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Camelot: The Complete First Season (2011)

Jamie Campbell Bower , Joseph Fiennes  |  Unrated |  DVD
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (181 customer reviews)

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Product Details

  • Actors: Jamie Campbell Bower, Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green
  • Producers: Graham King, Michael Hirst
  • Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Rated: Unrated
  • Studio: Starz
  • DVD Release Date: September 13, 2011
  • Run Time: 515 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (181 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B004LROMSO
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,066 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Camelot: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Special Features

Character Profiles
The Knights of Camelot
The Women of Camelot
On The Set: Mooney’s Movie
Scene Breakdowns
Candid Camelot



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Camelot Season 1 - Available Formats

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The story of King Arthur and Ye Olde Round Table has proven sturdy enough to support a variety of cinematic approaches, ranging from the Disneyfied antics of The Sword and the Stone, the action-movie gloss of First Knight, to the gory, hallucinatory mysticism of John Boorman's Excalibur. (To say nothing of that one version with the killer bunny and "ni"-saying knights.) Camelot, the lavishly melodramatic 10-episode television series produced for Starz, attempts to infuse the classic tale with the same mixture of cranked-up sex and violence that made the network's Spartacus such a hoot. Although the deliciously evil supporting cast and gorgeous Irish scenery help keep the show above the level of mere guilty pleasure, the decision to portray its central character as a whisper-thin teen heartthrob (The Twilight Saga's Jamie Campbell Bower) may leave some viewers biting their thumbs. Series creators Michael Hirst (The Tudors) and Chris Chibnall (Torchwood) kick things off at an initially disorienting full gallop, placing country boy Arthur on the throne and under the tutelage of Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) by the middle of the first episode. This streamlining of the main story quickly proves to be a good thing, however, as it allows the show to devote more time to its secondary figures, including a grieving queen (Claire Forlani), an amusingly gung-ho Sir Gawain (Clive Standen), a vengeful rival lord (James Purfoy), and Merlin himself, winningly portrayed by Fiennes via a disarming mixture of roof-raising histrionics and ominous whispers. (Much like Game of Thrones, the show depicts magic as a seriously unstable force.) Engaging as all of these characters are, MVP honors go to Morgan le Fay (Casino Royale's Eva Green), Arthur's half-sister with a continent-size yearning for the throne. Purring her words and gliding through the baroque sets in a succession of stylized gowns (that is, when she can be bothered to wear anything at all), Green creates a wonderfully slinky villainess for the ages: a woman scorned who finds a new method of attack whenever her foe turns his back. Arthur's story may give Camelot its foundation, but she keeps the fires burning. --Andrew Wright

Product Description

In the wake of King Uther's sudden death, chaos threatens to engulf Britain. When the sorcerer Merlin has visions of a dark future, he installs the young and impetuous Arthur, Uther's unknown son and heir, who has been raised from birth as a commoner. But Arthur's cold and ambitious half sister Morgan will fight him to the bitter end, summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown in this epic battle for control. These are dark times indeed for the new king, with Guinevere being the only shining light in Arthur's harsh world. Faced with profound moral decisions, and the challenge of uniting a kingdom broken by war and steeped in deception, Arthur will be tested beyond imagination. Forget everything you think you know…this is the story of Camelot that has never been told before.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
209 of 236 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There are some classic tales that have been so oft told, I could probably go my whole life without revisiting the topic. The legend of King Arthur is certainly one of those stories which has been covered from every angle possible. And I've seen them all--from classical interpretations (Boorman's Excalibur), musical productions (Lerner and Loewe's Camelot), modern day variations (Romero's Knightriders), introspective art house pieces (Bresson's Lancelot du Lac), and countless other incarnations. Yet the story is so vivid and enthralling, it's hard to resist its allure. When I heard that the Starz network was planning to reinvent the legend of "Camelot," I was somewhat apathetic, somewhat worried, but also strangely hopeful. The network is coming off a huge success with its over-the-top bloody sword and sandals epic "Spartacus." So it makes sense they wanted to tackle another period adventure. Love it or hate it, though, "Spartacus" is a graphic spectacle that will assault your senses and leave you reeling. "Camelot" doesn't attempt the same type of visceral in-your-face aggression, but it seems to want to have it both ways. This version is completely sanitized for modern viewers (I'll speak to that later) but still wants to be edgy and provocative (oh look, there's Guinevere topless).

