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Post by dinadan on May 4, 2005 7:31:03 GMT -5
We've talked about King Arthur things on lots of the threads around here, so I thought I'd create a thread for just talking about Arthur, the Arthruiad, medieval myths, medieval facts, and so on.
Some of my favorite Arthurian stories are (of course) Lawhead's, but there are others which I like a great deal as well. Naturally, Charles Williams' Arthurian poetry ranks high on my list, but I'm also a big fan of Tennyson's versions of the myth, and on occasion I'll read parts of The Faerie Queene and really enjoy it. Oh, and as far as myth goes, I've just ordered the first volume of the cartoon series "King Arthur and the Knights of Justice" on DVD. I can't wait until it gets here and I can sit down and enjoy the childhood flashbacks it'll induce.
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Post by twyrch on May 4, 2005 10:44:19 GMT -5
We've talked about King Arthur things on lots of the threads around here, so I thought I'd create a thread for just talking about Arthur, the Arthruiad, medieval myths, medieval facts, and so on. Some of my favorite Arthurian stories are (of course) Lawhead's, but there are others which I like a great deal as well. Naturally, Charles Williams' Arthurian poetry ranks high on my list, but I'm also a big fan of Tennyson's versions of the myth, and on occasion I'll read parts of The Faerie Queene and really enjoy it. Oh, and as far as myth goes, I've just ordered the first volume of the cartoon series "King Arthur and the Knights of Justice" on DVD. I can't wait until it gets here and I can sit down and enjoy the childhood flashbacks it'll induce. I don't remember if I've mentioned this or not, but my family legend talks about our family coming into possesion of King Arthur's Crown and the Black Rood. |
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Post by Gwalchmai on May 7, 2005 8:16:34 GMT -5
Man I could go on and on about arthurian books that I would recommend but I'll try to hold back just a little  My all time fav would have to be Lawhead's series just because he masterfully blended so many stories into one coherent legend. Jack Whyte's series called the Cameloudian Chronicles (dont quote me on the spelling) is very interesting in that he trys to ground everything heavy in reality. And for the most part he does a excellent job. The only two things that is just... no way you crazy person, are the numbers of men each side supossedly has and the fact that a meteor fell to earth bringing the metal needed to create Excalibur. But despite that I still recommend it. And for now, I would also like to recommend Bernard Cornwell's series The Warlord Chronicles. Its a much more gritty version of the tale but I found it was all worth it when they made Lancelot the bad guy. Man I really hate that frenchman  Anyways, go read those for now and enjoy. |
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Post by calixar on May 7, 2005 10:04:29 GMT -5
The really funny thing about the whole Lancelot thing in Arthurian stories is the idea that the character (from French folklore) upon which he was based may, in fact, be the same guy (from British folklore) upon which Arthur was originally based.
If you're interested in non-fiction Arthuriana, I recommend searching out From Scythia to Camelot by Littleton and Malcor. Besides the above thought, it will clearly show the reason I walked out of the theater during the recent "King Arthur" movie, which was not at all historically accurate.
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Post by blixbrunner on May 13, 2005 0:21:29 GMT -5
...recent "King Arthur" movie, which was not at all historically accurate.
Hmmm? Can anyone really calm 'historical accurateness' when producing works build on Arthurian ledgend/myth/history?
King Arthur was a poor movie and pretty different in some of it 's treatments of the main themes (themes pretty dear to many of us.) However most of those new ideas where do-a-bull.
Arthurs Roman costumes were great. Gwens where pretty weak!
Apart from production the worst thing about the film to me, at least historcially was the Saxons (of 450AD or anytime) having crossbows!
anyway
Got the DVD on sale the other day with a copy of the old film Excalibur. Fun editions to my collect of 'all things Arthur'.
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Post by calixar on May 13, 2005 8:49:13 GMT -5
Besides the crossbows, other bad history in the film involved the Sarmatians. At the time, they had been living in Britain for about 200 years. When released from service, they did not go back to the Caucasius region... they lived in Britain... had intermarried with locals.
I know there were a number of other issues I had with it... glaring mistakes in the general time-setting... but I'm drawing a blank now... saw it once when it came out, haven't seen it a second time, yet.
