Page vs Screen: Cursed

Born in the Dawn - To pass in the Twilight

As I write this, I'm still hesitating between writing a single post about the Thomas Wheeler (author) & Frank Miller (illustrator) book Cursed and the corresponding Netflix series, or keeping page and screen separate. Even with the series - cover each episode as I have done for other series? Or because it's Netflix and I marathoned through it treat it as a single 10h film? So many decisions... I guess I'll just have to start writing and we'll see what comes out of it.

Cursed is a feminist retelling of the Arthurian myth, written by Thomas Wheeler and illustrated by Frank Miller. It's a young adult fantasy novel that reframes the Arthurian legends by telling them through the character of Nimue, famously known as the Lady of the Lake in the traditional versions (sometimes an ally of Arthur's, others the keeper of Excalibur, and in yet others a protégé of Merlin's who steals his magic and leaves him trapped in a tree). In Cursed she is a young Fey woman (the Fey are various clans of humanoid beings with a connection to the spirit world that probably inhabited Britain before humans came, and have been slowly being pushed out of their lands by humans, more recently persecuted by  fanatics called Red Paladins sent by the Church), whose mother Lenore is the Arch-Druid and healer of her Sky-Folk clan. The story begins as their village is attacked by Red Paladins, and Lenore entrusts Nimue with a powerful sword and asks her to deliver it to Merlin.

Since books have trailers now (?!), here's a look at the book and show trailers:

 

I thought it would be interesting to contrast the book and the show, as they were pretty much created at the same time (Wheeler and Miller hadn't even finished writing it when Netflix optioned it for a series adaptation, and the book hadn't been released yet while the show was filming) and Wheeler is showrunner of the Netflix series. Well, book 1 and season 1 (in case others come out in time).

Obviously spoilers for both book and TV show below! (and potentially for a follow up book if they pick up some of the threads from the show that weren't in the book)

The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

Where to start... Based on the trailers (and the fact that it's Arthurian-related!), I had been really looking forward to seeing The Kid Who Would Be King last winter, except it came and went in the cinema so fast I missed out on my chance. And now I'm kind of glad I didn't see it because owww... I don't know if it was because I wasn't in the right mind frame when I watched it last night (and half asleep), or I've finally outgrown kids' movies (boo!) or it's just not that good? I will say that the lead kids themselves were pretty good with their roles, and fit well together as duos and then the team. Particularly Louis Ashbourne Serkis, whose Alex is a fitting stand in for a young King Arthur.

For me the reference points from previous Arthurian tales for this movie are clearly T.H. White's The Once and Future King, or for the kids watching but who haven't read it Disney's The Sword in the Stone, and also the film A Kid in King Arthur's Court (for the mix of medieval and modern warfare tactics, but in the present instead of the past). You could imagine it as a centuries-later sequel to the animated film. It even starts out with an animated retelling of the main points of the Arthurian legend - with an added level of fantasy with a stronger and more evil sorceress Morgana who swears to return to claim the land once Arthur is gone and no longer remembered and basically the world has gone to shit (wars, famine, greed etc. in abundance - so basically present day).

Obviously, spoilers below!

King Arthur of the Seven Seas!

Arthur & Excalibur

What's that? You mean that's not the title of the latest Aquaman movie starring Jason Momoa?!

Could have fooled me! I mean, let's look at the evidence:

• The young prince growing up away from his throne, for his own safety - check
• Grizzled mentor who tries to prepare him for the throne, but doesn't always tell him the whole truth - check
• Prince Arthur - check
• A quest - check
• A Lady in the Lake - well, a Queen in the Sea at the centre of the world, close enough! - check
• A magical sword in a stone - ok, it's an all-powerful trident in a fossilized skeleton's hands, but close enough - check
• An impressive (future) queen who stands by her (future) king - check
• "One true king" - check
• Main enemy is a family member - younger brother vs nephew? We'll take it! - check

See what I mean?!

Lady in the Lake

Guinevere

Merlin

Mordred

Robin Hood 113: "A Clue: No"

In which the Sheriff and Gisbourne corner Robin and his men forcing a violent standoff... while everyone else prepares for the return of the King.

And that's just the first 5 minutes! More violent than usual as Robin changes his methods out of despair from the previous episode's ending (this one picks up exactly where the previous left off). Standoff saved at the last minute by the reappearance of Will and Alan who decided not to abscond with Gisbourne's riches.

