The Green Knight (2021) - Excellent Atmosphere with Colourful Visual Effects, Moody Soundtrack and Ambiguous Ending - 7/10 (13/12/22)

Based upon a timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight is a period adventure drama that convinces with excellent visual effects, moody soundtrack and an interesting set of characters. The film revolves King Arthur's reckless nephew Gawain who spends his life getting drunk, having excessive meals and spending time with a prostitute who hopes to improve her life by being with him. One day, the mysterious creature called The Green Knight visits for Christmas and asks one person to step forward and decapitate it. Gawain wants to impress the king in order to be considered a brave potential successor to the throne and decapitates the creature. In return however, Gawain is asked to return the favour and visit the creature next Christmas. As Gawain gets ready for the challenge and travels through the kingdom, he realizes that he has overestimated himself and ultimately tries to cheat himself out of the deal with the mysterious creature.

This movie convinces on numerous elements. First and foremost, this film excels with colourful, diversified and moody visual effects that increase the mysterious atmosphere of the tale. Up next, the elegiac, gloomy and melodic soundtrack complements the strong visual effects perfectly. On his voyage through the vast kingdom, Gawain meets an intriguing set of characters from scheming thieves over a virgin martyr to a toxic noble couple. One also has to point out the film's excellent timeless locations which may make you want to visit Ireland. The costumes have also been crafted with great care and bring the early medieval period to life in a credible way. A special shoutout goes to the movie's ambiguous ending that resonates and leaves room for interpretation.

There are however a few elements that one could also criticize negatively. There has already been an exhaustive number of movies about Arthurian legends. The film clocks in at two hours and ten minutes and slightly overstays its welcome. This movie is lacking fluid pace as it basically progresses from one adventurous anecdote to the next rather than developing the main plot and its lead character.

Still, the movie's upsides certainly outweigh its minor disadvantages. Anyone interested in medieval adventure movies with atmospheric depth should give this film a try. The movie's excellent atmosphere with colourful visual effects, moody soundtrack and ambiguous ending might even make you want to watch this unique film time and again.