‘The Green Knight’ Is a Way Better Fantasy Film Than Audiences Said

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Spoiler Alert: Spoilers follow for The Green Knight

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  • What Happens in ‘The Green Knight’?
  • Was ‘The Green Knight’ Misunderstood?

In recent times, it’s not unusual to find a significant gap between what critics praise and what viewers enjoy. This disparity can be attributed to various factors, including politics and the current media landscape. As a result, it’s quite common to see the opinions of viewers differ significantly from those of critics. This phenomenon is evident in both cases – for instance, the first two films of the Star Wars sequel trilogy received critical acclaim but were divisive among fans, while the first Joker movie overcame polarized reviews to become one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever.

In 2021, a notable divide occurred when David Lowery, known for his indie favorites, released “The Green Knight,” marketed as a grand fantasy epic but bordered on an art film instead. Critics have praised it, with an impressive 89% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, yet its audience rating is only 50%. It’s important to note that Lowery’s films have traditionally had difficulty appealing to the masses due to their focus on character psychology and avant-garde exploration. However, “The Green Knight” undeniably ranks as one of the top fantasy films from the past decade, and arguably doesn’t deserve the backlash it has received.

What Happens in ‘The Green Knight’?

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say that “The Green Knight” is inspired by the 14th-century poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” but it doesn’t follow the source material in a literal sense. In this captivating tale, my focus character is Gawain (Dev Patel), a young man who shares kinship with King Arthur. One fateful day, the enigmatic Green Knight (Ralph Ineson, soon to be Galactus) graces our hallowed Camelot halls, challenging any brave soul to strike him with his prized battleaxe. And in an instant, I find myself unable to resist this intriguing proposition…

Gawain rises to the occasion, triumphing over the opponent and decapitating him, but he quickly understands the terms of their agreement – he must return to the Green Chapel after a year and receive an identical blow in return. As time goes by, with the deadline drawing near, Gawain sets out on a journey to honor his promise and face the Green Knight once more, aware that this encounter may prove fatal for him.

The remainder of the movie progresses in a series of distinct scenes, each depicting a stage in Gawain’s voyage that includes meetings with a cunning scavenger (Barry Keoghan), a spectral young woman, giants, and the captivating wife of a castle lord (Alicia Vikander). As Gawain approaches his destiny, the film becomes increasingly dreamlike, eschewing the grandiose battle sequences typical of fantasy epics. Instead, the story primarily explores Gawain’s mental state and the internal struggle he experiences between fear and obligation as he moves towards what seems to be his demise.

In essence, Lowery doesn’t flinch from portraying his hero’s less admirable traits, a contrast to the original poem where Gawain hasn’t yet been officially knighted. This journey to confront the Green Knight is presented as a rite of passage and an opportunity for Gawain to demonstrate his worthiness of Arthur’s respect, which he yearns for deeply. Similarly, Lowery doesn’t hold back in depicting Camelot, as Arthur’s knights understand that Gawain’s quest is essentially a suicide mission, yet they still urge him forward due to their skewed understanding of what they perceive as honorable actions.

Was ‘The Green Knight’ Misunderstood?

Initially, the advertising for “The Green Knight” suggested an exhilarating reimagining of the dark fantasy saga. Consequently, it’s no surprise that viewers might be taken aback by the film’s introspective, artful approach rather than the anticipated action-packed epic. However, if you shift your perspective to view it as a thoughtful character study, “The Green Knight” delivers remarkably well, especially when you understand that Lowery is more concerned with deconstructing the source text rather than a faithful adaptation of the poem. Noticeable changes in the story are evident; for instance, Morgan Le Fay, the enchantress, is portrayed as Gawain’s mother and subtly hinted to be the one who invokes the Green Knight in the movie.

To put it another way, Lowery significantly alters the story’s ending as opposed to how it is traditionally portrayed in the poem. Instead of Gawain triumphing over the Green Knight at the end, the tale reaches its climax with a scene similar to “The Last Temptation of Christ.” In this altered version, Gawain hesitates at the last moment when faced with the Knight’s blow, choosing to retreat to Camelot and eventually ascending the throne. However, his life is marred by cowardice, leading to a reign marked by fear and disdain from his people. The vision ends without the Green Knight dealing the final blow, but Gawain comes to terms with his possible demise. Interestingly, this modernized perspective on heroism highlights Gawain’s acceptance of death rather than his victory over it.

Perhaps the most ingenious directorial choice Lowery makes is his unique way of telling the story. Since the original poem was fantastical and deeply symbolic, Lowery directs The Green Knight with a surreal, dream-like quality. In this manner, events and characters don’t necessarily have to be interpreted literally, allowing Lowery to preserve the essence of a fable while adapting it to a more realistic setting.

The Green Knight is often misconstrued as one of the most misunderstood films from the past ten years, receiving more criticism than it deserved and standing out in a genre that seems overly crowded. Some might argue that by re-interpreting such a renowned text in an innovative way, Lowery managed to capture the essence of the Arthurian age more accurately than any traditional adaptation could have.

If you haven’t seen it yet, The Green Knight is currently available for streaming on Prime Video.

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2025-01-06 04:01