Camelot: 45th Anniversary Blu-ray Book

Yes, 'Camelot' is a flawed movie, but a MAGICAL one, nonetheless. It is too long, and Franco Nero's dubbed singing voice as 'Lancelot' is laughable, and YET! Yet, we have RICHARD HARRIS, so perfect as the failing King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave, never lovelier than in her role as the torn Guinavere, and David Hemmings, a dastardly 'mod' Mordred reeking havoc on the troubled Kingdom. Franco Nero (dubbing notwithstanding) brings a wonderful comedic touch to Lancelot, and with the sumptious sets and costumes, 'Camelot' really is a BEAUTIFUL film. It has been critisized for having a 'Sixties' feel to it, but the somewhat hippy-ish design just adds to the pleasure; and it REALLY doesn't matter that Richard Harris is wearing WAY to much blue eye-shadow - we're in CAMELOT, for goodness sake! There may very well be a 'legal limit to the snow' there, but when it comes to make-up, no holds are barred! Oh, one can pick a MILLION holes in 'Camelot' - but why bother? It's better just to pour yourself a glass of mead, light some candles, put 'Camelot' in your VCR and let Lerner and Loewes wonderful score sweep you into a magical time which never existed. 'Camelot' is pure escapism, but it's escapism with 'heart', and that heart belongs to Richard Harris. This movie is HIS, and years after first seeing this movie, when I imagine the face of King Arthur, the face that I see is Richard Harris'.

VIDEO:

This 45th Anniversary Edition of Camelot arrives at blu ray with AVC MPEG-4 1080p 2.40:1 encode. This transfer is impressive with sometimes great details and depth, showing off all the tiny details in the lavish costumes and sets. Individual links of chainmail armor and intricate textures on Vanessa Redgraves's dresses are all resolved in sharp clarity. However, the first part of the film is relentlessly dark, with images looking quite soft. At around the 30 minute mark, things perk up dramatically, at which point fine detail also increases exponentially. There is also the strange preference for browns and oranges in the colour scheme of the film. Grain is intact, and the image is perfectly filmic. (4/5)

AUDIO:

The glories of this soundtrack! Camelot is presented with a lush and lovely lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that springs elegantly to life in the film's many musical sequences. Fidelity is superb. Dialogue is very cleanly and clearly presented, and dynamic range is superb throughout the film. There are many memorable songs, like If Ever I Would Leave You, that will keep you humming for a while. (4/5)

PACKAGING:

This 45th Anniversary Edition comes in a gorgeous digibook case with many pages of beautiful pictures...very well done indeed. There is also a 4 track soundtrack sampler CD.

AWARDS:

This movie won 3 Oscars: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design and most impressive of all, Best Music Score for the great Alfred Newman and Ken Darby.

FINAL THOUGHT:

This 45th Anniversary Edition of Camelot is presented handsomely in a digibook case with many gorgeous memorable pictures, plus great video and audio. The cast is solid with Richard Harris (King Arthur), Vanessa Redgrave (Guenevere) and Franco Nero (Lancelot Du Lac). A very enjoyable film, and this edition is the definitive version. After listening to Richard Harris's singing in the film, I just could not help to play his very popular single "MacArthur Park". This set is highly recommended.

Lastly, I notice that Amazon.ca tends to put reviews of the movie in standard edition, done many years ago, into the high definition column. So, please read the date of review before wasting valuable time reading outdated materials.

I hope the above review is helpful to you.

CAMELOT is a Time Machine taking the willing viewer back to a Once-and-Future of love, goodness, heroism and possibility of Justice. Only the most heartless cynic (overwhelmed by today's PM lust disguised-as-Love; violence disguised-as-valor; and PC treachery disguised-as-tolerance over Truth) can fail to be beguiled by this wondrous fairy-tale. Richard Harris is perfect as be-more-than-YOU-can-be,KING ARTHUR. Vanessa Redgrave is enchanting as Never Never Land-Eden's Eve,Guenevere. Franco Nero is superlative as Round Table SUPERMAN,Sir Lancelot. Recently deceased David Hemmings(once bad boy,super-hippy of Michaelangelo Antonioni's BLOW-UP)is ingratiatingly obnoxious as Arthur's ill-conceived Mephistopheles,MORDRED. Joshua Logan's screen adaptaion of Lerner & Loewes' stage musical triumph, deliberately and beautifully affects artificial glamour. It evokes child-like memories of The Impossible First Love and invincible GOOD GUYS unfailingly defeating the BAD. CAMELOT is Wonderland story about "happily-ever-aftering". Winnie-the-Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood buddies no doubt live there, and helped Merlin train Wart to become wielder of EXCALIBUR.

John Boorman produced the definitve adventure of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. His EXCALIBUR is mythical, mystical saga of heroes in unending battle of Good against Evil. Its themes are courage, forgiveness and hope. CAMELOT is pure/impure love story. Herein--as Boorman--a lesson on consequences of SIN reveals."Inappropriate behaviour"is not what brings down CAMELOT. Complex human frailty does: humanity denying limits.Despite laughter,and pre-Post Modern,untainted "gaity",the MORDRED within has to be confronted if "Magic" is to survive and the Good prevail. EXCALIBUR presented Tragic dimensions of The QUEST.CAMELOT is reminder of the golden Eden to be sought and preserved in history; Myth;and the Pure of heart...