History Film / KingArthur2004

* AssholeVictim: None shed any tears for Marius, who takes an arrow to the chest courtesy of Guinevere and two of his monks who even the Saxon’s put back into the hole they were walled up earlier by Arthur.

* DecompositeCharacter: Guinevere, who retains the traditional elements of being Arthur's love interest, and Vanora, which is believed to be the name for an early version of the Guinevere character and seems to have taken the LoveTriangle aspect Guinevere typically has with Lancelot.

* RelatedInTheAdaptation: In this continuity, Guinevere is Merlin's daughter, who is leader of the rebel non-Romanized Britons. Her wedding with Arthur unites them with the Romanized Britons led by him.

* {{Xenafication}}: Guinevere is a Woad warrior princess in this iteration of the Arthurian legend.

[[Myth/KingArthur Artorius Castus/Arthur]] (Owen) is introduced not as a king but as an officer in the Roman army in Britain. A reluctant leader, Arthur wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can head for Rome, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot (Gruffudd), Galahad (Creator/HughDancy), Bors (Creator/RayWinstone), Tristan (Creator/MadsMikkelsen), Dagonet (Creator/RayStevenson) and Gawain (Creator/JoelEdgerton) to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain needs a king--someone not only to defend against the current threat of invading Saxons, but to lead the isle into a new age. Under the guidance of Merlin (Stephen Dillane), a former enemy, and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Knightley) by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history.

* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: Contrary to the opening titles, most historians ''don't'' agree that King Arthur was based on a single historical person, although it was a popular speculation for decades. If anything, most historians suggest that the mythical King Arthur was inspired by several real life individuals, one being a Roman commander in the 2nd century. The "period" poem used in promotion to give credence to the former was plain made up for it.

* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: It's hinted that at least some of Bors' children aren't his, but actually Lancelot's. Lancelot jokes that he when they all got their freedom, he would be sleeping with Gawain's imaginary wife while Gawain wonders why his children looks like his friend. Later, Bors sees Lancelot flirt with Vanora and briefly compares him to his baby son, before dismissing it. However Lancelot later says that son Bors calls number 3 and describes as a good fighter is in fact his, which seems to annoy Bors. It's worth pointing out that Bors' only named son, Gilly, has dark black hair like Lancelot unlike either of his parents.

* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: It's hinted that at least some of Bors' children aren't his, but actually Lancelot's. Lancelot jokes that he when they all got their freedom, he would be sleeping with Gawain's imaginary wife while Gawain wonders why his children looks like his friend. Later, Bors sees Lancelot flirt with Vanora and briefly compares him to his baby son, before dismissing it. However Lancelot later says that son Bors calls number 3 and describes as a good fighter is in fact his, which seems to annoy Bors. It's worth pointing out that Bors' only named son, Gilly, has dark hair like Lancelot unlike either of his parents.

* LoveTriangle: Very much downplayed, Lancelot and Guinevere share some looks but the movie focuses on her and Arthur. In fact, Lancelot seems to be quite distrustful of Guinevere and was quite resentful towards her for convincing Arthur to stay and help the Britons.

* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: Contrary to the opening titles, most historians ''don't'' agree that King Arthur was based on a single historical person, although it was a popular speculation for decades. The "period" poem used in promotion to give credence to the former was plain made up for it.

Myth/KingArthur (Owen) is introduced not as a king but as an officer in the Roman army in Britain. A reluctant leader, Arthur wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can head for Rome, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot (Gruffudd), Galahad (Creator/HughDancy), Bors (Creator/RayWinstone), Tristan (Creator/MadsMikkelsen), Dagonet (Creator/RayStevenson) and Gawain (Creator/JoelEdgerton) to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain needs a king--someone not only to defend against the current threat of invading Saxons, but to lead the isle into a new age. Under the guidance of Merlin (Stephen Dillane), a former enemy, and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Knightley) by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history.

* DatedHistory: The reason behind the makers' decision to call the rebel "Woads" is that the Britons were though to use woad in tattoos or body paint, based on UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar's ''Literature/CommentariesOnTheGallicWar'' and the existence of a people called "Picts" (from Latin ''pictus'', "painted") in Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Britain. However in the couple of years after the movie came out, practical experiments showed that woad is ill-suited to be used in such fashion, being caustic and scarring when applied under the skin, and drying and falling too fast when over it. Its use to dye objects is attested for centuries, however.

* DatedHistory: The reason behind the makers' decision to call the rebel "Woads" is that the Britons were though to use woad in tattoos or body paint, based on UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar's ''Literature/CommentariesOnTheGallicWar'' and the existence of a people called "Picts" (from Latin ''pictus'', "painted) in Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Britain. However in the couple of years after the movie came out, practical experiments showed that woad is ill-suited to be used as such, being caustic when applied under the skin, and drying and falling too fast when over it. Its use to dye objects is attested for centuries, however.

