Arrow gives John Boorman’s 1981 Arthurian epic Excalibur a Holy Grail for physical media collectors in a gorgeous new 4kUHD/Blu-Ray (you can finally SEE what happens!), bursting at the seams with 17 hours of material.
I normally don’t do introductions on physical media discs, preferring to let the review speak for itself. However, I’m making an exception for Arrow’s new LE of John Boorman’s King Arthur epic Excalibur. This set is massive. If you’re a fan of the movie, or even lukewarm on it, but love digging into the hows and whys of a lost type of filmmaking, it’ll give you plenty to dig into. Look at this: two cuts, three commentaries, and over 5 hours of features via documentaries, essays, and wide-ranging interviews. I tallied it up:1000 minutes to watch all three discs in their entirety, plus reading time for the thick booklet and the on-disc full screenplay! That’s nearly 17 HOURS. And it’s all quality. This Excalibur is one of my favorite sets to work through. That might be enough to get to run off and pick it up. But let’s get into the details, shall we?
The Film
Excalibur is a film that has grown on me over the years. At first watch, on a far-too-dark VHS in the mid-90s, I saw what Boorman was up to, but it didn’t grab me. But I felt like I was missing something. Each time I’ve revisited it since, I’ve appreciated it more. Now, I fully understand and love it. Sure, the sprawling nature of the story following King Arthur from conception to death loses characters without properly closing them up, some aspects aren’t fully explored and also drop off, and so forth, but I appreciate the largeness of it all. It’s a testament to in-camera effects, huge moments and battles, all with a beautiful, ethereal, fog-filled world-building (which earned cinematographer Alex Thompson an Oscar).
It’s the sort of massive cinematic undertaking that vanished after the retirements of William Wyler and Cecil B. DeMille, and briefly reignited with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings (of which John Boorman tried to make in the early 70s, partially leading to Excalibur; but that’s a complicated history explored in the special features in detail) before going down in flames with Troy, Alexander, and Kingdom of Heaven (theatrical cut) a few years later. It’s kind of a mess, but it’s a good kind of mess. It’s big Fantasy, brash, hugely designed, otherworldly, and bigger than life. I will always appreciate a film that goes big and goes for broke. Even if it doesn’t completely hit its lofty goals, better than slouching along with a shrug. Everything is on the screen, from the clanking of the armor, the gorgeous, fog-enshrouded Irish countryside, to the massive indoor sets and large casts.
While Boorman and Rospo Pallenberg’s script is noted to be based on Thomas Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, they really pull from the ever-malleable and shifting Arthurian legend, editing, combining, and moving around as needed. But they do create strong, compelling characters: Arthur, played in all ages by a versatile Nigel Terry; Lancelot, stage fighting master Nicolas Clay; witch Morgana, a sly Helen Mirren, and Nicol Williamson’s incredible and delightfully oddball Merlin. What’s fantastic is that while they are bigger than life, they are flawed people; the acts are big and glorious, but the people behind them are often damaged, conflicted, and human.
A lot of big names here, small when starting. Would you believe Excalibur had the first screen performances by not only Helen Mirren, but Liam Neeson as Gawain, Gabriel Byrne as Uther Pendragon, Ciaran Hinds as Lot, and Patrick Stewart as Leondegrance? Damn, what a start. But all are perfectly suited, Boorman can really pick them. He picked them up from watching stage productions and saw the talent. Go Boorman. Not only those household stars, but Paul Georffy’s Percival, Guinevere performed by Cherie Lunghi, and more.
Even with any flaws, Excalibur is a huge, incredibly crafted film. John Boorman’s Excalibur is a big, bold, beautiful film of big people, larger emotions, conflicts of chivalry and honor versus personal wants. It’s personal, yet an epic with gorgeous sets (Camelot!… not only a model) and location use of the rolling Irish hills. That wonderful look is on people with amazing performances. Yeah, it’s a little messy, but a damned fine one. Grand, but flawed, Excalibur is a hell of a film. It’s one that sticks with you. As I said, I revisited several times over thirty years because I knew it was more than I felt at the start.
The Package
Arrow presents a Holy Grail of physical releases, shining like a beacon over Zoot’s bad, bad, naughty Zoot’s castle. Wait, wrong Arthur movie! (you know I had to bring it up more than once. On that note, it’s funny how many bits of this align to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, then 7 years old, leading to quoting a different movie while watching… GET ON WITH IT!…) Like, their loaded TMNT trilogy release, Arrow loads up in physical goodies, and a butt ton of features. On the physical:
Excalibur sprawls over three discs, each pressed with poster images. The first disc (with the theatrical cut of the film) is either 4kUHD or Blu-Ray, depending on your choice of set. Discs 2 and 3 are both Blu-ray and are the same, no matter your option for disc 1. The discs are housed in a keepcase. The sleeve is reversible with two options of original poster art on either side. The same art is on a double-sided mini-poster. Also included are six postcard-sized poster images and a thick booklet (more on that in special features). All of this is contained in a heavy box. Quite the collection.
The Presentation
Excalibur has never looked better. It’s great to actually SEE the movie, based on the new 4k restoration from the original negative. Apparently, this is also the first time the aspect ratio is correct. Well, that VHS back in the day was so dark that it was hard to see anything. The early DVD of the mid-00s was better but still lacking, same with any streaming. With this 4k, I can see just how utterly gorgeous Excalibur is. This transfer is clear and crisp, digging into the wondrous detail and production value, not to mention highlighting the Oscar-winning cinematography, making excellent use of sunshine and fog. The ethereal, hazy visuals fit the story, and that alone can be worth the pick up besides the slew of features below. Sound is 5.1 and 2.0 mono with English subtitles. It was filmed silently (armor clanks after all), so the whole soundscape is post-dub, which always comes off a little strange for me, but it gives a quality of otherworldliness. But no matter how dubbing fits on your ears, it does sound great and full with a lot going on, but nothing is drowned out.
