In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Saturday, 13 October 2018

The Sword in the Stone (1963)

Disney's take on the King Arthur tale focuses on Arthur as a "scrawny" boy. With only a brief mention of the rich lore that preceded his birth, the crucial contrast + comparison between son and father is absent. Instead, it explores young Arthur's education by Merlin, a process of learning by doing.
The abridged narrative makes sense given that it's a film targeted at children, but the story is little more than a collection of transformation events stitched together, with lessons regarding actions and consequence failing to hit their mark. Characterisation of Merlin and Arthur is good, I loved the backgrounds, and the squirrel scene had a special charm, but the film is a pretty forgettable attempt at adapting the famous story for a younger audience.

2½ wizard blizzards out of 5

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