Scooby-Doo in King Arthur's Court!

 Coming soon to home video:

 

 

 

 

Dragons of Camelot

I finally got around to watching The Dragons of Camelot (2014).

Directed by Mark K. Lester, the production was filmed on location in Wales and serves as a continuation of the Arthurian story that pits Arthurian heroes against Morgan le Fay (and her dragon allies) for rule of the country after Arthur's death. Lancelot and Guinevere play pivotal roles as does their son, Galahad. He is aided in his quest by former Grail seekers Bors, Percival and his sister, Dindrane. Merlin is also featured and is instrumental to Morgan's defeat. There are some notable divergences from the tradition, but the film does make a useful contribution to the After-Arthur subgenre.

The dvd release includes a short documentary on the making of the film.

Harty Celebration in Arthuriana

The latest number of Arthuriana (29.2 for Summer 2019) is a special issue celebrating the work of Kevin J. Harty. It also features a number of reviews of recent films.

Relevant content is as follows. Subscribers may access the issue at the journal's website and Project MUSE.


Preface
Alan Lupack and Barbara Tepa Lupack 3

‘Who are the Britons?’ Questions of Ethnic and National Identity in Arthurian Films
Christopher A. Snyder 6

Queer as Folk
Donald L. Hoffman  24

Tristan in Film
Joan Tasker Grimbert 47

A Connecticut Yankee at the Movies
Barbara Tepa Lupack 64

Romancing the Cold War: America’s Atomic Narrative Gets Medieval [on Adventures of Sir Galahad]
Susan Aronstein 86

From Kids as Galahad to Kid Galahad
Alan Lupack 102



REVIEWS
 

Joe Cornish, dir., The Kid Who Would Be King
Alan Lupack 119
 
David Mackenzie, dir., Outlaw King
Andrew B.R. Elliott 121
 
James Wan, dir., Aquaman  
Susan Aronstein and Taran Drummond 124

King Arthur in Marvel's Luke Cage on Netflix

Guest Post by Scott Manning

References to King Arthur occur in the recently released season 2 of Marvel's Luke Cage on Netflix. In episode one, Cage and others attempt to determine who is the likely buyer of weapons, working off the vague reference El Tercero, which they track down to Arturo Gomez, a Dominican gangster.

After looking at older photos, one of Cage’s friends recognizes the face, “This guy’s on TV 24/7. Arturo Gomez the third.” He opens a paper to reveal an ad for “Magical Markdowns” at Merlin Discount Furniture.

Cage immediately appreciates the lead, realizing Arturo Gomez changed his last name to Rey and reinvented himself with a “legitimate” business.

One of Cage’s friends tries to connect the dots with the rebranding, “Merlin? Arturo Rey?”
The group realizes the connection at the same time and exclaims, “King Arthur!” as Arturo Rey translates from Spanish to Arthur King.

“Sometimes the answer’s right in front of you,” concludes Cage.

Eventually, Cage goes to confront King Arthur in a warehouse district, possibly the furthest thing from Camelot.

-Scott Manning (@warpath)

A Second Review of Ritchie's King Arthur

Almost missed this. Here is yet another (negative) review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Famurewa, Jimi. Empire Summer 2017: 48-49.

Also available online at http://www.empireonline.com/movies/king-arthur-legend-sword/review/.

Another Review of Ritchie's King Arthur

Still collecting print reviews of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Here is one of the latest:

Graham, Jamie. Total Film Summer 2017: 48.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Review by Diak

A perceptive review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword by academic film scholar Nicholas Diak at Fanbase Press. It can be accessed at http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php/press/reviews/item/7738-king-arthur-legend-of-the-sword-film-review.

New article on Ritchie's King Arthur

Sci Fi magazine, a publication of the Syfy channel, has released a 3-page piece on the upcoming King Arthur film in its June 2017 issue. The number is available at newsstands and bookstores; you can also receive the magazine by subscription. 

Transformers: The Last Knight Speculation

I need to track down the trailer to Transformers: The Last Knight, but for now the following overview from Nerdist.com offers some possible plot points, including speculation about Merlin, Excalibur, and Arthur.

TF1's Merlin Mini-Series

The French television network TF1 aired a two-part miniseries called Merlin in 2012 . There is sparse information online about the series (see the sidebar under 2010-2019 productions), but the film, a comedic retelling of the Arthurian legend, offers yet another Merlin-centered version of the story.

Part one opens with a very Gandalf-looking Merlin (played by Gérard Jugnot) at the court of Uther Pendragon, where he helped raise and educate the young Arthur and (sometimes) Guenièvre. Ten years later, a less hirsute Merlin retires to Brocéliande after Arthur has grown up and begins to live with Viviane and her son Lancelot. However, Merlin is called back when Camelot is threatened by Arthur's cousin, Morgane, (herself a powerful magic-wielder, trained by her aged aunt) and her ally the barbarian king Vortigern (!) on the eve (?) of Arthur and Guenièvre's wedding. (Morgane had, apparently, expected to marry Arthur and become queen.) Merlin, Viviane, and Lancelot spend some time at court here, and (I think) the two mages are instrumental in stopping Morgane and Vortigern at this time. However, the villains return in part two, and Merlin is ill-prepared because the title of part one, "L'Enchanteur Désenchanté," refers to the fact that Merlin loses his powers as the years pass and he falls in love with Viviane and becomes a surrogate parent for Lancelot.

