‘Excalibur’ 4K UHD Review (Arrow Video)
Stars: Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey, Robbert Addie, Gabriel Byrne, Keith Buckley, Corin Redgrave, Patrick Stewart, Ciarán Hinds, Clive Swift, Katrine Boorman | Written by Thomas Malory, Rospo Pallenberg, John Boorman | Directed by John Boorman
Some legends are simply destined for the big screen. The tale of King Arthur and the mythical blade Excalibur has echoed through centuries of storytelling, but in 1981, Sir John Boorman transformed that legend into one of cinema’s most ambitious and visually arresting fantasy epics, Excalibur. Now, Arrow Video has given this ’80s classic the royal treatment, restoring and releasing the film in a stunning deluxe 4K/Blu-ray edition. For physical media devotees, this is the perfect excuse to revisit – and repeatedly revel in – a sweeping, sword-and-sorcery adventure that looks more majestic than ever in Ultra HD.
Behold, the Sword of Power! Excalibur! Forged when the world was young, and bird and beast and flower were one with man and death was but a dream. Given by Merlin to Uther Pendragon to unite the land in peace but wasted on lust. Driven into stone by Uther’s dying hand, there to await the coming of a true King. A journey into the wonders and horrors of the imagination, this is the story of Arthur, the knights of the round table, the golden age of Camelot, the quest for the Holy Grail and of course, the wizard, Merlin.
Excalibur not only has stunning visuals but also has a wonderful cast – including Helen Mirren, Gabriel Byrne, Nicol Williamson, and Liam Neeson. John Boorman, the director who brought us Point Blank, Deliverance and Zardoz, brings his director’s eye for entertainment to this medieval tale that, once you watch, you never forget.
Excalibur is making its Ultra HD debut in a stunning brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films, presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 for the first time on home video. This new restoration is simply out of this world, with the picture as sharp as a tack yet capturing the ethereal look of the film’s cinematography perfectly, and the audio is clear as a bell.
Arrow Video included both the 141-minute Theatrical Cut and the 120-minute TV Version of the film. For the packaging, there is a reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options. A perfect-bound booklet containing writing by Charlie Brigden, K.A. Laity, Kimberly Lindbergs, Josh Nelson, Philip Kemp, John Reppion, Icy Sedgwick, and Jez Winship, double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options and six postcard-sized reproduction art cards.
DISC 1 – FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY):
- 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation of the 141-minute Theatrical Cut in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
- Restored original lossless mono and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio options
- Brand new audio commentary by Brian Hoyle, author of The Cinema of John Boorman
- Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker David Kittredge, director of Boorman and the Devil
- Archive audio commentary by director John Boorman
DISC 2 – EXTRAS (BLU-RAY):
- The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie, a never-before-released 48-minute documentary directed by Neil Jordan during the production of Excalibur
- To Be a Knight and Follow a King, a newly filmed interview with director John Boorman and actor Charley Boorman
- When Death Was but a Dream, a newly filmed interview with creative associate Neil Jordan
- The Charm of Making, a newly filmed interview with production designer Anthony Pratt
- Confessions of a Professional “Pain-in-the-ass”, a newly filmed interview with 2nd unit director Peter MacDonald
- Anam Cara, a new featurette on the working friendship of John Boorman and co-writer Rospo Pallenberg, featuring a newly filmed interview with Pallenberg
- Divided Nature, a brand new featurette by film historians Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr
- Trailers
- Image galleries
DISC 3 – BONUS (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY):
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the 120-minute TV Version of the film, previously unavailable on home video
- Original lossless mono audio
- Excalibur: Behind the Movie, a 50-minute retrospective documentary in which cast and crew look back on the making of the film
Arrow Video have absolutely gone the extra mile with this release. This hefty three-disc set doesn’t just boast a breathtaking new restoration; it also includes the rarely seen TV version of the film and a brand-new, never-before-released documentary. The sheer volume of bonus material here is staggering – you could easily lose yourself in this set for days.
Excalibur earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, and while it missed out on the top prize, time has been far kinder to it than awards voters ever were. Decades on, it stands tall as a bona fide fantasy classic. To have the film looking this spectacular, paired with such a wealth of archival and newly produced extras, makes this release an absolute no-brainer for fans.
***** 5/5
If you have enjoyed Excalibur over the years, forget about streaming, forget about DVD or Blu-ray. Pick up this new super deluxe edition of Excalibur on 4K UltraHD. Pre-order your copy on Amazon today.
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