Read Positive User Reviews for The Kid Who Would Be King

7

The3AcademySinsNov 25, 2019

I was completely blindsided by how good The Kid Who Would Be King turned out to be. I went into this movie expecting a mediocre children's movie. While the movie is absolutely aimed at a young audience, I was surprised by how mature theI was completely blindsided by how good The Kid Who Would Be King turned out to be. I went into this movie expecting a mediocre children's movie. While the movie is absolutely aimed at a young audience, I was surprised by how mature the acting performances, action scenes, and story were portrayed. This is a movie with a ton of heart, really good lessons, a great cast, and a well crafted production. I found myself smiling and cheering a lot more than I thought I would. The Kid Who Would Be King does take a while to get the ball rolling, but this children's epic is well worth the investment.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

TomtagApr 14, 2019

There was humor, a bit of heart and some really epic fight scenes between kids and morgana, mortes milles. The movie had tried its best not to let you throw your popcorn away

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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7

mrushing02Jan 29, 2019

The Kid Who Would be King is the perfect movie for families to share together. It brings back the adventure and fun without neglecting important themes that parents and kids can discuss long after the film is over. Movies like this need yourThe Kid Who Would be King is the perfect movie for families to share together. It brings back the adventure and fun without neglecting important themes that parents and kids can discuss long after the film is over. Movies like this need your support, so take friends and family and enjoy.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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8

hnestlyontheslyOct 7, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. f you’re like me, every time the trailer for KWWBK came out, you rolled your eyes and wondered out loud why it hadn’t gone straight to streaming in the land of forgettable originals, Netflix. For the last week, Wife had counted me out on seeing it altogether, so she was surprised when I elected to see this with her instead of going to see blonde Anne Hathaway in the self-inflicted career wound that it sounds like Serenity has become. But within the first few minutes of Star Wars references and generally adorable middle school embarrassments, KWWBK reveals itself for what it is: an unassuming, unexpected delight.

We’re doing things a little differently for the next few hours while I recover from a month of slacking on reviews. The past two weeks have been hectic, filled with moving boxes and late nights, so I’ve been letting things slide. At the suggestion of Wife, I’m gonna try to review backwards in hopes that it helps with recall.

As I sat in my seat, pleasantly surprised by how funny these child actors were and how, for the first time in months, AMC had remembered to use the correct aspect ratio for its screen (it forgot to turn off the house lights until someone asked, but you can’t get ’em all), I was transported to the time Wife and I saw the Rock play Hercules in what I still feel is one of my all-time favorite classical themed movies of all time.

I remember going into it thinking it would be a way to kill a couple hours before I had to go back to doing homework, and after the first few references to zombies, it became increasingly clear to Wife and I that this movie was so far away from taking itself seriously that it had actually found a way to start making fun of itself in the script with some reliability. It was only after we walked out of BWWBK that Wife looked it up and noticed that the actress who played Morgan, Rebecca Ferguson, was, in fact, also in that ground-breaking schlocky film from years gone past, Hercules.

Attack the Block director Joe Cornish proves that lightning can strike the same place twice. His deployment of lovable, charismatic young actors and a self-aware, snarky script with moments of sentimentality is the magic recipe for a great kids film. Older Brother said that he and his colleague loved the film, even if it was a little long, which scans pretty closely with what Wife said. Wife added that if you think about the two concepts that the film wants to build its story around, Alex’s quest to learn of his lineage and the structure of the three nights before a final confrontation, there wasn’t a lot that could be cut.

I like that the film didn’t try to shove the four kids and Merlin into a single cohesive group with a single storyline, but rather it tracked the relationships between the two older kids, Lady Kaye and Lance, and the two younger kids, Alex and Bedders, separately. The script let them wrestle with different childhood struggles at different stages of development. Merlin and Morgan have their own kind of kinship when they confront one another on the rooftop of the school–Wife recalls Merlin’s line, “This is their world not ours”–which simultaneously gives the young Merlin an implicit power spike, but also in some ways humanizes the villain and maps their struggle into an issue of generational change.

Morgana’s ability to toggle between a humanoid form and other more monstrous shapes was very satisfying for someone who prefers a humanized depiction of evil rather than a disembodied Sauron-type Enemy. Morgan’s vice in this film’s interpretation is so perfectly apt for the times: it’s not that she’s ruthless or callous or corrupt. It’s that she feels “entitled” to the throne. Her sense of privilege is a marker of her villainy.

Wife thought there would be more about the aftermath of the final battle, I guess in Stranger things style where the carnage at the school requires the kids to take responsibility for damage they didn’t necessarily cause.

The simple magic of removing adults at twilight worked really well, both of us thought. It allowed for the kids to do a lot of dangerous things that would’ve just bogged the audience down with logistical questions otherwise. Speaking of bogs, the bog scene was fun. As was the physicality of the trees in the training scene.

