Official Synopsis:
For centuries, the adventures of King Arthur and his fabled court of heroes, the Knights of the Round Table, have dominated the imagination of the western world. This special collection presents five original specials that will help separate fact from fiction.
Quest For King Arthur examines the tantalizing historical facts behind the story of King Arthur and his band of deathless heroes and illuminates the contemporary quest by researchers to establish if the 6th-century warlord truly existed.
King Arthur: His Life And Legends offers stunning recreations and abundant images from centuries past, to explore the social, political and emotional factors that have made Arthur’s story so dear to Western culture.
Ancient Mysteries: Camelot takes the viewer on a magical quest through England and Wales in search of Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, and Excalibur in an attempt to uncover evidence that Arthur’s battles really took place.
Knights And Armor traces the history of arms and armor with an up-close look at the world-famous Graz collection of Armor in Austria and recaptures the chivalry and grandeur of a legendary, by-gone age.
Quest For The Holy Grail wonders if it is possible this sacred relic has survived as a hidden treasure or could it be one of the ancient vessels displayed in museums throughout the world.
Our Take:
I’ll admit to not being interested in the Kings and Queens of Medieval Britain, nor has this period of time ever interested me as it seems to captivate some people. So when I looked at the 5 episodes from The History Channel’s various series such as Ancient Mysteries, and some that were simply entire shows dedicated to the particular topic, I can’t help but feel bored.
King Arthur and Medieval Britain is a compilation of 5 such specials ranging from King Arthur himself, Camelot, the Holy Grail, and even one dedicated to the armor that knights used. In all honesty after watching each installment, the only one that caught even my most mild interest was the final one addressing the Holy Grail (narrated by Leonard Nemoy!). Truth be told, there are a lot of interesting bits of information in this 2-disc set, especially if you are a history buff from this period of time. I can at least appreciate the informational value of these installments here without actually finding it interesting.
Special Features:
None
Conclusion:
A good rule of thumb, if you’re interested in this period of time in Britain and/or of King Arthur, there is plenty in this set to earn your viewing. If you’ve never enjoyed learning about this period of time, King Arthur and Medieval Britain is probably not worth your time.
Overall Picture:
Movie: B
Extra Features: N/A
Follow me on Twitter @Dan_Schiller