* DatedHistory: The reason behind the makers' decision to call the rebel "Woads" is that the Britons were though to use woad in tattoos or body paint, based on Creator/JuliusCaesar's ''Literature/CommentariesOnTheGallicWars'' and the existence of a people called "Picts" (from Latin ''pictus'', "painted) in Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Britain. However in the couple of years after the movie came out, practical experiments showed that woad is ill-suited to be used as such, being caustic when applied under the skin, and drying and falling too fast when over it. Its use to dye objects is attested for centuries, however.

* DatedHistory: In the couple of years after the movie came out, practical experiments showed that woad is ill-suited to be used as body paint or in tattoos, being caustic, drying and falling too fast. Still was used as a dye for centuries, however.

* CompositeCharacter: In this continuity, Merlin is the leader of the Briton rebels and [[RelatedInTheAdaptation Guinevere's father]]. In the Arthurian cycle the Britons were divided before Arthur, and Guinevere's father was a king called Leodegrance (Merlin himself may have been a [[ZigZaggedTrope Composite Character]] of a North Brythonic prophet, Myrddin Wyllt, and a Romano-British warlord, Ambrosius Aurelianus, before later tradition reduced him to a wizard in King Arthur's court).

* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: Contrary to the opening titles, most historians ''don't'' agree that King Arthur was based on a single historical person, although it was a popular speculation for decades. The period poem shown to gie credence to the former is also made up for the film.

* SpiritualSuccessor: Fits the bill at being one to ''Film/{{Gladiator}}''. The stories to both films are historical battle epics during the era of the Roman Empire, were originally conceived by David Franzoni, both have Hans Zimmer scores, and both center around a successful and respected military officer who while having never been to Rome holds an idealized image of it in his head.

* CompositeCharacter: In this continuity, Merlin is the leader of the Briton rebels and [[RelatedInTheAdaptation Guinevere's father]]. In the Arthurian cycle (like in RealLife) the Britons were divided before Arthur, and Guinevere's father was a king called Leodegrance (Merlin himself may have been a [[ZigZaggedTrope Composite Character]] of a North Brythonic prophet, Myrddin Wyllt and a Romano-British warlord, Ambrosius Aurelianus, before later tradition reduced him to a wizard in King Arthur's court).

* DatedHistory: In the couple of years after the movie came out, practical experiments showed that woad is ill-suited to be used as body paint or in tattoos, being caustic, drying and falling too fast.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The movie's claim to be the [[{{Demythification}} true story]] behind the King Arthur legends is best taken with a grain of salt. Go to [[ArtisticLicenseHistory/KingArthur2004 its dedicated page]] for more information.
* AscendedExtra: Dagonet. He was normally portrayed in the Arthurian mythos as a buffoon and a coward, which also counts him as an AdaptationalBadass. He's quite obscure in the mythos itself with its huge cast. Few nowadays outside of scholars would have heard of his name if not for the movie.

** This exchange, considering Lancelot in some of the Arthurian legends had been raped (though by women, not men).
--> '''Lancelot''': You must be frightened... There are a lot of lonely men out there.
--> '''Guinevere''': Don't worry, I won't let them rape you.

* AscendedExtra: Dagonet. He was normally portrayed in the Arthurian mythos as a buffoon and a coward, which also counts him as an AdaptationalBadass. He's quite obscure in the mythos itself with its LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters. Few nowadays outside of scholars would have heard of his name if not for the movie.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The movie's claim to be the [[{{Demythification}} true story]] behind the King Arthur legends is best taken with a grain of salt. Go to [[ArtisticLicenseHistory/KingArthur its dedicated page]] for more information.

KingArthur (Owen) is introduced not as a king but as an officer in the Roman army in Britain. A reluctant leader, Arthur wishes only to leave Britain and return to the peace and stability of Rome. Before he can head for Rome, one final mission leads him and his Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot (Gruffudd), Galahad (Creator/HughDancy), Bors (Creator/RayWinstone), Tristan (Creator/MadsMikkelsen), Dagonet (Creator/RayStevenson) and Gawain (Creator/JoelEdgerton) to the conclusion that when Rome is gone, Britain needs a king--someone not only to defend against the current threat of invading Saxons, but to lead the isle into a new age. Under the guidance of Merlin (Stephen Dillane), a former enemy, and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Knightley) by his side, Arthur will have to find the strength within himself to change the course of history.

%%* AlwaysChaoticEvil: The Saxons

** The film said it's "from the producers of ''Film/PearlHarbor''.