New Films: Prince Valiant Directed by Anthony Hickox (PG)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Adapted from Harold Foster's Arthurian comic strip, this hugely entertaining sword and sorcery adventure romps through its medieval myths with a voracious appetite for sight gags, sword fights and anachronistic wise-cracks - "it's the bloody Scots" shouts one of Arthur's knights when the mighty sword Excalibur goes missing, sparking a misdirected Civil War.
The story follows winsome Camelot squire Segue (Stephen Moyer) as he routs the Vikings, romances Princess Ilene of Wales (the American Katherine Heigl, less a damsel than an accent in distress) and finally raises a paternal twinkle in the eye of Arthur (Edward Fox) himself by returning to his hand Excalibur.
Directed with feverish vigour by Anthony Hickox, the film trundles from one spirited set-piece to the next, never losing momentum as it catalogues a Pythonesque landscape of rowdy inns, jousting tournaments and castles populated by bondage-clad Viking baddies.
Incidental pleasures along the way include Joanna Lumley's Morgan Le Fey chewing up the scenery in black eye-liner and a smart chainmail wig, and an Eastern harem in a Viking castle. As she's thrown into this den of iniquity, scantily clad maidens introduce themselves to Ilene, "I'm Monday, I'm Tuesday, I'm Wednesday - and You're Thursday", to which the feisty heroine replies, "but that's today!"
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments