The Sword in the Stone

Voices of: Karl Swenson, Rickie Sorensen, Junius Matthews, Ginny Taylor
Directed by: Wolfgang Reitherman
Rating: G
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
1963

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: The wizard Merlin trains a young boy, Arthur, who is destined to be King.

Review:

Tim: I'm a big fan of Disney's The Sword in the Stone. The 18th Disney animated film is often overlooked. I get that, especially with a catalogue as extensive as Disney. However, that doesn't mean this is not a great movie- because it is. It reinvented the Arthur legend and features one of the greatest animated battles in film history. All in all, this is a movie well worth seeing.

The story is quite good- at it's heart, this is an underdog story, and who doesn't love one of those? Arthur is a very kindhearted boy in a tough situation. You really feel for him- no real family or friends. But he's a good person and you want him to succeed. He finds an unlikely mentor in the wizard Merlin, and our story really picks up. It is a film that entertains and tugs a little at the heartstrings, if you let it.

The characters are all quite strong. Arthur (or Wart, as he's called) is just a likeable character. He's had a rough life, but has a heart of gold. I really enjoyed his character and had no problems rooting for him. Merlin was a terrific character as well. He's cantankerous, but has immense power and is also very good. I loved the dynamic of Merlin taking Wart under his wing and the interaction between these two characters. I also loved Merlin's talking owl, Archimedes. The owl was good for some comedy relief but was a well-developed character in his own right. It's fun seeing a gruff character pretend he doesn't care, and then see him go to some pretty extraordinary lengths for someone else. Madam Mim made for a very good villain. All in all, the characters were extremely well written.

I do want to spend a little time on my favorite scene in the movie, and one of the greatest in any animated film- the wizard duel between Merlin and Mim. I can't tell you how much I love this scene. It's brilliantly conceived and executed. The idea is just incredible- two wizards fight by turning themselves into different animals. The rules are perfect- only animals, no make believe things, and no disappearing. The brilliance of the duel is that it's not just a physical fight- there is a real mental aspect, too. Depending on what one turns into, you have to think of an appropriate animal to combat it. It's extremely cool and fun to watch on screen. It's really the thing that makes this movie special.

I really enjoy The Sword in the Stone. It does feel a little incomplete as a movie- like this was the first chapter in what should have been a trilogy. Still, for what it is, this is a fun, entertaining animated film. I'm a big fan of this film and really believe it's an underrated classic.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sleeping Beauty, Robin Hood