Now Showing: Lancelot

Lancelot
Genre: Action-Adventure/Romance
Director: Alan Taylor
Cast: Kit Harington, Russell Crowe, Holliday Grainger, Richard Armitage, Matthew Nable, Kevin McKidd, Ed Skrein

Plot: Lancelot (Kit Harington), a vagabond and skilled swordsman, is dueling in small villages for money. Lancelot attributes his skill to his lack of concern whether he lives or dies. Guinevere (Holliday Grainger) the ruler of Lyonesse, decides to marry King Arthur (Russell Crowe) partly out of admiration and partly for security against Malagant (Richard Armitage), a former Knight of the Roundtable gone rogue, who is shown raiding a village. While traveling, Lancelot chances by Guinevere's carriage on the way to Camelot, and helps spoil Malagant's ambush meant to kidnap her. He falls in love with Guinevere, who refuses his advances. Though Lancelot urges her to follow her heart, Guinevere remains bound by her duty.

Later, Lancelot arrives in Camelot and successfully navigates an obstacle course on the prospect of a kiss from Guinevere, though he instead kisses her hand. He also wins an audience with Arthur. Impressed by Lancelot's courage and struck by his recklessness and freewheeling, Arthur shows him the Round Table which symbolizes a life of service and brotherhood and introduces him to the Knights: Agravain (Matthew Nable), Kay (Kevin McKidd) and Gaheris (Ed Skrein).

That night, Malagant's henchmen arrive at Camelot and kidnap Guinevere. She is tied up and carried off to Malagant's hideout, where she is held hostage. Lancelot poses as a messenger to Malagant only to escape with Guinevere and return her to Camelot. Once again, Lancelot tries to win her heart, but is unsuccessful. On the return journey, it is revealed that Lancelot was orphaned and rendered homeless after bandits attacked his village, and has been wandering ever since.

In gratitude, Arthur offers Lancelot a higher calling in life as a Knight of the Round Table. Amidst the protests of the other Knights and of Guinevere, Lancelot accepts and takes Malagant's former place at the Table. Arthur and Guinevere are subsequently wedded. However, a messenger from Lyonesse arrives, with news that Malagant has invaded. Arthur leads his troops to Lyonesse and successfully defeats Malagant's forces. Lancelot wins the respect of the other Knights with his prowess in battle.

Lancelot feels guilty about his feelings for the queen and loyalty to Arthur and in private announces his departure to her. She cannot bear the thought of him leaving and asks him for a kiss, which turns into a passionate embrace, just in time for the Arthur to interrupt. Though Guinevere claims to love both Arthur and Lancelot – albeit in different ways – the two are charged with treason. The open trial in the great square of Camelot is interrupted by a surprise invasion by Malagant, ready to burn Camelot and kill Arthur if he does not give him the throne. Instead Arthur commands his subjects to fight, and Malagant's men shoot him with crossbows. A battle between Malagant's men and Camelot's soldiers and citizens ensues, and Lancelot and Malagant face off after Malagant wounds Arthur. Disarmed, Lancelot seizes Arthur's fallen sword, Excalibur, and kills Malagant, who falls dead on that same throne he so desired. The remaining Knights: Agravain, Kay and Gaheris are all killed in battle. Lancelot manages to lead wht remains of Arthur's army and win the battle, but Arthur dies of his wounds. On his deathbed, he asks Lancelot to take care of both Camelot and Guinevere. A funeral raft carrying Arthur's body is sent out to sea and set aflame.