John Boorman’s “Excalibur” Gets 4K Release from Arrow

FINALLY!!!! One of those seminal films you either saw far too young and became of obsessed with, or saw as an adult and became obsessed with, is finally getting a 4k release. It’s got everything! Magic, violence, love, vengeance, young Dame Helen Mirren– oh, and the most incredible period-accurate armor put to film in fantastical scenes.

We’re talking about John Boorman‘s 1981 classic “Excalibur,” which is at long last getting the special restoration treatment it deserves. Arrow Video, who has previously done 4K releases such as “Flash Gordon,” the exquisit “Conan” box set, “Tremors,” and David Lynch‘s “Dune,” announced the title earlier this week.

FORGED BY A GOD. FORETOLD BY A WIZARD. FOUND BY A KING.

Behold, the Sword of Power! Excalibur! Forged when the world was young, and bird and beast and flower were one with man and death was but a dream. Given by Merlin (Nicol Williamson) to Uther Pendragon (Gabriel Byrne) to unite the land in peace but wasted on lust. Driven into stone by Uther’s dying hand, there to await the coming of a true King. A journey into the wonders and horrors of the imagination, this is the story of Arthur (Nigel Terry), the knights of the round table, the golden age of Camelot, the quest for the Holy Grail and of course, the wizard, Merlin.

The cast also includes Sir Patrick Stewart, and Liam Neeson, Boorman directs, with Oscar-nominated cinematography by Alex Thomson (“Legend“) and a thundering score by Trevor Jones.

Product Features

3-DISC 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 for the first time on home video
• Contains both the 141-minute Theatrical Cut and the 120-minute TV Version of the film
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
• Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing writing by Charlie Brigden, K.A. Laity, Kimberly Lindbergs, Josh Nelson, Philip Kemp, John Reppion, Icy Sedgwick and Jez Winship
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options
• Six postcard-sized reproduction art cards

DISC 1 – FEATURE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation of the 141-minute Theatrical Cut
• Restored original lossless mono and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio options
• Brand new audio commentary by Brian Hoyle, author of The Cinema of John Boorman
• Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker David Kittredge, director of Boorman and the Devil
• Archive audio commentary by director John Boorman

DISC 2 – EXTRAS (BLU-RAY)

• The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie, a never before released 48-minute documentary directed by Neil Jordan during the production of Excalibur
• To Be a Knight and Follow a King, a newly filmed interview with director John Boorman and actor Charley Boorman
• When Death Was but a Dream, a newly filmed interview with creative associate Neil Jordan
• The Charm of Making, a newly filmed interview with production designer Anthony Pratt
• Confessions of a Professional “Pain-in-the-ass”, a newly filmed interview with 2nd unit director Peter MacDonald
• Anam Cara, a new featurette on the working friendship of John Boorman and co-writer Rospo Pallenberg featuring a newly filmed interview with Pallenberg
• Divided Nature, a brand new featurette by film historians Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr
• Trailers
• Image galleries

DISC 3 – BONUS (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE BLU-RAY)

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the 120-minute TV Version of the film, previously unavailable on home video
• Original lossless mono audio
• Excalibur: Behind the Movie, a 50-minute retrospective documentary in which cast and crew look back on the making of the film

You can pre-order the set via Arrow Video here.