I'm not going to recount the plot of the boy King, other than to say that this version sticks to the primary elements of the tale while trying some creative sleight of hand to reimagine peripheral aspects. When King Uther dies under mysterious circumstances, his sorceress daughter Morgan (Eva Green) seems the likely heir. But cunning Merlin (Joseph Fiennes), who is having visions of foreboding, has a big secret to reveal. Uther had a illegitimate son Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower) who has been raised on an idyllic country farm. Merlin brings the boy to court and starts to build a new kingdom around Arthur--a rule that hopes to combine the disparate and warring factions of the land. The boy seems an unlikely leader (always does, in my opinion) but is soon learning the laws of the land while establishing new ones. His rule is challenged in many ways, most subversively by his own sister Morgan, but through all the power plays and political intrigues--don't worry there is still time for that expected dalliance with the lovely Guinevere (who happens to be married to one of his most trusted soldiers).

A lot of elements work just fine in this version. Green's Morgan begins and ends every scene with a glower, and truthfully, it's hard not to root for her success over the hapless wet noodle (I mean, King). Her plots and machinations, in cahoots with some intriguingly complex female advisers, provide much fun and menace to the series. Fiennes seems to be having fun with his role--a cross between genius and madman--and is certainly one of the more unpredictable Merlins you're likely to encounter. This can be both good and bad--I certainly could have lived without his isolated bout of depression. Arthur's men are strong and interesting. The sets, costumes, and production values are all noteworthy as well. Fight scenes are well choreographed and the momentum is kept at a nice clip.

For my money, the show still gets dragged down in several significant ways. First, I never bought, believed in, or rooted for this boy King Arthur. Campbell Bower is introduced as a charming and irresistible womanizer (in fact, in the hilarious opener--he has seduced his brother's girlfriend into a tumble. Classy, huh?). He's so slight, with the look of an angry and petulant child, he hardly cuts the inspiring figure we're supposed to believe in. But appearance aside, he also lacks the appropriate gravitas in demeanor to champion a nation. Guinevere has been updated to a modern woman status--she single handedly sets about righting the chaos in Camelot in very era inappropriate ways. What strong independence! This Camelot wants to exist as a politically correct entity. In this land, children aren't used as commodities and women aren't exploited. It's all so proper--but has nothing to do with the barbaric time in which this all transpires. One particularly painful episode dealt solely with a teenage girl who was going to made to have relations with a powerful land boss. Arthur and his crew liberated the town from such tyranny--when, in fact, such acts would be commonplace not abhorrent by medieval standards. Even manipulative Merlin, as I mentioned above, doubles over in painful remorse and depression when his acts cause an unnecessary death.

Playing to every modern day sensibility of right or wrong absolutely renders the time period details ineffectual. Take, as a comparison point, HBO's brutal but stunning "Game of Thrones." It is graphic and uncompromising, but also smart and sophisticated. A definite must-see for adult viewers who crave powerful character driven drama. "Camelot," however, plays largely as a kid's fantasy with flashes of skin for grown-up viewers. I still liked many elements--and thank goodness for the over-the-top zeal of Eva Green. But the show muddies its message by playing it safe and then acting like it's dangerous. 2 1/2 stars. KGHarris, 5/11.
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63 of 85 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Came-not-a-lot June 28, 2011
Format:DVD
I love King Arthur and his legendary knights, whether it's gritty "historical" stories or a pile of medieval anachronisms a la Malory.

But the once and future king has really gotten more than his fair share of rotten movies and TV, and the latest disaster is "Camelot." No, not the Broadway musical or the movie adaptation -- this is Starz's attempt at updating the timeless Arthurian legends (which don't NEED updating), which just turns into a silly, sloppy and overly PC mess.

