Visuals in King Arthur

The historical aspect of the film seems believable. The armor resembles many other images of Roman armor: made of leather or other more pliable materials rather than metal, and the red crest on top of Arthur’s helmet. Similar designs have been used in photos, drawings, and other film depictions of Roman soldiers, making this portrayal believable for the 5^th century setting.

There doesn’t seem to be a unifying factor to Arthur’s side, such as an insignia, other than the red shields. However, this matches the detail from Snyder that Arthur’s knights were comprised of a variety of origins. Each of the major knights who follows Arthur to the hilltop has a different character design, which would indicate their differing cultural and/or geographical backgrounds. This would likely extend to other members of the army, as well. On the other hand, the Saxons appear uniform, though wearing a lesser amount of protective armor.

Arthur’s portrayal fits Snyder’s comment, “not just any king, but an exemplary Christian monarch” (8). He prays for God to guide his sword, gives blessings to his men, and gives thanks to God. The dialogue aids in the believability of his character, and the legend that he was a Christian king.