Last Minute Controversy, I know

Oh how distasteful. This Monty Python film was lacking in humor and filled with crude content. Maybe I am much too olden and mile at heart to understand this sort of debauchary, but I haven't an idea as to why mocking the quest for the Grail is humorous. This quest was spiritual and enlightening and almost impossible to a mere mortal, yet here it is being satirized and followed by roaring laughter. I do no understand. My son holds too high honor to be discredited as foolish and powerless. Had he any true flaw, it would not be idly laughed upon. Kings are no laughing stocks, rather soveriegn rulers. I just do not understand. Some of the content can be humr when it makes a political statement, but if the humor IS political, what is really being said about my honorable Arthur?

My Farewell to the Round Table

To the knights of the Round Table:

I have heard that the Round Table is in great trouble. I am now currently questing with Niviane along with her knights. I sense that Arthur is preparing a fight against Mordred and his army. We expect to reach the battlefield in ten days. I will recover the Excalibur as soon as possible for Arthur's keeping. Mordred will be no match against this sword. I know a dwarf that can sharpen the blade to my liking. Not even the toughest dragon in the kingdom of Logres will be able to withstand the blade.

We're currently resting at a small house where there lies the most extravagant furnishings. Why you should see the the red cloth covering the tomb inside! The two lovers entombed inside had a splend time living here. This is indeed a beautiful place. Oh my, I'm getting rather drowsy. I need to rest. It must be late at night, for I see a full moon outside. Our company will depart at dawn tommorrow.

Your friend,
Merlin

Alone again...

Lrds. & Ldys.,

It's such a pity that we have to part ways again after such a brief time together. I cannot help but feel that this has happened before. At least this time there are far fewer bodies to dispose of, and I'm not compelled to visit Lancelot's mom again, or run off to a hermitage afterwards. Still, I long for the days when we sat around in Arthur's hall, putting the knife to the meat and the drink to the cup, even if we did have an occasional orphan turn up at the gate asking for help killing a giant.

Watching Monty Python was an appropriate way to end it though, I think. Especially since we cut the film off in the middle of a scene, which is the way it's meant to be done. Why leave them asking for more when you can simply leave them asking for closure?

To Arthur: Always know that I'm your right hand man. I'd be your left hand man too, but I'm not sure where I put it.

To Kay: I'd go questing with you any day, old friend.

To the rest of the court: Keep on fighting the good fight.

With that, I'll take my leave of you and head off into the wasteland...

Yrs.,

Bedwyr

What a strange place!

What in the name of all belonging to England!? Tiny iron gates protect the labyrinth containing the fragile boxes with glass lids on the covers. So many people and it took much time to find a place to dismount and tie my horse. I was in Fortune’s grace however because one of the castles surrounding the labyrinth made change for the parking meetres; Star-Deer or I think they call them “Bucks.” Stupid lady looked at me funny! Who heard of a spinning door! The city is a confusing place but inside the puzzle palace is where the real horror begins. What magic or trickery can turn Lions to stone? Is this some type of warning to those who are in the possessing the courage greater than I? Or do they have majick to also reanimate into flesh and attack intruders. Ah, but the red knight in those haunting wall drawing made it all worth the while. Such a story, but where’s my representation? Are the painters of the court afraid to take a drawing of me? They take drawings of people with wings!

Monty Python

The film was an incredibly witty spoof of our court at Camelot. Among the most memorable parts was the public's general disregard for King Arthur's authority. It was nice to see a comedic side to a sometimes too serious lifestyle. In addition to this, I was also surprised to see myself being defeated so quickly by a defenseless bunny. I was depicted as an impetuous knight, resembling more Sir Kay than myself. But, the rabbit was ferociously evil, and perhaps I would not have stood a chance to actually defeat it. The film adaptation was delightfully clever and entertaining.

The Abbey Paintings

The begining of my quest to view the Abbey paintings was of relative ease. I entered the large edifice and procured the renderings tirelessly. At first, I could not find them but was still mesmerized by all of the other ones the BPL had to offer. My eyes finally gazed across the hall and caught what to me appeared to be Sir Galahad achieving the grail. I eagerly made my way towards the painting when I was stopped by one of the guards. I politely asked to view the paintings, but was rejected. So I hid in the corridor and surreptitiously snuck in unwatched and unscathed. I was peasantly surprised with Abbey's representation of our quest to find the Holy Grail. My favorite one was Sir Galahad in a red tunic accepting the Grail, and Perceval and I kneeling in our full armor. The saints dressed in white in back of us was also a nice touch, though that was not the exact way that it occurred. Overall, it was quite the experience to witness such a wonderful interpretation of our quest to find the Holy Grail.

In defense of Excalibur

Recently I have viewed John Boorman's most excellent film Excalibur and was overjoyed to see that it has stood the test of time as a fantasy epic that has a strong moral center. From the glittering beauty of Guinevere to the dark sensuousness of Morgana and the men that struggle in their webs, brave King Arthur and doomed Sir Lancelot, the power of the film lies in the way that the morality of our time is represented. In this film, all evil actions are brought home, even when committed by those with pure hearts. There is no black and white, villain or hero, all within the realm of Camelot are painted in shades of grey, as they were in life. Even the treachery of the lovers Lancelot and Guinevere is understood, as you see the punishment that they have brought upon themselves, as brave Lancelot becomes a gibbering tool of zealotry and Guinevere forswears all congress with men, shutting her heart away in a cold abbey. Even Arthur, grown from a bubbling boy to a noble king, admits his faults and goes to his death with a clear sense of how he came to this lamentable pass. I know that some of my fellow kinsmen laugh and look on this film as a old and campy mess, but watch it again with a open mind and heart, see the magic that lies in all men, look into the dragon and let it sear your soul as it paints a glorious picture of a time that we will neer see again.......