CAMELOT THE LEGEND (1998)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *poor*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *comedy*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *sociological*

Since I haven't reviewed any animated Arthurian stories except 1998's QUEST FOR CAMELOT, I decided to check out LEGEND, a low-budget quickie ground out the same year, allegedly to coast on QUEST's non-existent success. I don't doubt that this was the main motive for the movie's raison d'etre, but I will note that, even though LEGEND is a stupid story, it doesn't swipe anything from QUEST.

Quick setup: Arthur's son Modred has grown to manhood (and knighthood), and he plots against his kingly father, recently married to Queen Guinevere. Merlin can't do anything about Modred, since Arthur wants to believe his son loyal, but the wizard does imprison Modred's hoggish mother Morgan by magically sealing her in a cave for the past 20 years. The French knight Lancelot saves Arthur and Guinevere from a kidnap attempt masterminded by Modred, and though Lancelot doesn't say anything about wanting to serve Arthur, Arthur asks the Frenchman to join his retinue. But Lancelot's presence gives the evildoers a new angle to ruin Arthur's reign.

Despite the seriousness of the "Fall of Camelot" theme, this is a comedy, with dopey jokes, pratfalls (bo-oing!) and a couple of bad songs. The only halfway memorable "joke" is the image of Porky Morgan sitting around her cave watching the outside world via "sword-vision"-- that is, a magic sword that can broadcast images of current happenings on the wall of the cave. Morgan tries to expose both Lancelot and Guinevere to a love potion, but she messes up the scheme. By dumb luck Modred gets another chance to abduct the queen and brings her to Morgan's redoubt. Lancelot and Merlin dope things out and rescue Guinevere with a scheme that involves Merlin dressing up like a woman.

There are various low-energy "fights" that are clearly meant not to excite toddler-audiences. Lancelot duels a couple of ruffians in bloodless fashion, preferring to use his fists, and he even teaches Guinevere some elementary sword-tricks. Merlin and Morgan have a short "changing forms" fight a la THE SWORD IN THE STONE. Though Guinevere is liberated, Arthur gets the wrong idea seeing her in Lancelot's company. Modred tries to rouse other knights to deem Guinevere guilty of treason, as per the standard "Fall of Camelot" schema. But somehow Arthur and Guinevere "sing it out," and Camelot never falls at all.

I know that there are many worse cartoons than this one, but this one will do until a lousier one comes along.