Surreal and haunting, The Green Knight is an absolute feast for the eyes that leaves much to chew on.
This was my first experience with writer/director David Lowery, and his storytelling and vision for this unorthodox coming-of-age Arthurian tale is expertly crafted and undeniably impressive.
A lot of references to the original poem were lost on me as I've not read it, but this confusion only made way for greater intrigue and left me wanting to learn more.
Understandably, this is not the case for a lot of people. Its esoteric nature, long, indulgent takes, and medieval dialogue are enough to deem this as dull or a 'slow burn'. Though, for me, the weakest aspect was the monotonous editing style. Lowery really rode into battle with that cross dissolve held high.
Nevertheless, my attention was always captured, one way or another.
Not only is The Green Knight a visual marvel, the sound design and soundtrack are as equally immersive, and amplify the peculiar atmosphere.
Every idea, symbol, design, detail felt meaningfully placed. And even though I didn't fully understand them all, the acting helped carry a lot of that weight. Especially Dev Patel. He gave a beautifully understated performance, and he seemed very comfortable and well-suited to the role, as did most of the cast.
So, while The Green Knight won't be to everyone's taste, I, for one, am happy to have a new grand-scale fantasy that feels both traditional and modern, and offers a thematic and cinematic adventure worth taking.
This was my first experience with writer/director David Lowery, and his storytelling and vision for this unorthodox coming-of-age Arthurian tale is expertly crafted and undeniably impressive.
A lot of references to the original poem were lost on me as I've not read it, but this confusion only made way for greater intrigue and left me wanting to learn more.
Understandably, this is not the case for a lot of people. Its esoteric nature, long, indulgent takes, and medieval dialogue are enough to deem this as dull or a 'slow burn'. Though, for me, the weakest aspect was the monotonous editing style. Lowery really rode into battle with that cross dissolve held high.
Nevertheless, my attention was always captured, one way or another.
Not only is The Green Knight a visual marvel, the sound design and soundtrack are as equally immersive, and amplify the peculiar atmosphere.
Every idea, symbol, design, detail felt meaningfully placed. And even though I didn't fully understand them all, the acting helped carry a lot of that weight. Especially Dev Patel. He gave a beautifully understated performance, and he seemed very comfortable and well-suited to the role, as did most of the cast.
So, while The Green Knight won't be to everyone's taste, I, for one, am happy to have a new grand-scale fantasy that feels both traditional and modern, and offers a thematic and cinematic adventure worth taking.