Rating: B-
One of the greatest legends of all time is that of King Arthur and his sword Excalibur. There's been a plethora of books, movies, stage plays, music, etc, dating back hundreds . . . and hundreds of years. And now I want to watch Monty Python.
The Kid Who Would be King is yet another retelling, only this time there's a twist. The story is modern. Arthur is no where to be found. The new King who will face a returning evil while leading a new crop of knights is a 12 year old boy.
We do have Merlin, both young and old as he ages backwards, the Lady of the Lake, and Excalibur.
While watching this new movie I kept thinking of Return to Oz. Return to Oz is its own special breed of insanity, which I loved as a kid. While The Kid Who Would be King is uplifting and fun, what I remembered was kid movies from the 80's, which were not afraid to show evil and be scary, something we've lost with modern storytelling for children. There are scary moments which might frighten younger kids, but nothing too overbearing.
The Merlin character was my favorite. Original use of magic, though the snapping and hand movements does get a little old. Loved the transportation system. And seeing Patrick Stewart come out now and then was really fun.
By the end this movie has a great message with good character growth, touching moments, and a good lesson.
MPAA: Rated PG for fantasy action violence, scary images, thematic elements including some bullying, and language.
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