The evil princess Morgan (Eva Green) murders her father Uther, exiles her stepmother, and allies herself with her dad's enemy King Lot. But Merlin (Joseph Fiennes) is having none of this, and hunts down Uther's secret illegitimate son Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower), who has been raised by an adoptive family in the country. With Merlin's guidance and training (in rock-climbing), Arthur claims the throne --and gains Morgan's wrath.

He also falls in love with Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton), the beautiful young wife of a loyal knight, and is deftly manipulated by Merlin in decidedly unmagical ways, sometimes with bloody outcomes. As young Arthur struggles to unite Britain under him, he must deal with Morgan constantly trying to undermine his rule and his power -- but with little idea of just how far she will go.

The idea behind "Camelot" is not a bad one, and even the rewriting of Arthurian lore (the origins of Excalibur) aren't that bad. The problem is in the execution. This series wants to be a plot-heavy, gritty, authentic "Game of Thrones"-esque story, but it's actually more of a silly, anachronistic BCC "Robin Hood" (complete with multiculturalism and modern feminism, which makes it doubly ridiculous).

Yeah, this is one of those series where the costumes, sets, perfectly-coiffed hair and even some of the beautiful scenery all feel like they were lifted from a Renaissance Faire. There's no feeling of timeless grandeur, epicness or awe -- instead, it sometimes feels like "King Arthur: The Legendary Journeys." Additionally, the main storyline is.... rather weak, especially since the straightforward Morgan's plans for overthrowing Arthur get downright silly.

As for the acting, it's a mixed bag. Fiennes is wonderfully conniving and Machievellian as Merlin, almost to the point of being villainous, Peter Mooney is dynamic as Kay, and Green is brilliantly wrenching as a destructive yet wronged young woman.

However, Bower's Arthur is a massive twerp, with zero presence or charisma. He's a skinny surfer-dudeish kid whose appeal is honestly a total mystery. I mean, his Arthur only decides to become king because HE CAN SCORE WITH GIRLS. Who can take that seriously? As for Egerton, she's painfully awkward and rather flat, and her character is Mary-Sueish to the extreme.

"Camelot" is a painful experience -- not just because it's a lackluster, weakly-plotted series, but because it could have easily been so much more. Give it a pass.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The one that got away December 5, 2012
By Mena P.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
*Two very mild spoilers below*

You must understand, I am a big history buff. So when a friend and I went to the theater some time ago and I saw the trailer for this, I was both elated and saddened (as I don't have Starz.) When I learned that the brilliant mind that helped craft The Tudors, another of my favorite (albeit historically innacurate) series, I was on board, one hundred percent. And while I may have had to wait for streams to go up online to see it, you better believe I was waiting eagerly in front of my computer screen every weekend.

The basic tale of King Arthur is known by all, so no need to repeat that. Here, King Uther has recently died, and his quick witted daughter Morgan sees this as her perfect opportunity to claim the throne she has so long coveted. Merlin, however, has something else in mind. Arthur, having been raised in the countryside unaware of his parentage, is quite surprised to find the sorcerer in his home spewing tales of being the son of a king. Merlin sees a future in this boy, a way to mend a country torn apart by warlord kings, and it will all start in one place, a crumbling stronghold that will stand as a beacon for a new era: Camelot.

It's pretty much common knowledge that a lot of peopele don't like this series. Even as a fan, I admit there is some to be desired, and certain things could have gone better. But there is still a lot to appreciate.

A big sore spot for a lot of people is the casting of Jamie Campbell Bower as the well known king. While yes, I'm sure someone out there could have carried the role better, this choice wasn't a horrible one. This Arthur is not the one we tend to immediately think of. This is a young, aloof Arthur, who doesn't know a damn thing about being king, and would frankly rather be at home with his foster family than thrust into the middle of medieval politics. Even halfway through the series, he's still coming into his own. Had the series continued, I feel like we'd have gotten to see different sides of him, and see him grow.

