Product Details

• Actors: Whoopi Goldberg, Michael York, Paloma Baeza, Simon Fenton, James Coombes
• Directors: Roger Young
• Writers: Joe Wiesenfeld, Mark Twain
• Producers: Joe Wiesenfeld, Nick Gillott, Norman Rosemont
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: April 10, 2001
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000055ZJO
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,785 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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  #18 in	Video > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Time Travel
  #21 in	Video > Comedy > Comedy Stars > Whoopi Goldberg

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The premise for Disney's A Knight in Camelot is an intriguing one. What if we could go back in time, with the wisdom and knowledge of our present day, and improve history? In this made-for-television comedy inspired by Mark Twain's fable A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court Whoopi Goldberg plays Dr. Vivien Morgan, a computer research scientist studying gravitational pull. Through a programming malfunction, she gets zapped into the land of Camelot, 589 A.D., while still toting her laptop and boombox. Unimpressed with the whole sword-in-the-stone gig, she brings her 20th-century impudence into King Arthur's court, where she begins to wreak Whoopi-style havoc. After she feigns magic, King Arthur (Michael York) elevates her to knighthood, where, as "Sir Boss," she uses her influence to make changes in the kingdom, from introducing hygiene and plumbing in the castle to insisting on fair labor practices for the peasants. Entanglements with Sir Lancelot, Queen Guinevere, and Merlin provide moments of high drama and colorful jousts, but the film remains largely uneven as it tries to be believable and find its tone--should it be philosophical ("Can a society live without progress? Without justice?" Goldberg's character asks at one point) or outrageously silly? It accomplishes the latter too well, and, methinks, will tire all but truly committed Whoopi fans. What remains is a cute, predictable, forgettable family film, but not Disney's best, nor Whoopi's. --Lynn Gibson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whoopi is fantastic!, May 14, 2001

By	ice cream eater (United States) - See all my reviews

This movie is mor funny than some comedies that come to theaters! I almost died laughing! Vivian Morgan is a scientist and just as she is about to prove the existance of a graviton particle, she is blasted back in timeto the 6th century! Confused as a troll for her dreadlocks, skin color, and tennis shoes, she is sentinced to be burned at the stake. But when a total eclips happens, she claims to be a wizard more powerful than Merlin. They release her and she is knighted. She does good things such as helping King Arthur see that the slaves should be free, but when she tries to make things like a steam engine far to early, how messed up will the 6th century turn? and how will she ever get back to the 20th century?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, March 21, 2000

By A Customer

This film is really good. I think its a great film but rather for childs. Its funny to hear the 'Sir boss' nickname Whoopy asks for. The story is about a scientist (Whoopy) who accidentelly travels through time and lands in the time of king Arthur. After having the kings trust, she will try to civilisaze the region by stopping slavery, inventing steam machines... She will then go for a adventure to see how England is. And will be captured by slavers... She will be delivired and it turns out Merlin is a real magicien and that he has the power to bring her home.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Charming Tall Tale, May 29, 2006

By	Matthew McCann "Skylerdragon" (Festus, Missouri) - See all my reviews

I really love Whoopi Goldberg. She really makes any script sparkle. I don't remember Jumpin' Jack Flash very well, so maybe that's one movie of hers that I didn't care for. This movie isn't on the top of my Whoopie list either.

The movie tells the story of a scientist who is suddenly displaced in time by Merlin. While in Camelot, Whoopie introduces a lot of important concepts and principles that keep the values of Camelot alive. Apparently, without her interference, Camelot would never have come out of the Dark Ages. All of this is at the apparent behest of the master magician and king's advisor Merlin...who constantly annoys and challenges Mr. Boss (as the scientist requests to be called).

In the end, we learn there is more to Merlin than his role in Camelot. A scientist learns about her role in the world, but gives it up to play second fiddle to Merlin's universal explorations and interferences.

Overall the idea was cute. Whoopi did a great job of creating a loveable character. However the experiment that displaced her and the far fetched ending didn't settle right with me. I think it was disturbing because it really wasn't a happily ever after ending but more like a completely new begining for a character and a situation that presented no longevity.

Only Whoopi Goldberg's fans can truely appreciate this charming comedy. It is completely appropriate for children and presents such a simple plot line and familiar moral that people around the world will recognize it and enjoy it. Buying it isn't reccommended but seeing it is...just because Whoopi Goldberg is in it.