King Arthur: Unrated Director's Cut (DVD)

Why, oh why, can't studios let directors be? Antoine Fuqua proved he can make good films when Training Day hit the screen and earned Denzel Washington an Oscar, yet Touchstone Pictures felt it necessary to turn his R-rated romp through medieval times into a PG-13 watered down mess of a film that never fully realized the passion and dark times in which the characters were talking about.

Well, at least they have made up for the mistakes they made as they have allowed Fuqua's intended version of the film to be released on DVD and what a difference some blood can make.

This past summer one of my most anticipated films of the year was undoubtedly King Arthur considering I love Fuqua's Training Day, medieval movies and Keira Knightley in not much more than a leather strap. Unfortunately rumors of a PG-13 film soon became true and epic battle scenes turned into men clashing their swords in what looked like no more than sword fighting practice.

Then on July 16th, only nine days after the release of the film in theaters Entertainment Weekly ran an article describing what was cutout of the film, and wow, was it appealing, and with the article came the promise of an unrated director's cut, and now it is here.

In what is described as a longer, grittier and more explicit motion picture you will be treated to several beheadings and the blood you expected in the theatrical release. While blood and gore doesn't necessarily turn this film into a masterpiece it certainly adds a lot to the film in the sense that swords actually cut people and we see that battle isn't as pretty or clean as the theatrical version led us to believe, and if you thought Lancelot (Gruffudd) looked bad ass with his double swords, just wait until you see what he does with them.

On top of the additional 14 minutes of footage you get with this release you also get the special features. Both versions of the DVD will contain a look at the alternate ending Fuqua was forced to change since the studio wanted a happier ending with his commentary track on it, a King Arthur making-of featurette, a round table discussion with some of the cast and filmmakers, a feature length commentary track with Fuqua, a half-assed trivia track and a producer's photo gallery.

Overall, the special features aren't that great except for the making-of documentary which does show you a good look at the set design and the CGI work that went into the film. Plus it shows you just how much money was thrown into this production, only to have it messed with to the point that they ruined the theatrical version. Fuqua's commentary track in no way compares to the track he laid down on the Training Day DVD, but he does add a couple of comments concerning the cutting of his film early on.

Ebert and Roeper gave this movie "Two thumbs up!" when it came out in theaters but until now this was only a mediocre telling of the Arthur story. Now with the added excitement and brutal battles it is something to watch and enjoy over and over again.