The Green Knight – New Movie Based On Arthurian Legend

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - If you enjoy Arthurian legends you may want to see the Green Knight, a new movie that premiered this summer.

The plot is based on the story of Sir Gawain, a knight of the Round Table. As always with such movies, the expectations were high long before the premier, and the reviews are mixed. Some think it is the best movie of the year, while others are disappointed. Being a movie producer can’t be easy because it is impossible to satisfy everyone.

Credit: The Green Knight

It would be wrong of us to say whether it is a good or bad movie. That is something everyone must decide after watching it. The good thing about the movie is it raised interest in Arthurian lore.

This epic fantasy adventure shows how Sir Gawain, (played by Dev Patel), King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men. Gawain contends with ghosts, giants, thieves, and schemers in what becomes a deeper journey to define his character and prove his worth in the eyes of his family and kingdom by facing the ultimate challenger.

The Arthurian epic Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a 14th-century poem of chivalry, courage, honor and temptation. There has been a considerable divergence of opinion among scholars on the question of authorship, and the poem got its title long after being written. Some scholars suggest the unknown poet is the same one who wrote Pearl, one of the most important surviving Middle English works.

The Green Knight is a Christmas story that begins with the arrival of an unexpected visitor who enters when King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are celebrating.

“The original tells the story of a moment in King Arthur's court when Sir Gawain, nephew of the king, accepts the challenge of the mysterious Green Knight: To strike a blow against the knight with his own axe if he will receive a strike one year on from that day. Gawain bests the knight, beheading him with the blow of the axe. The Green Knight then pick up his own head, reminds Gawain to keep the date one year hence, and leaves. Gawain's honor and loyalty are tested in the intervening year, and he seeks out the Green Knight to keep up his end of the bargain.” 1

The Green Knight is not an action film, and it requires attention from its viewers. Without revealing too much, we can the ending can mean whatever you want it to mean. Producer David Lowery wanted to leave a lot open to interpretation, and he succeeded with that.

If you are curious about the movie, go and watch the Green Knight it but be warned. Some praise it as the best movie this year, and there are those who think it is a horrible movie. Of course, if you are not much into movies you can always read the book.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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