There are many variations of the stories surrounding the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, both in literature and now in film adaptations. While historians try to shift through the legends for the truth, most tales about Arthur are still deeply intertwined with fantasy, few with stark historical realism. The Last Legion has one of those few storylines that actually explains the very origins of Arthur Pendragon and his famous sword Excalibur in a purely historical way. The legendary “Sword in the Stone” becomes a sword forged by man, not magic, as a noble gift for a worthy heir of Julius Caesar’s legacy. Roman history plays a great part in The Last Legion, since the main settings are across the Roman Empire during its decline and eventual fall. Another feature that is prominent in this particular movie is the true meanings behind names and their sensible importance to both the characters and the story itself. For example, the name “Excalibur” is a variation of “Excaliber,” which is comprised of the Latin proposition “ex” (“out of, from”) and the word “caliber” (which means “strength of character”). Therefore, the name for Arthur’s sword takes on a whole new role besides being an extraordinary weapon and symbol of rulership. The beginning of the royal line of Pendragon is revealed to be connected to the Caesars, when the last heir to their seat of ultimate power in Rome is still a young boy named Romulus.
To be continued...
The Last Legion is available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc wherever movies are sold in Fresno and online; it also can be rented for free from local libraries.
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