A tale of King Arthur
by Ruby Yang
At some point in our lives, we’ve all heard the tale of King Arthur, and how he, as the true king, was able to pull the sword Excalibur out of the stone. It is a classic tale that has had many, if not dozens, of books and movies based on this legend. Among many of these works is the 1998 animated musical-fantasy, Quest for Camelot. In Quest for Camelot, King Arthur has since reigned as King for decades, with peace all throughout the kingdom. All is well until one disgruntled and power-hungry knight, Ruber, attempts to steal Excalibur. In the ensuing confusion, Excalibur is lost and the kingdom is alerted. Kayley, a young girl aspiring to be a knight on King Arthur’s Round Table, just as her father had been, hears this warning call and is determined to find the lost sword. Along the way, she’s helped by a blind hermit named Garrett, and a conjoined dragon named Devon and Cornwall. Together they must venture into the dangerous forests for Camelot in order to save the day. The plot of the movie, as you’d expect, is your typical children’s fantasy adventure.
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You’ve got the heroine, the mysterious and aloof love interest, and, of course, the talking animals who are there purely for comical relief. Nevertheless, the film is endearing and enjoyable despite its clichés, although the constant bickering of Devon and Cornwall can get a bit annoying. As for the musical numbers, they are perhaps what make the movie memorable. From the ballad of independence in “I Stand Alone” to the blossoming of love in “Looking Through Your Eyes,” the film has a beautiful soundtrack that is on par to that of Disney movies. Overall, The Quest for Camelot is an underrated film that despite being somewhat predictable makes for a fun and interesting take on the magical world of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Ruby’s Grade: B+
