Kid-type History

Author's Rating:

Pros: Rich story, good music

Cons: ending feels tacked on

Author's Review
Who of us hasn't grown up with the myths, legends and stories of King Arthur, who pulled the sword from the stone and became the ruler of Camalot, with Merlin by his side? If kids are going to get the legend in some form or other, why not Disney?

While, by today's standards anyway, the graphics on this movie are old-Disney--ie-hand drawn, it still has a certain charm to it. Granted, the colors aren't as rich, the sound isn't a clear, but hey, this movie is before all the latest gadgets and gizmos. So it doesn't have the slick presentation that we have come to expect from Disney, the story is still rich and colorful and enjoyable.

Who doesn't know the story of the sword in the stone? England needs a ruler, and none can be found. Magically, a sword is found imbedded into a stone, and the legend that whosoever can pull it from the stone, will be the King of England. All the men try, but none can budge it. They decide to have a tournament to decide who will rule the Kingdom. Arthur, who is a page to a knight, has forgotten his sword, and must find a replacement-so pulls the sword from the stone.

In the meantime, Merlin comes into the picture to over-see the boy's education, treating us to unique sequences where Arthur is changed into a bird, fish, and squrel to get a message of different sorts---the bird to learn about flight/air currents/weather, etc. The wizards duel with Mad Madam Mimm is a classic Disney animation.

My only complaint with this film is the ending--after he pulls the sword from the stone, and they all acknowledge him as ruler, it shows him in the throne room. He tries to escape his destiny by leaving the crown and exiting through a side door, but the crowds prevent this. (this is a minor segment and lasts only a few seconds) Merlin comes bouncing into the room through a window--just returned from the future. He suddenly realizes that his Aruther is the King Arthur of legend, and the movie ends. It feels tacked on, as if they couldn't decide how to end the movie, and so just threw it together. The ending is totally out of pace with the rest of the film, which, while not presented at a leisurly pace, certainly doesn't have the quicky-let's get it over with-feel of the ending.

In my younger days, when we had to read a bit of literature and didn't want to spend the time doing it, we would read a comic of the book (I don't even think that they make them any more--boy, does that date me or what!). These days, they can watch the movie. In this case, at least for younger children, this Disney movie is a viable alternative to reading the legend of King Arthur. They will get the general legend, and can read the books latter.