There are, as to be expected, historical innacuracies. This is a medieval show, after all, and sometimes that is forgotten. A previous reviewer mentioned the episode where a young girl is nearly forced to offer up her virginity as compensation for the land she and her father live on. And they were right; in a teeny tiny medieval settlement like this town, this is commonplace. Even far after this time period, landowners were able require women's virginities as payment from those beneath them, and there was no denying a person who was above you in station. This is given a modern treatment of "ohhh, that poor sweet child shouldn't have to give up her virginity to the big bad man", and while in the end it turns out it is mostly because the two are secretly related, it still is something that would probably have never come to light in real life. Now, in the show's defense, as I said, this is a young Arthur, one who would probably still believe in childish idealism and who would undoubtedly take trouble with this sort of thing. On a completely different note, something that really irritated me is the big boo-boo that is Morgan's parentage. Morgan is the child of Igraine and the Duke of Cornwall, along with her sister Morgause. She is NOT a Pendragon.

Despite the ups and downs, there are two shining gems that really make this show: Eva Green as Morgan, and Joseph Fiennes as Merlin. Firstly, this is a different Merlin than the wizened, bearded figure everybody imagines. This is a dark, brooding Merlin, one whose past is filled with sins and who may not be all that sane. The series seems to hint that the reason he hides his power is that it once got out of hand and killed his family, but this was never cleared up before the cancelation. Then, of course, my favorite part of the series, the goddess that is Eva Green. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she pulls off the role of cold, calculating enchantress like she was born for it.

Really, I think that Camelot had many chips and cracks, but with a little patching up (that is, to say, more seasons) it could have had a lot of success. Every show starts off with baby steps, this one just never had a chance to work on its toddler years, so to speak.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Bring back Camelot!!
I love this series. Why was it only done for one season. There was such a cliff hanger. Bring it back!
Published 7 days ago by Frances R Callahan
4.0 out of 5 stars good show
very good, eva green rules, I am ready to do her bidding, as one poor character in the show did. I will take my chances. she is a rare beauty and a fine actress too. Read more
Published 7 days ago by edgar christensen
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Enough To Buy
There have been so many movies, and series made, surrounding King Arthur and his kingdom of Camelot, and each has its own merit. But I've only bought this version to keep. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Joan
4.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the comment above that this falls short of the King...
The main character looks like a surfer boy rather than a knight capable of wielding a sword like Excalibur and killing multible enemies in battle, some wearing armor and familiar... Read more
Published 17 days ago by david coffey
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
I kind of like the new twists on the old legends, and it has a good cast. Wish it could have wrapped up a little better.
Published 17 days ago by Michele
5.0 out of 5 stars Make you realize the struggle for Christians
Good movie help me realize the fight for our freedom of democracy in America.King Arthur and the knights role and what the would do to protect the kingdom and the folks.
Published 1 month ago by Chief
4.0 out of 5 stars Good but a little repetitive
They have trouble keeping the story lines unique. It gets to be repetitive. After a couple shows we all know who the bad ones are. They should go on to something else.
Published 2 months ago by J. E. Simon
3.0 out of 5 stars I had high hopes
This show wasn't bad, and it's a shame that it was canceled so early because it had potential. The cast in this show was pretty good, with the exception of the main character. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Joseph Williams III
1.0 out of 5 stars *** Awful ***
Wish I had read the IMDB reviews on this before wasting money on this purchase.

I will not repeat what other negative reviewers have said, they are all correct... Read more
Published 2 months ago by RobertSubnet
3.0 out of 5 stars I'm with Lady Morgan!
5/5 stars for sexy Eva Green as Lady Morgan! ;-)

I'm deducting a few points off for that evil criminal Merlin and dishonourable childish King Arthur. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Sexy Bachelor
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Cancelled
Thank god! This show was dismal, it got worse with each episode. Compared to Starz other hit series Spartacus, Camelot looked like it was produced, written, and acted by pre-schoolers.
Jul 9, 2011 by Hardcore Kid |  See all 2 posts
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