Do not mess with this Robin...

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 112: "The Return of the King"

In which Robin and Marian are finally honest with each other, and Robin desperately tries to prove the identity of an assassin and stop a wedding.

The news of the King Richard's imminent visit to Nottingham on his way to London brings a sense of urgency with it, as Gisbourne prepares for his wedding to Marian, she prepares for a final outing as the Nightwatchman, and Robin tries to find the proof that the Sheriff and Gisbourne plotted to kill the King in the Holy Land.

Could this be our last outing with the Nightwatchman?

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 111: "Dead Man Walking"

In which Gisbourne ups his tax collecting, the Sheriff organizes a Festival, and a family secret is revealed.

Taxes, taxes and more taxes! And if you can't pay? Arrested! The excuse this time is "the King's levy", money to help pay for the war in the Holy Land. Unfortunately while pressing a cooper in Locksely for his taxes, Gisbourne's men happen upon a couple of Saracen war bows he's made for Robin's men... His arrest is made worse by their taking his apprentice as well, who turns out to be John's son! Of course John loses it, tries to free them, and ends up a prisoner himself!

Spoilers below

Robin Hood 110: "Peace? Off!"

In which Robin and his men help out a returning Crusader, and find themlseves embroiled in some international diplomacy and spy-craft.

There's a lot going on here, and at the same time nothing much to move the overall seasonal plot forward: PTSD. Superstitions (fears of Saracen "witchcraft"). Discussions of magic vs science. Kidnapping. Assassination attempts. International diplomacy...

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 109: "A Thing or Two About Loyalty"

In which Robin must foil the Sheriff's plans to get his hands on a weapon of mass destruction.

This one's pretty straightforward: a friend of Gisbourne's has invented a black explosive powder (gunpowder!), which everyone is calling "Greek Fire" (because at the time gunpowder was still exclusive to the far East, and the only scary explosive Western man had witnessed was the Byzantines Greek Fire in the Eastern Mediterranean).

Boom!

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 108: "Tattoo? What Tattoo?"

In which Robin spends a lot of time tied to a tree, and discovers the identity of a would-be royal assassin.

Robin awakes from yet another nightmare about his time in the Holy Land. This time the night a saracen assassin infiltrated the camp, stabbed him and left him for dead and went to kill the King. Robin managed to foil the attempt and in so doing sliced through a tattoo on the assassin's arm, leaving a distinct scar.

It so happens it's the King's birthday, and Much finds it galling that Gisbourne is throwing a feast in Locksley Manor! At said party he also announces to all that Marian has accepted to be his wife on the King's return.

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 107: "Brothers in Arms"

In which the Gisbourne sets a trap for a spy in Nottingham Castle, a family member causes trouble, Marian kicks ass, an offer of marriage is made and a snake gets his comeuppance.

Two new characters move along the action in this episode, together with the Sheriff and Gisbourne's usual plotting to catch Robin: 

Carpetbagger Lucky George

• Lucky George, a slithery character in league with the Sheriff who visits villages ahead of the Taxman and offers the villagers pennies in exchange for their valuables, so they'll have cash to pay their taxes. Valuables Robin and his men of course later relieve him of (and return to their owners) as he passes through Sherwood.
• Tom, Allan's brother, a no-good conman and thief who starts off the episode trying to defend himself from angry villagers by claiming he's one of Robin's men and Robin will defend him (this to Robin's face, so rather amusing scene for all involved, except Tom).

Suspecting there's a spy in Nottingham helping Robin, the Sheriff orders Gisbourne to set a trap to flush out the spy (misleading information about a chest of silver traveling through the forest with no guards, told only to his sergeant so he could set it up).

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 106: "The Taxman Cometh"

In which the Sheriff sets yet another trap for Robin, but gets more than he bargained for.

This story appears to be all original, although it does involve stealing of taxes and continues to play with disguises and trickery and people who are not what they seem in order to trick either Robin or the Sheriff.

Appearances can be doubly deceiving...

That and Gisbourne doesn't let up on his wooing of Marian.

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 105: "Turk Flu"

In which miners strike, slaves are brought in to replace them, Robin attends an archery competition and the gang gets a new member.

