Recent Viewing: The Green Knight
Apr. 3rd, 2022 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rocky41_7I've been looking forward to seeing this one! I'm not super familiar with Arthurian mythology (I've never read the story TGK is based on) but I don't think that hurts you at all with this movie.
Synopsis:
I find myself fascinated with the choice to play an Arthurian myth as a horror story. Because that's what this is. From the moment Gawain's mother excuses herself from Christmas court festivities because she's allegedly not feeling well to the very last scene, TGK is a horror story. Foggy vistas, hunger and deprivation, mysterious individuals with suspect motives, and of course, the death threat hanging over Gawain's head all come together for a chilling tale of a would-be knight with very little common sense, but a sincere desire to do the right thing.
The cinematography is beautiful and the costuming is gorgeous. Both do an excellent job maintaining the film's eerie and surreal tone. Don't go into this one looking for historical accuracy--there isn't any. Despite the medieval tunes that play in the background, TGK is pure fantasy, and as such goes hard on aesthetics without being constrained by realism.
This is one of those movies I think I'll have to watch again to really get it, but even presently having just finished it I can say that overall, this is an excellent film. Definitely recommend.
Synopsis:
King Arthur's headstrong nephew embarks on a daring quest to confront the Green Knight, a mysterious giant who appears at Camelot. Risking his head, he sets off on an epic adventure to prove himself before his family and court.
The reason you don't need familiarity with Arthurian mythology to enjoy The Green Knight is because the movie is only vaguely tied in with the rest of the mythos. No one outside Gawain is even named, and you know they could have been name-dropping left and right if they wanted to draw you into Arthur's world. I find myself fascinated with the choice to play an Arthurian myth as a horror story. Because that's what this is. From the moment Gawain's mother excuses herself from Christmas court festivities because she's allegedly not feeling well to the very last scene, TGK is a horror story. Foggy vistas, hunger and deprivation, mysterious individuals with suspect motives, and of course, the death threat hanging over Gawain's head all come together for a chilling tale of a would-be knight with very little common sense, but a sincere desire to do the right thing.
The cinematography is beautiful and the costuming is gorgeous. Both do an excellent job maintaining the film's eerie and surreal tone. Don't go into this one looking for historical accuracy--there isn't any. Despite the medieval tunes that play in the background, TGK is pure fantasy, and as such goes hard on aesthetics without being constrained by realism.
This is one of those movies I think I'll have to watch again to really get it, but even presently having just finished it I can say that overall, this is an excellent film. Definitely recommend.
