Excalibur

It is an irony of history that this milestone of British cinema - a dramatization of England's essential legend, the Arthurian legend - was shot entirely in Ireland. Through the lens of cinematographer Alex Thomson, the rolling hills and misty forests of counties Wicklow, Kerry and Tipperary are transformed into the medieval terrain of King Arthur, the knights of his Round Table and his mysterious magician Merlin. Boorman's long-held plans to adapt The Lord of the Rings resulted in Excalibur, an action adventure full of raucous humor, revealing sexuality and hypnotic intensity. Compared to Peter Jackson's later Tolkien extravaganzas, which were clearly inspired by this film, Excalibur stands out as an intimate and dazzlingly mysterious experience. Among the large ensemble - including a mesmerizing Helen Mirren as well as Liam Neeson and Ciarán Hinds in his big-screen debut - Nicol Williamson dominates the proceedings as Merlin: whimsical, enigmatic, volcanic, titanic. (N.Y.)

Photo: © 1981 WBEI