It's time for one of Robin Hood's most famous adventures: the archery competition! Which as we all remember is usually a trap concocted by the Sheriff for Robin, whom he knows can't help but show up and win it. Various versions have involved various more or less elaborate disguises and daring escapes, this one of course does the same.

Instead of doing a traditional take on the competition, here it was incorporated in a more elaborate scheme to once again foil Gisbourne and the Sheriff, involving an iron ore mine, slaves and a good dose of prejudice and superstition. Plus some well-applied Saracen science. 😉

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 104: "Parent Hood"

In which Robin and co. find a babe in the woods, and lose one of their own.

"For every man there is a purpose which he sets up in his life. Let yours be the doing of all good deeds."

Robin quoting the Coran to his men.

This is the episode where the series creators want to show us that not everyone is safe, that characters we care about can and will die.

But before we get to that (and after they find the babe in the woods), Robin continues to be a show-off when he tries to help Marian get food into a quarantined village (that the Sheriff wants to starve so he can use it as accommodation for his troops). Instead of just tossing the food over the wall he shoots it over with arrows grinning as the villagers yell "Bless you Robin Hood"!

Spoilers below!

Robin Hood 103: "Who Shot The Sheriff?"

In which the Sheriff tries to make the people hate Robin Hood, we are introduced to the Nightwatchman, and Gisbourne has a political rival in Nottingham.

As the episode opens, Much calls out on Robin's need to be loved by the people (even the Sheriff comments on it later), so he tries to play it down by not taking credit for his actions 

"Do me a favor. Tell them you have not seen me. Tell them this is your own scheme. (Why?) My friends think I am vain!"

An archer goes around killing people (either popular officials or innocent people who die in attempts to kill the Sheriff or just randomly in Nottingham), and first off the people think it's Robin. The Sheriff is also aware of how much Robin needs to feel loved, and so blames all the deaths on Robin, and enjoys watching the people turn against Robin en masse... 

Robin and his men in a tussle with the villagers

Spoilers below!

Attempting a "historical" King Arthur in the movies (2004)

Here's a movie I remember being excited about when it was announced (King Arthur on the big screen? yay! Digging into possible historical basis? cool!), and then being a bit puzzled with it when it came out. Not quite convinced by it as "King Arthur", but having enjoyed it as a film nonetheless, in great part thanks to its excellent actors (who sadly had to work with some clunky dialogue at times *shudder*).

* Sidebar: next time someone wants a "historical" King Arthur... just go straight to the excellent "The Warlord Chronicles" by Bernard Cornwell and adapt those! *

Diving into it now, because I was looking for something to pop into the dvd player that I hadn't seen in ages, and felt in the mood for some swordplay and horseback riding. 😉

So let's take a closer look at King Arthur (2004; note: "Director's Edition", and I don't remember enough of the cinematic to point out the differences), directed by Antoine Fuqua, screenplay by David Franzoni and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (which explains quite a bit... *sigh*) and starring Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd and Keira Knightley (in her first post-Pirates movie I believe; curiously before this she'd done a Robin Hood movie for Disney called Princess of Thieves which I guess I'll have to watch at some point for this blog!).

Need I say it? SPOILER ALERT for a 2004 movie!

Who is this King Arthur?

Artorius (Arthur) Castus. A half-Roman / half-British (mother) commander of the troops guarding Hadrian's Wall (like his father before him), leader of a unit of Sarmatian knights who serve Rome fro 15 years. A name apparently already well-known throughout the island (Guinevere tells him "My father told me great tales of you (...) Fairy tales. The kind you hear about people so brave, so selfless, that they can't be real. Arthur and his knights. A leader both Briton and Roman."). He's a devout Christian, a student of Pelagius (who is now deemed a heretic by Rome) who believes men have free will and thus are free to choose their own destiny/fate. When he learns that Pelagius is dead and his teachings of equality among men are deemed heretical by Rome, his faith in Rome is shaken (Alecto "the Rome you believe in does not exist except in your dreams").

Clive Owen does an excellent job of bringing to life a man who is dedicated to his cause (Rome, his men), tired of waging battle and longing for a peaceful life in Rome, who slowly begins to understand himself better as he is forced to confront certain truths about Rome and faces the prospect of the land he has dedicated his life to protecting simply being abandoned to its fate during the Saxon invasion.