CAMELOT - On Demand: THERE WILL BE BLOOD …AND SEX. LOTS OF SEXApril 14, 2011
Starz
On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies and shows on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: “CAMELOT” (Starz).
CAMELOT - On Demand: THERE WILL BE BLOOD …AND SEX. LOTS OF SEX
The King Arthur story has been told and retold many times and many ways: in poetry, prose, paintings, theatre, animation and film. It’s been told from different points of view: usually Arthur’s, but also from Merlin’s and especially creatively, from Morgan’s (in the wonderful book Mists of Avalon). It’s been spoofed and musicalized. Who could forget Vanessa Redgrave crooning “The Lusty Month of May?”
Perhaps that song was the inspiration for this version of “CAMELOT” (Starz). Who knew how randy those medieval folk were? They do it outside, in the kitchen, at parties with other people all around. Morgan leans back while on top of King Lot (HBO’s “Rome’s” James Purefoy), and that rocks his world so much he agrees to an alliance!
Morgan (Eva Green) is the beautiful, scheming, evil, driving force of this version, creating a worthy adversary for Joseph Fiennes’ tight-lipped Merlin who’s intensity is so fierce, if he weren’t constantly saying, “for Britain!” one might think he was evil. The two of them are terrific as competing sorcerers.
Eva Green / CAMELOT (Starz)
The eternal love triangle of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot is, in this version, re-imagined. Guinevere loves Arthur, but is betrothed to Leontes, who is of course the best of men AND saved Arthur’s life. Tamsin Egerton’s Guinevere looks like a California high school prom queen in her crushed velvet one-shoulder dress and her long, beautifully coiffed locks.
Even a bronze circlet starts to look more like a headband on her. And her vapid personality seems to fit that as well, making one wonder what this Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower, pretty and passionate), who has already proven he can get any girl he wants, sees in Guin that brings on this deep deep feeling.
CAMELOT (Starz)
I do feel sorry for her though because everyone else is freely having sex all around her, but she is expected to be a virgin when she marries (ahhh, the double-standard even then).
Excalibur and the Lady in the Lake are adapted for this Camelot, as well. There is a sword in the stone, but it’s called the Sword of Mars (which in case you didn’t know, they tell us was the Roman God of War), which is embedded in a stone at the top of a steep waterfall. Our Arthur does, of course, pull the stone out with coaching by Merlin who knows a great PR opportunity when he sees one! And even though we know he must succeed, it’s still a suspenseful sequence.
Joseph Fiennes / CAMELOT (Starz)
And speaking of swords, there is lots of swordplay and spearplay and daggerplay. I don’t think ten minutes can go by without someone getting slashed or stabbed, with an occasional poisoning to mix it up a bit.
But there is a reason the Camelot tale continues to be told. The operatic tragedy of a king trying to do the right thing is always a stirring theme. And the soap operatic bedding and betraying makes watching the tragedy even more satisfying.
Jean Tait is a contributing writer to On Demand Weekly. Currently the Director of Programming for the Connecticut Film Festival, Jean has programmed for the Jacksonville Film Festival and Sundance Channel.
CAMELOT premiered April 1 on Starz. Look for episodes on your local cable provider on Starz On Demand.
Check out previous reviews by Jean Tait:
United States of Tara - Season 3