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Post by Gwalchmai on May 13, 2005 9:54:16 GMT -5
Yes, a lot of films have inaccuracies but the problem with Arthur is they claimed to have found the truth behind the legand, and if you can't even keep your own "facts" straight then you're gonna get a lot of frack for it. Its fun to watch though, I did like some elements of it and of course, I'm a sucker for any Keira Knightley movie |
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Post by calixar on May 13, 2005 11:14:21 GMT -5
Yes, a lot of films have inaccuracies but the problem with Arthur is they claimed to have found the truth behind the legand, and if you can't even keep your own "facts" straight then you're gonna get a lot of frack for it. Its fun to watch though, I did like some elements of it and of course, I'm a sucker for any Keira Knightley movie Dinadan needs to chime in here, I think. ;D I'm sure he'd say the film is just fine as is because historical claims aside, it's a fictional world.... I agree with you, though. The film's history stunk and detracted from my ability to enjoy it. Doesn't change the fact that I'll probably buy the DVD at some point. |
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Post by Inkling on May 13, 2005 12:01:22 GMT -5
Yes, the "history" of this movie was, at times, ridiculous...but you have to admit that it's difficult to have any sort of "history" at all when you're dealing with a legend. I enjoyed hearing the story told a different way than usual. What I didn't enjoy was the film-makers' claims to historical veracity. UUUUUrrrrgh... They should have quit while ahead....
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Post by dinadan on May 15, 2005 22:49:58 GMT -5
Well, Calixar, I already posted my comments on KoH on the movie critique board. However, being perfectly consistent with my comments on King Arthur, Ridley Scott made no claims that he was making a movie to be "real history." In fact, he expressly said in one interview (and if I werent' on my way to bed, I'd see if I could find a transcript) that he never intended people to look at his movie as if it were documentary. He wasn't making any claims to historical truth, he was just after creating a good story on film--and in that he succeeded wildly. So yes, I thought that the film was great, despite the historical inaccuracies. I'd love to get in this further, but it's bedtime. Maybe tomorrow.
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Post by Gwalchmai on May 16, 2005 9:17:15 GMT -5
Maybe not but when you start the trailer to the movie with "The truth behind the legend" then I think your entitled to get frak from the audience.
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Post by dinadan on May 16, 2005 12:12:20 GMT -5
Maybe not but when you start the trailer to the movie with "The truth behind the legend" then I think your entitled to get frak from the audience. Which trailer had that on it? I'm asking because I don't remember seeing that one. |
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Post by dinadan on May 18, 2005 19:59:17 GMT -5
So, the dvd I ordered of season one of the cartoon King Arthuur and the Knights of Justice (1992) came in yesterday. I watched the first two episodes this afternoon, and I have to say, yes, it's a crappy early '90s cartoon, but man did it make me nostalgic. It's all about the myth, not the facts, and makes no apologies for that. All in all though, there are a lot of of subtle things that I didn't pick up on when I was watching this show at age 9--like, for example, Morgana's #1 henchman, Lord Viper, is the only knight dressed all in green, obviously making him the Green Knight. And yeah, some of the stuff is really ridiculous, but at the same time I was thinking: "Why aren't they showing kids cartoons like this anymore?" I mean, really, there are all kinds of good lessons about loyalty, friendship, honor, and justice. I think the world would be a better place if we had kids emulating the Knight of Justice rather than the lunacy of japanimation heroes (or antiheroes, often as not).
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Post by calixar on May 18, 2005 21:07:21 GMT -5
"Why aren't they showing kids cartoons like this anymore?" I mean, really, there are all kinds of good lessons about loyalty, friendship, honor, and justice. I think the world would be a better place if we had kids emulating the Knight of Justice rather than the lunacy of japanimation heroes (or antiheroes, often as not). I'm with you there! That's the main reason I don't object to my son watching Power Rangers... loyalty, teamwork, friendship, and redemption are constant themes throughout. If there was a load of money to do it, I actually have an idea for a cartoon... semi-humor... about a donkey named Odie who takes on the "impossible" task of setting out to right wrong. Get it? Donkey Odie....? |
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Post by dinadan on May 18, 2005 21:33:33 GMT -5
Haha, very clever. I'm sure it'd be great.
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Twyrch /|\
Anyways, go read those for now and enjoy.