BWWBK restores my faith in the genre of kids films, shows that the emotional lives of children, as Mr. Rogers was wont to say, are just as complex as any adult’s. The film has something to say about the paralyzing sense of helplessness that comes from being a child in this period of doom and gloom, both political and artistic.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

HealingToolboxMar 18, 2019

SPIRITUAL MOVIE ALERT - Another authentically uplifting, professional movie unappreciated by critics. The film's title needs work. This is a Goonies-like movie addressing the negative, depressing world situation with a great deal of heart.SPIRITUAL MOVIE ALERT - Another authentically uplifting, professional movie unappreciated by critics. The film's title needs work. This is a Goonies-like movie addressing the negative, depressing world situation with a great deal of heart. Much better than I expected. Much better than it needs to be in script and in all production departments. The young cast, and Patrick Stewart have an UNUSUALLY EXCELLENT SCRIPT to plug into. This melding of script and acting is not usually seen in this genre outside of he best of the Marvel movies. The script was either excellent to begin with; or, it was improved with the extensive pre-vis work. Script is a textbook perfect example of setting up and paying off narrative devices; and, of a littel ending followed by a big ending. Contrast this with the Mission Impssible movies et al, where 3-4 endings, even taken together often don't add up to much. Patrick Stewart alternates between two roles:
- The weak, aged Professor Xavier from Logan (great acting courage turned again to wonderful dramatic effect); and,
- A plucky aged cheerleader foil to the young untried characters.
One of very few excellent kids movies adults will enjoy equally.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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9

ohnomrbillFeb 7, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this movie is a total surprise. normally a movie that seems mostly for kids is often too goofy or too silly and if you are not with your children, it is terrible. yet this movie is none of those things. it is very well directed and has enough humor so as not to take too seriously. if it is flawed it is because the end battle may be a little much to expect all those kids to be well enough trained against the evil and skilled dark forces but it was just too much fun. with or without your kids i would say see this film, one of the best films of this genre i have seen. what a surprise!… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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9

manningn15Nov 17, 2019

This is my favorite King Arthur movie, one of my of favorite movies of 2019, and one of my favorite movies of all time. The acting was excellent especially Angus Imrie, Louis Serkis, Rhianna Doris, Tom Taylor, Dean Chaumoo, Denise Gough,This is my favorite King Arthur movie, one of my of favorite movies of 2019, and one of my favorite movies of all time. The acting was excellent especially Angus Imrie, Louis Serkis, Rhianna Doris, Tom Taylor, Dean Chaumoo, Denise Gough, Patrick Stewart, and Rebecca Ferguson. The writing and story were outstanding. The visual effects were terrific. The makeup and hairstyling was superb especially on Rebecca Ferguson. The costumes were awesome especially on Rebecca Ferguson and all of the armor. Overall a great movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

CharleyNewmanFeb 5, 2019

The Kid Who Would Be King, is a film that is certainly not without flaws. And my grade of it is honestly probably based on a bit of a curve. But I couldn't help but enjoy it. Despite a noticeable lull around the end of the second act, theThe Kid Who Would Be King, is a film that is certainly not without flaws. And my grade of it is honestly probably based on a bit of a curve. But I couldn't help but enjoy it. Despite a noticeable lull around the end of the second act, the movie for the most part tapped into the childlike side of myself, I feel that I would have really liked this movie as a middle-schooler. As it stands though, I still enjoyed it enough. It reminded me of how Arthurian myth can be fun; which is something a movie hasn't done in a long time for me. However, the villain, Morgana, is one of the least developed villains I've seen in a while. Her character motivations matching, or BARELY surpassing in effectiveness, the motivations of the villain Steppenwolf from Justice League (2017). But I must admit, I got a kick out of seeing the mythology brought to the modern day, and experiencing it with the kids of the film. The movie also suffers from being quite predictable. Anyone who's seen three movies in their life can guess the plot as it trods along. The CGI work isn't great, and also isn't very creative. There's exactly two designs, the generic CG army of flaming undead, and Morgan as a Percy Jackson monster looking harpy thing. It's... not great. But the movie also has a good message for kids and is fairly effective at delivering it. All in all, not a bad movie, in fact a pretty good one if you can tap into that childlike part of yourself and/or have an affinity for Arthurian legend.… Expand

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8

ajzeg01Jan 31, 2020

This is the long-awaited (for me) follow-up to Joe Cornish’s directorial debut, the cult-classic sci-fi/horror British comedy, Attack the Block, which I really love and not enough people have seen. It was a big flop when it came out, but it’sThis is the long-awaited (for me) follow-up to Joe Cornish’s directorial debut, the cult-classic sci-fi/horror British comedy, Attack the Block, which I really love and not enough people have seen. It was a big flop when it came out, but it’s growing more and more of a following with time. Check it out, it has John Boyega, Nick Frost and Jodie Whittaker. It’s good. Now, The Kid Who Would Be King isn’t as subversive or original as Attack the Block. That movie was a social commentary about inner-city communities. The Kid Who Would Be King is a kids movie, inspired by the Arthurian legends. It’s a damn good kids movie though, and probably the best King Arthur movie since Excalibur. It’s about a kid who finds Excalibur and discovers that he is of a royal bloodline, destined to defeat Morgana once and for all. The child acting is excellent. It’s like Stranger Things, there are so many talented young performers here that I hope go places! The story is fairly simple, but engaging and full of twists. This is going to sound kind of weird, but this movie, to me, feels like what the Star Wars sequel trilogy should’ve been, or at least what it seemed to be building up to until Rise of Skywalker came in and ruined everything. I can’t really go into detail without giving things away, but you’ll see what I mean if you see the movie. The lead character is very similar to Rey. The effects and action are solid too, and it’s very funny! Overall, this is a super solid and fun movie that the whole family can enjoy. I’m super bummed that this was a box office flop too. Come on, Hollywood! Give this guy a Marvel movie or something! He’s such a talented filmmaker! Give him a movie that will actually make money to get his name out! Anyway, it’s good. Check it out.… Expand

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7

marcmyworksMay 13, 2019

Not a bad kids movie. Lots of heart and action, not ground breaking by any means but enjoyable. The only thing is the young Merlin looks exactly like Richard E. Grant and yet they cast Patrick Stewart to be his elder form.

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