which wraps up the viewer in its splendor. It's as if Zucker and his production crew knew they were working against the missing element of fantasy-based magic in their story, which prompted their efforts to swirl up the audience in a grand, calming array of enchanting music and rich visuals instead.
Nevertheless, what ultimately saves First Knight from the ranks of muddled, misfired costume theatrics are the performances from Connery and Gere - more importantly the chemistry between the two. They both draw in energy within the space they're standing, whether it's within a packed square during Guinevere's introduction to the city of Camelot or in a small, echoic hall opposite each other. When their personalities and dramatic energies begin to overlap, then it makes for some of the film's more effective moments during almost dance-like movements within their debonair conversations. Now, it's not enough to shake the overwhelming level of smugness that First Knight's overly charismatic tone pushes on the audience, but it's enough for us to take the film with a grain of salt and enjoy for its clanking adventurousness and romantic twists and turns.
The DVD:
Sony presents First Knight in a standard keepcase "special edition" presentation with an exact replicate slipcase covering the DVD. Though it seems to be just a parallel release with the Blu-Ray edition, it actually gets a lot of things right where the older disc has issues.
The Video:
Taking a glance at the original First Knight DVD before walking into this new print provided an interesting experience. The original disc, though it's an older effort, is anamorphic and doesn't look terrible as far as compression and digital noise goes. Where the difference lies comes after you compare the old disc to this new 1.85:1 anamorphic image on the Special Edition DVD.
Now, the older image actually looks to be closer to a 1.75 or so, so the new framing crops off a bit from the vertical extremities of the negative - though it's nothing earth shattering. However, compared to the older disc, this new print has a much cleaner color palette; the older disc suffered a bit from a dingy brown-ish coating that looks like it was draped over the screen. The sandstone colors, flesh tones, and metallic silvers, which looked especially purple, all look much nicer this time around. Digital noise was there, as was a spot of edge enhancement, but didn't deter from the viewing experience. Overall, this visual presentation is a nice step in the right direction compared to the older disc.
The Audio:
Where the disc really impressed me is with its robust, active Dolby Digital 5.1 audio presentation. Fire blazing, horses galloping, crowds cheering ... everything really poured through here. The lower bass channel gets some action here and there with some lower ended activity, such as with the galloping of horse hooves and the crashing of wood on the ground, but the real stunning achievement comes from the multidirectional qualities in this audio presentation. Vocal clarity sounded fine, for the most part, reaching to both directions with almost as much strength as the sound effects. By Dolby standards, this is great sounding disc.
The Extras:
It's not hard to trump the original bare-bones disc First Knight started with, seeing as how the film started with disc insertion and only contained a few audio options. Here, plenty of supplements are at the viewer's disposal.
Audio Commentary with director Zucker and producer Lowry:
More of a laid back audio commentary, this is a mildly informative yet quite warm track that gives off just enough interesting material to make it a quality track worth the time. Casting decisions and production qualms fit into the track, blended with a good chunk of laughing and joking. Not a bad listen.
"Arthurian" Commentary featuring Corey James Rushton:
Rushton is a professor of medieval literature who is very knowledgeable and well-spoken in the lore and modern conceptions of knighthood, knight errands (Lancelot), and others. He's conceptual, textual and, in spots, pretty darn entertaining to listen to. He covers elements like whether peasants would hold swords, how the legend of Guinevere is altered for the film, as well as the legitimacy behind whether Camelot and Arthur actually existed.
Featurettes:
Segmented into three portions, these production pieces span close to an hour in length. They cover some of the behind-the-scenes material of the film, but primarily focus in on the director's, actors', and producers' perceptions of the film:
The Quest for Camelot (18 minutes):
Lots of footage from the film incorporated with interviews with the actors. Some behind the scenes footage is also included, it's somewhat generic marketing stuff, but it'd little glimmers of archival footage make it worthwhile. There's lots of play-by-play story and setting explanations from the actors and filmmakers, however, that can wear on the viewer after a bit.
Creation of a Kingdom (18 minutes):
This featurette describes the differences between the three fabricated locales that were constructed for the film: Lianesse, Camelot, and the castle belonging to Malagant. It's a nice piece that shows some nifty behind-the-scenes shots and interviews that illustrate the quality behind the assembly. There's lot of purpose behind these specific locations, and each purpose is delved into within this piece.
Knights in Training (18 minutes):
This was my favorite of the featurettes, mainly because it addresses the balance between skewed history and the combat that we perceive as a knight's talents. It's a very interesting watch that helps to appreciatethe development of the action behind the film and, in essence, the appreciation of overall medieval combat. Lots of the material focuses on the efforts behind ARMA, a historical combat-based organization. Tons of behind-the-scenes footage of the ARMA members training pops into this piece, both with swords and without.
Deleted and Extended Scenes:
There's a quaintness available with these deleted scenes. Each one displays a fair amount of print damage, though they're all enhanced for widescreen televisions. This deleted material is all fairly textual and could be seen as shackles to the film's pacing. Some of the scenes were clearly shot without audio, since it wasn't necessary if there was going to be score voiced over. I did like the Horse Whisper scene, just because it helps with Lancelot and Guinevere's intimacy.
-----
Final Thoughts:
For a story filled with knights, horse-drawn marauders, and the majesty packed within the city of Camelot, First Knight is a fairly inventive and visually interesting tale of King Arthur and his right hand man, Lancelot. Though it sticks too close to formula standards to show off too much ingenuity and suffers a bit from over-the-top theatrics, it's still an engaging medieval drama filled with construed romanticism and a compelling take on the Arthur / Lancelot / Guinevere dynamic. Paired with fluent technical strengths and a strong string of supplements, as well as a low price tag, First Knight comes Recommended.
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