The Features
Buckle your armor, folks, you gotta long ride.
How it breaks down:
Disc 1, no matter which one you get, contains the 3 commentaries.
Disc 2 has 4.5 hours of interviews, essays, and documentaries.
Disc 3 contains the TV cut and one further 50-minute retrospective.
Disc 1:
3 commentaries: 1) John Boorman (1999), 2) Brian Hoyle, author of The Cinema of John Boorman (new), and 3) David Kittredge, director of Boorman and the Devil (new)
A fine set of commentaries. Boorman, despite being the director of the film, is the least interesting, as it’s an early commentary by an older man (now even older and still kicking). Lots of pauses and a good chunk of “explaining what’s happening on screen” with the insights repeated in the features. If you have to skip one, it’s this. Hoyle and Kittredge are both end-to-end facts, info, and insight looking at this film and Boorman on the whole (as they are both Boorman aficionados, as their credits show). They cover a great deal of information without too much repetition, appreciating the film very well and deepening our understanding of Excalibur.
Disc 2:
Here’s the meat of this release. A great set of features. So much about the creative process; the hows and whys of creation. Not only about Excalibur but a wider lens for all involved; prepare to hear all about Boorman’s whole filmography from the heights of Deliverance to the lows of Exorcist II and Zardoz. Even if you don’t like the movie, the love of the HOWS is enough to check it out. I’ll save you the math: this disc has 4.5 hours of features, plus image galleries including the screenplay! All features are in English with no subtitles. 
The Making of Exaliber Myth to Movie (made in 1981, but never released, so “new”)
Directed by Neil Jordan, who would go on to make A Company of Wolves and Interview with the Vampire, and so many others! Jordan was a jack of all trades across the set, including filming this behind-the-scenes and interview-based feature. Fascinating to watch it come together and get thoughts of the famously troubled (so many balls in the air) production. Yes, trouble,d but the sort where it still works. (48m)
Interviews (all new)
“To Be a Knight and Follow a King: director John Boorman and son, Charley Boorman.”
Wow. Boorman is 93, and you’d never know it with how good he looks and how strong his memory is. Boorman explores making the film, where it came from, and how. Looking back, he can see how aspects of this legend and Merlin have worked through his filmography. Then a surprise guest with his son, who was briefly in Deliverance and played teenage Mordred. Definitely gives a different perspective. (25m)
“When Death was but a Dream”
Neil Jordan gives his perspective on being a catch-all job on the set, which helped set him up for his own film career. It was on-the-job training to the best degree (25m)
“The Charm of Making: Production Designer Anthony Pratt”
Incredible, the extremely detailed memories of working with Boorman in and before Excalibur. Great love to all the craftspeople who made the film. Shows how many hands have to work together to create it. Loved seeing his prosecution sketches as well, and there is a great joy in watching Pratt sit in a theatre watching his work. Like Boorman, he’s over 90 and lives it. 26m
“Confessions of a Professional Pain-in-the-Ass”
Per the note at the start, this interview with 2nd unit director Peter MacDonald is cut down from 4 and a half hours. What we have is 1 hour and 15 minutes, and I would love to hear it all. This man has STORIES of decades of working all around film sets.
Adam Cara: Boorman and co-writer Rospo Pallenberg’s Friendship (new)
Howard S. Berger (not the special effects guy) presented a visual message of Pallenberg and Boorman’s joint career as co-writers, mixed with an interview with Pallenberg. Pallenberg often didn’t get the credit, but he was right there with Boorman all along. I would love to hear more of the Lord of the Rings story. Fun hearing the Zardoz stories of how THAT came around (for the record, Zardoz is utterly bananas in the best way and is fully committed to the lunacy, and I freakin’ love it).
Divided Nature: The Death and Life of Cinemation Illusion in the Kingdom of John Boorman
Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr, credited as “The flying Maciste Brothers.” Fascinating look at Boorman’s filmography and the creation of and breaking down of personal aspirations and illusions they have (a theme connecting Deliverance, Exorcist II, Zardoz, and Excalibur. Think about it). (30m)
Trailers: Teaser: 1m45s; wonderfully faded, brings me back, and Theatrical 2m25s
Image Galleries
Freaking loaded! 1) 99 Black and white stills 2) 102 Color Stills 3) 27 Posters 4) 23 original production notes, and finally 5) Draft screenplay 117 pages! I did not read this, but totally cool it’s there!
Disc 3:
The TV cut!
A two-hour version of the film, with the sex and violence toned down. Apparently, HBO showed this version during the day, and the full one at night. It adds a Merlin voiceover, and Williamson is having a great time. Worth it for that. Also, to bring us back to the old days: it’s pan and scan!
Excalibur: Behind the Movie (2016)
Holy crap, they got the big guys: Neeson, Byrne, Stewart, and Mirren! But not just them, plenty of others, mostly actors (a change from the production backing of disc 2), looking back 25 years later to an early time on camera. They have such fun, big stories; a highlight is Neeson and horses. Fond memories, with nothing it was tough set, but a worthy one with respect for Boorman and the production (a motif across the features) (53m)
Booklet
Ho. Ly. Crap. This booklet is 117 pages! WOW.
It’s too much to break down in an already very long review, but we have 8 essays mixed with production photos. This is impressive. All the writings are fantastic, further deepening the appreciation of Excalibur. And the booklet looks great. Beautifully designed and set.
Final Thoughts
If the introduction and the continued wowing across the rest didn’t make it clear: this Arrow 4k/Blu-ray of Excalibur is a high bar of a physical media release. Absolutely loaded from start to finish. Pull the Sword from the Stone and hoist it high: this disc is King!