Film Review: The Kid Who Would Be King

Genre: Action, Adventure, Family

Cert: PG (should have been a 12A/ PG13)

Director: Joe Cornish

Screenwriter: Joe Cornish

Starring: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Denise Gough, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Noma Dumezweni, Rebecca Ferguson, Mark Bonnar, Angus Imrie, Louis Martin, Joey Ansah,  Adam Leese, Alexandra Roach, Nick Mohammed. may more...

Running time: 2h

Parents advised reading before viewing the film as some scene may contain scenes unsuitable for younger viewers.

Sex & Nudity:
  •  A teenage boy is seen from a distance walking away from the camera and appears to be nude., though it kind of looks like he has white/beige leggings on.
  • We see a teenage boy without a shirt.


Violence & Gore:
  • A flying creature is decapitated. There is no blood.
  • Characters fight mindless demons, When they are defeated, they disappear in a cloud of smoke with no blood.


Profanity: 
  • A couple uses of d*mn and h*ll.
  • Several uses of "Oh G*d" or similar phrases.


Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking:
  • The main character learns that his father's "fight with demons" was a euphemism for his drinking.

Frightening/Intense Scenes: 
  • Several "undead" creatures rise up from the ground, and a woman transforms into a flying beast.
  • Several fairly intense scenes that could be scary to younger viewers. One beheading scene. No blood and not gory. But still a beheading.



Story: Old school magic meets the modern world in this epic adventure. Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he's just another nobody until he stumbles upon the mythical sword in the stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Sir Patrick Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.

Likes: The film is an enjoyable film but the PG certification was a little to low for the content of this film, especial with the look of Morgana and the demon knights that may give younger viewers nightmares. Although not historically accurate with the sword and the oath, this film does well with the fantasy side involving the evil half-sister of Arthur called Morgana (played by the beautiful Rebecca Ferguson).

Giving you a brief legend, Morgana was a mage like merin who train her in the art of magic, but Morgana's heart was easily corrupt with the dark arts which quickly turn her evil, which is why merin and Arthur vanished her to the underworld as legends go.

The film does a great fantasy story with a style of Percy and the lightning rod and a live-action style of the sword in the stone, which I think took a lot of inspiration for part of this film. With Rebecca Ferguson playing Morgana she did a great performance in delivering lines of why people are so easily corrupt with power and greed, which added flair to her character's evilness.

The film does touch on a few issues with Bullying and other family matters with does kind of slow the flow of the film down, while the film does a few moments of emotional moments, the film is ultimately aiming for a younger generation as the humour is very cheesy and stupid at times which im pretty kids will love.

The acting is solid though I feel this film will probably flop because there isnt must to this film other than the story and CGI effects which were pretty good. Like I said it not historically accurate so if you can look past that then you may enjoy this film. 



Dislikes:
  • There a few moments through the film where the pacing is off it does affect the film slighty.
  • sword and oath its more of a nick pick, as the Latin words were written on the blade and not on the hilt, and the words written translated to one side to rule one side to defend, which this film changed.
  • The cheesy joke felt forced where a little too childish at times, they just weren't funny, may appeal to younger viewers.
 

Overall: Ok film but forgettable, good CGI, great acting, jokes are little cheesy may appeal to children like it a family film after all.

Rating: 4.7 out 5 for entertainment / 6.8 out of 10 for the concept.





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