Taking place seven years later, part two, "Le Secret de Brocéliande," centers on Merlin's struggles to regain his magic in order to save the realm and restore Guenièvre to flesh after she has been turned, by the returned Morgane, into stone. This section also focuses on a quest for the Grail undertaken by Merlin and a teenaged Lancelot--the prophesied Grail-winner--to save Viviane, who is held by Morgane.

There are lots of images and some plot summary at the series official site (http://www.tf1.fr/merlin/) but no video. The following trailer comes from YouTube:

Merlin and the Dragons News

I've been learning how to edit entries on Wikipedia today and did some work expanding the listing for the animated film Merlin and the Dragons to make it less of a stub and add in some additional resources. You can view the updated entry at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_and_the_Dragons and see my changes in the "View hstory" tab. The film is still available on DVD from select distributors, including Amazon.com, and on YouTube. If you can, get the DVD, it includes a making-of feature.

Here are the clips from YouTube, posted by Tanabe18:

Sword in the Stone 50th Anniversary Edition

Disney is re-releasing The Sword in the Stone to home video in early August. The film will be offered in Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Edition and DVD/Digital Edition combo packs. There has been little advance information on the extras, but advance reviews on CriterionForum.org (at http://www.criterionforum.org/DVD-review/the-sword-in-the-stone-dual-format-edition/disney/1202) and Movieman's Guide to the Movies (at http://moviemansguide.com/main/2013/07/review-swordinthestone-bd/) reveals a special treat for fans of the film. Apparently, Disney has put together the original concept art for the film to provide an alternate first meeting for Merlin and Wart and more action for Madame Mim (the film's Morgan le Fay analogue). Further details to be posted as/if they become available.

Merlin on Video

A quick post to catch up to date. The popular series Merlin finished its five-year run earlier this year. The complete series is now available to own on DVD, Blu-Ray, and instant video. The following images are the front and back covers of the DVD release. I assume the Blu-Ray includes the same extras.

Intel Round Table Ultrabook Ad

The Matter of Britain goes commercial again for Intel's new line of Ultrabook computers:

Merlin on BBC America

BBC America begins this month airing the BBC1 series Merlin. A marathon of season one starts this Friday (8 June) night at 8 PM and runs through Saturday (9 June) morning at 8 AM. Conveniently, the season is also rerun Saturday from 9 AM through 10 PM followed at 10 PM with episode one of season two. Check out the online schedule for any changes: http://www.bbcamerica.com/schedule/. The network also now includes a page (http://www.bbcamerica.com/merlin/), filled with information and images, for the series on its website.

The remaining episodes of season two air Saturday nights later in the month with two episodes each night, the first at 9 PM and the second at 10 PM.

More Fate/Stay Night

The English dub of the animated feature film Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, which features various mythological and legendary figures (including a female King Arthur) in combat for the Holy Grail, comes to home video this month from Sentai Filmworks:

Having spent the last ten years of his life studying under a mysterious sorcerer, Shiro Emiya has become a Magi. As such, she can summoned the mystical female warrior, Saber, to stand in the ultimate test of sorcery and magic: the Holy Grail War. While seven teams will enter the battle, only one will leave. Is that worth the price Shiro must ultimately pay? The battle is on in FATE/STAY NIGHT – UNLILMITED BLADEWORKS!

The film follows the "official" storyline of the franchise as opposed to the composite one presented in the anime series Fate/Stay Night, which (as far as I can determine) is the only one to expand on Saber's past as King Arthur.

Apparently, there is also a prequel series Fate/Zero currently showing as an anime series on Japanese television (and now on Hulu.com at http://www.hulu.com/fatezero). The series depicts the last Holy Grail War ten years ago and introduces Lancelot.

Merlin Season 4

Teaser trailer for Merlin Season 4.



As the trailer notes, dark days are ahead for Camelot as Morgana forms an alliance with Arthur's uncle (!) Agravaine and plots against both Uther and Arthur. The series airs on SyFy Friday nights.

Merlin on DVD

Season three of Merlin has just been released to DVD and Blu-Ray for North American audiences. Extras include the following:
 

• Audio Commentary

• Making of Merlin Series 3
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• Wallpaper
• Gallery

This was an important season in terms of the Morgana arc and, under the tutelage of Morgause, saw her turn completely to the "Dark Side," while Merlin grew in power and confidence in his abilities. Arthur also matured as a man and leader, and the genesis of the Round Table fellowship was featured near the end of the season. Season four premiered this month on SyFy. 

Camelot on Starz

I've still not seen Camelot on Starz, but the show (which was not renewed for a second season) will be released next month on DVD. It seems to be a rise of Arthur storyline (rather like BBC1's Merlin). Here are some of the promotional videos produced for the series:

Tyler Tichelaar's King Arthur's Children

There is an extended post on Tyler Tichelaar's recent book Arthur's Children: A Study in Fiction and Tradition (Modern History Press, 2011) at our affiliate blog Researching the Villains of the Matter of Britain. The book includes some discussion of the role of Arthur's children in Guinevere (1994) and A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995).Publish Post