Visionary director John Boorman serves up a lush interpretation of Thomas Malory's classic novel Le Morte d'Arthur, weaving a rich tapestry around the legend of the Round Table's righteous birth and ultimate decline. After humble squire Arthur pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone, his actions beget Guenevere and Lancelot's adultery; the changing balance of power between Merlin and Morgana; and the valiant quest for the Holy Grail.